Serum Sclerostin Levels and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients: An 8-Year Prospective Study

Sclerostin is an osteocyte-derived inhibitor of bone formation and is increased in kidney failure. Sclerostin might be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, but few studies have examined the association between sclerostin and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

We analyzed a prospective cohort of 654 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The primary exposure variable was the baseline serum sclerostin level measured at study enrollment. The primary outcome was 8-year all-cause mortality. Mortality risk was assessed using Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

During a median follow-up of 7.6 years (interquartile range, 4.1-8.0 years), 229 of the 654 participants died. In a univariate analysis, serum sclerostin levels were not associated with mortality (HR per doubling, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.76-1.17). This result was unchanged after adjustment for age, sex, dialysis vintage, diabetes, prior cardiovascular disease, and body mass index (HR per doubling, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.72-1.17). Similar results were obtained for cardiovascular mortality.

Serum sclerostin levels were not associated with mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Further research is required to determine the role of sclerostin in vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease in kidney failure.