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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Ageing meets kidney disease
Alberto Ortiz1,2,3, Francesco Mattace-Raso4, Maria José Soler5
1Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz UAM, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects kidney structure and function, increasing mortality risk, especially in older adults. As populations age, CKD is projected to become a leading cause of death globally.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by kidney structure/function abnormalities lasting over 3 months, impacting health outcomes.
- Diagnostic criteria include albumin:creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g or eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m², both linked to adverse health.
- CKD prevalence rises with age, posing significant risks for older adults.
Discussion:
- CKD is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, accelerated by aging.
- Premature death is a more frequent outcome than kidney failure requiring replacement therapy.
- The global aging population projects CKD to become the second leading cause of death by century's end.
Key Insights:
- Aging accelerates mortality risk in CKD patients, with the highest absolute risk increase in those over 75.
- Selected studies highlight key topics: cognitive decline, sarcopenia, wasting, cardiovascular/non-cardiovascular morbidity, kidney failure management, and gender differences in CKD progression.
- CKD represents a growing global health challenge due to demographic shifts.
Outlook:
- Further research into cognitive decline, sarcopenia, and wasting in CKD patients is crucial.
- Understanding gender-specific differences in CKD progression is essential for tailored management.
- Addressing the rising burden of CKD in aging populations requires integrated healthcare strategies.
Abstract:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function, present for ˃3 months, with implications for health. The most used diagnostic criteria are a urinary albumin: creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Either of these diagnostic thresholds is associated with adverse health outcomes. GFR decreases with age and the prevalence of CKD is highest in older adults; moreover, the presence of CKD is associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death related to accelerated ageing in all age ranges, and the absolute increase in risk is highest for those aged ˃75 years. Indeed, premature death is a more common outcome than CKD progression to kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy. The progressive ageing of the world population contributes to the projection that CKD will become the second most common cause of death before the end of the century in countries with long life expectancy. The current collection of selected studies on kidney disease and ageing published in Age&Ageing, NDT and CKJ provides an overview of key topics, including cognitive decline, sarcopaenia, wasting and cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the management of kidney failure and gender differences in CKD progression.
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