The association of echocardiographic parameters on renal outcomes in chronic kidney disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have structural abnormalities of the heart due to pressure and volume overload. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between echocardiographic parameters and renal outcomes (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] slope and progression to dialysis) in patients with stage 3-5 CKD.

This longitudinal study enrolled 419 patients. Changes in renal function were assessed using the eGFR slope. Rapid renal progression was defined as an eGFR slope < -3 mL/min/1.73 m²/year, and the renal endpoint was defined as commencing dialysis.

Increased left atrial diameter (LAD), ratio of left ventricular mass to body surface area (LVM/BSA), ratio of LVM to height^2.7 (LVM/ht^2.7), and ratio of observed to predicted LVM (o/p LVM) were associated with eGFR slope in an adjusted model, but left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not. Furthermore, LAD ≥ 4.7 cm, LVM/BSA > 115 g/m² in males and > 95 g/m² in females, and LVM/ht^2.7 > 48 g/ht^2.7 in males and > 44 g/ht^2.7 in females were correlated with progression to dialysis, but o/p LVM and LVEF were not. The maximum change in χ² change to predict renal outcomes was observed for LAD, followed by LVM/BSA and LVM/ht^2.7.

A large LAD and increased LVM, regardless of how it was measured (LVM/BSA, LVM/ht^2.7 and o/p LVM), were correlated with adverse renal outcomes in patients with CKD stage 3-5. LAD had superior prognostic value to LVM and LVEF.