Longitudinal Changes in Excess Pressure Independently Predict Declining Renal Function Among Healthy Individuals-A...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Renal Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Aortic reservoir function is a known predictor of end-organ damage.
• Longitudinal studies on aortic reservoir function and kidney function, especially during exercise, are lacking.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for predicting disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal association between changes in aortic reservoir characteristics (Pexcess) and kidney function (eGFR) in healthy individuals.
• To examine these associations at rest and during light-moderate intensity exercise.
• To determine if Pexcess changes predict changes in renal function over time.

Main Methods:

• Aortic reservoir function (Pexcess, reservoir pressure), aortic stiffness, and blood pressure were measured in 33 healthy adults.
• Renal function (eGFR) was assessed at baseline and after an average 3-year follow-up.
• Statistical analyses examined the relationship between changes in aortic measures and changes in eGFR.

Main Results:

• Resting brachial and central blood pressure, Pexcess, and aortic stiffness significantly increased over the follow-up period.
• The change in resting Pexcess was significantly associated with the change in eGFR, independent of other factors.
• No significant associations were found between changes in aortic pulse wave velocity or exercise hemodynamics and changes in eGFR.

Conclusions:

• Resting excess pressure integral (Pexcess) is independently associated with a decline in renal function over 3 years in healthy individuals.
• These findings underscore the clinical relevance of aortic reservoir function for maintaining kidney health.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying this association.