Cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a significantly elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.
• Cardiovascular disease mortality in CKD patients often surpasses the risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease.
• Managing comorbidities like CVD in advanced CKD is complex, partly because these patients are frequently excluded from clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical presentations of CVD in individuals with advanced CKD.
• To highlight the specific diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with heart failure, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation in this population.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article.
• Literature search and synthesis of existing evidence on CVD in advanced CKD.

Main Results:

• Advanced CKD is strongly associated with increased CVD risk and mortality.
• Specific CVD conditions like heart failure, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation pose distinct management difficulties in CKD patients.
• Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• CVD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced CKD.
• There is a critical need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tailored to CKD patients.
• Further research and clinical trial inclusion are necessary to address evidence gaps in managing CVD in advanced CKD.