Association between age and cardiovascular status by echosonography in asymptomatic predialysis patients with chronic...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Age is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population and dialysis patients.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) accelerates cardiovascular complications.
• Understanding age-related cardiovascular changes in predialysis CKD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of age on cardiovascular status in asymptomatic predialysis CKD patients.
• To compare cardiovascular parameters between older (≥65 years) and younger (<65 years) CKD patients.
• To identify age-associated cardiovascular structural and functional changes.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography and carotid ultrasound were performed on 61 CKD stages 4-5 patients.
• Patients were divided into two age groups: ≥65 years (Group 1) and <65 years (Group 2).
• Data were compared with a control group of older individuals (≥65 years).

Main Results:

• Older CKD patients (Group 1) exhibited higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and impaired LV diastolic function compared to younger patients (Group 2).
• A higher prevalence of aortic and mitral calcification was observed in older CKD patients.
• Increased intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid plaques, and calcifications were significantly more common in the elderly CKD group.

Conclusions:

• Older CKD patients demonstrate more pronounced cardiac and vascular abnormalities than younger CKD patients.
• Aging is independently associated with increased IMT, LVMI, and altered E/A ratio in CKD.
• These findings underscore the significant impact of aging on cardiovascular health in predialysis CKD.