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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Renal function is associated with arterial stiffness and predicts outcome in patients with coronary artery disease

B Ilyas1, N Dhaun, D Markie

  • 1Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Edinburgh,The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK.

QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians
|January 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Arterial stiffness (AS) and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) predict cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Even slight decreases in eGFR are an independent risk marker for adverse outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Arterial stiffness (AS) is a known predictor of outcomes in patients with cardiovascular and renal disease.
  • Assessing AS and renal function is crucial for risk stratification in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and measure AS indices in patients with suspected CAD.
  • To assess the predictive value of eGFR and AS on cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 284 patients undergoing coronary angiography.
  • Arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis.
  • Renal function assessed by serum creatinine and eGFR (Cockcroft & Gault); primary endpoint: cardiovascular hospitalization or all-cause mortality.

Main Results:

  • PWV negatively correlated with eGFR, even in patients with eGFR ≥60 ml/min/m².
  • Lower eGFR, higher PWV, and greater CAD severity predicted adverse outcomes.
  • eGFR and CAD severity were independent determinants of outcomes, irrespective of renal function status.

Conclusions:

  • Minor reductions in eGFR within the normal range are an independent risk marker in patients with CAD.
  • Combined assessment of AS and eGFR may improve cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with suspected CAD.
Abstract

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