Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Glomerular Disease: A Narrative Review of the Epidemiology, Mechanisms,...

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CV) is a leading cause of death in patients with glomerular diseases.
• Existing treatment strategies for CV risk in these patients are often extrapolated from broader chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations.
• There's a critical need to understand the distinct pathophysiology and risk factors for CV disease in glomerular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, and management of CV disease in glomerular disease.
• To highlight the patient perspective on CV disease risk and management.
• To identify gaps and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of existing literature accessed via PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, and Google Scholar.
• Inclusion of patient insights gathered through discussions with a patient partner.
• Synthesis of information on epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, management, and patient experience.

Main Results:

• Glomerular disease patients face significant CV risk due to multifactorial mechanisms, comorbidities, and medications.
• Current risk stratification and treatment approaches based on general CKD data may be insufficient for glomerular disease.
• Unique pathophysiological drivers of CV risk in glomerular disease require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Glomerular disease necessitates tailored approaches to CV disease prevention and management.
• Further focused research is essential to delineate specific CV risk factors and therapeutic targets.
• Integrating the patient perspective is crucial for developing effective strategies.