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Renal function is related to severity of coronary artery calcification in elderly persons: the Rotterdam study

Abdelilah El Barzouhi1, Suzette Elias-Smale, Abbas Dehghan

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.barzouhiel@erasmusmc.nl

Plos One
|February 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Reduced kidney function (GFR) is linked to coronary artery calcification (CAC) in individuals aged 70 and older. This study highlights age as a key factor in the relationship between GFR and CAC.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with increased coronary heart disease risk.
  • Reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) may contribute to CAC.
  • Renal function declines with age, necessitating investigation into GFR and CAC in elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in an elderly, population-based cohort.
  • To determine if age modifies the relationship between GFR and CAC.

Main Methods:

  • The Rotterdam Study included 1703 subjects without prior coronary heart disease.
  • Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation.
  • Analysis of covariance was used to compare CAC scores across GFR tertiles, with stratification by age (median 70 years).

Main Results:

  • Overall, no significant difference in mean CAC scores was found between GFR tertiles.
  • However, in participants aged 70 years and older, multivariable analysis revealed significantly higher mean CAC scores in the lowest GFR tertile compared to the highest (4.9 vs 4.5, p=0.010).
  • No significant association was observed in participants younger than 70 years.

Conclusions:

  • The association between CAC and GFR is age-dependent.
  • In elderly individuals (≥70 years), declining GFR is significantly associated with increased CAC.
  • These findings suggest that monitoring renal function may be important for assessing cardiovascular risk in older adults.
Abstract

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