Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Atrial Volume Index in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Left atrial volume index (LAVi) serves as a key indicator of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, a common complication in CKD.
• Understanding the relationship between renal function and cardiac parameters is crucial for managing CKD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between left atrial volume index (LAVi) and other echocardiographic parameters with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in individuals with and without CKD.
• To identify specific echocardiographic markers associated with reduced kidney function.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 170 participants (69 CKD patients, 101 controls).
• Comprehensive echocardiographic assessments including LAVi, ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and E/e ratio.
• Statistical analysis to determine correlations between eGFR and echocardiographic findings.

Main Results:

• CKD patients exhibited significantly higher LAVi, E/e ratio, and PASP, along with lower EF compared to controls.
• A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between eGFR and LAVi (r = -0.515, P < 0.001).
• eGFR also showed significant negative correlations with PASP (r = -0.44, P = 0.001) and E/e ratio (r = -0.331, P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Patients with CKD demonstrate impaired cardiac function, characterized by increased LAVi, PASP, and E/e ratio, and reduced EF.
• A declining eGFR is strongly associated with worsening left atrial volume index, indicating diastolic dysfunction in CKD.
• These findings highlight the importance of echocardiographic assessment in CKD patients to detect and manage cardiovascular complications.