Mildly Decreased Renal Function and Its Relation to Left Ventricular Geometry Change.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Cardiovascular Imaging

Background:

• Left ventricular (LV) geometry changes are implicated in elevated cardiovascular risk among chronic kidney disease patients.
• Limited data exist on the association between LV geometry and mildly reduced renal function (eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m²).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and abnormal relative wall thickness (RWT) with varying levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large Korean cohort.
• To assess these associations separately in men and women with eGFR ranging from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m².

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 47,730 individuals undergoing echocardiography was analyzed.
• Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between LVH, abnormal RWT, and eGFR levels (≥90, 89.99-80, 79.99-70, 69.99-60 for men; ≥90, 89.99-80, 79.99-60 for women).
• Analyses were adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

• In men, LVH was not significantly associated with eGFR levels between 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m².
• However, abnormal RWT showed a significant association with eGFR levels between 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m² in men.
• Neither LVH nor abnormal RWT were significantly associated with eGFR levels between 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m² in women.

Conclusions:

• Men with mildly decreased renal function (eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m²) exhibit an increased likelihood of left ventricular geometry changes, specifically abnormal RWT.
• These findings highlight a potential link between early-stage kidney dysfunction and cardiac structural alterations in men.