Aortic stiffness and kidney disease in an elderly population

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nephrology
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Aortic stiffness, a common age-related change, may impact kidney health by increasing microvascular pulsatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between aortic stiffness markers and indicators of kidney function and damage in older adults.
• To determine if aortic stiffness contributes to the development of CKD in the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Age, Gene/Environment, Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study, a prospective cohort.
• Assessed carotid pulse pressure (CPP) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) against estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR).
• Employed linear regression, adjusting for demographics and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

Main Results:

• A higher CPP (>85 mm Hg) was associated with higher ACR in fully adjusted models (β = 0.14).
• The association between higher CPP or CFPWV and lower eGFR was not significant after adjustments.
• Higher CFPWV showed a trend towards lower eGFR and higher ACR in unadjusted analyses.

Conclusions:

• Increased aortic stiffness is associated with modestly higher albuminuria in the elderly.
• The link between aortic stiffness and reduced eGFR may be confounded by age and CVD risk factors.