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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Independent components of chronic kidney disease as a cardiovascular risk state: results from the Kidney Early
Peter A McCullough1, Claudine T Jurkovitz, Pablo E Pergola
1Division of Cardiology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. pmc975@yahoo.com
Insights
Anemia, microalbuminuria, and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are independently linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The presence of all three significantly increases CVD risk and reduces survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The independent associations of anemia, microalbuminuria, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality require further investigation.
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) encompasses these interrelated measures, impacting patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent relationships between anemia, microalbuminuria, and eGFR with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- To determine the combined impact of these CKD-related markers on patient mortality.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 37,153 participants from the Kidney Early Evaluation Program were followed for a median of 16.0 months.
- Data collected included medical history, blood pressure, and laboratory tests, with eGFR calculated using a 4-variable equation.
- Mortality outcomes were ascertained through linkage to national data systems.
Main Results:
- Anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 12.8 g/dL), microalbuminuria (> 30 mg/L), and reduced eGFR (30-59 mL/min/1.73 m²) were independently associated with CVD.
- Male sex, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension were also significant risk factors for CVD.
- CVD, CKD, and their combination independently predicted mortality, with the presence of all three CKD markers associated with the lowest survival (~93% at 30 months).
Conclusions:
- Anemia, impaired eGFR, and microalbuminuria are independent risk factors for CVD.
- The co-occurrence of these three CKD markers significantly elevates CVD prevalence and is associated with reduced survival.
Background:
The relationships of anemia, microalbuminuria, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and subsequent death are not fully understood. We hypothesized that each of these chronic kidney disease-related measures would have an independent relationship with CVD.
Methods:
A cohort of 37 153 persons screened in the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program were followed up for a median of 16.0 months (range, 0.2-47.5 months). Participants were volunteers who completed surveys regarding past medical events and who underwent blood pressure and laboratory testing. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was computed using a 4-variable equation. Mortality was ascertained by linkage to national data systems.
Results:
Of 37 153 persons, the mean +/- SD age was 52.9 +/- 15.9 years, and 68.7% were female. A total of 1835 (4.9%) had a self-reported history of myocardial infarction, 1336 (3.6%) had a history of stroke, and 2897 (7.8%) had a history of myocardial infarction or stroke. Multivariate analysis controlling for age demonstrated that the following were independently associated with CVD: male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; P<.001), smoking (OR, 1.73; P<.001), body mass index (OR, 1.01; P = .03), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.66; P<.001), hypertension (OR, 1.77; P<.001), eGFR of 30 to 59 mL/min per 173 m(3) (OR, 1.37; P = .001), hemoglobin level of 12.8 g/dL or less (OR, 1.45; P<.001), and microalbuminuria of greater than 30 mg/L (OR, 1.28; P = .01). Survival analysis found CVD (OR, 3.02; P = .003), chronic kidney disease (OR, 1.98; P = .05), and the combination (OR, 3.80; P<.001) to be independent predictors of mortality. Persons with a combination of all 3 chronic kidney disease measures (anemia, microalbuminuria, and eGFR of <60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) had the lowest survival of about 93% by the end of 30 months.
Conclusion:
Anemia, eGFR, and microalbuminuria were independently associated with CVD, and when all 3 were present, CVD was common and survival was reduced.
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