Association Between the Vascular Ageing of the Carotid Arteries and Different Dialysis Modalities

Background Chronic kidney disease is a major global health problem, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications compared to the general population. This study aimed to evaluate vascular aging in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis by analyzing clinical and laboratory parameters and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), with the goal of identifying predictors of carotid disease and comparing the prevalence between groups. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included 59 subjects with end-stage renal disease who were treated with renal replacement therapy: peritoneal dialysis (29 subjects) and hemodialysis (30 subjects). Results When observing these parameters collectively, it was noted that at least one of the parameters (intima-media thickness greater than 0.7 mm or stenosis of the carotid arteries) was statistically more frequently present in the group of patients treated with the peritoneal dialysis method compared to those treated with the hemodialysis method (72.4% vs. 46.7%; p=0.044). The correlation analysis showed that pathological findings on the carotid blood vessels statistically significantly correlated with assignment to the group treated with peritoneal dialysis (r=-0.262, p=0.045). According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent factor associated with carotid disease belonged to the peritoneal dialysis group (odds ratio=3.24; 95% confidence interval=1.00-13.47). Subjects treated with peritoneal dialysis had a 3.244 times greater chance of developing carotid disease. Conclusion Monitoring clinical and laboratory parameters and changes in carotid blood vessels is important in patients with chronic kidney disease to prevent carotid atherosclerotic disease and other cardiovascular diseases. In our study, patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis had a 3.244 times higher likelihood of developing carotid disease. A careful selection of dialysis modality may influence the slowing of carotid atherosclerotic disease progression.