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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Impairment of Kidney Function in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndromes
Katarzyna Charkiewicz-Szeremeta1,2, Emilia Sawicka-Śmiarowska3, Danuta Czarnecka4
1Department of Population Medicine and Lifestyle Diseases Prevention, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
Insights
Assessing kidney function in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) is vital. Including urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR) alongside estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reclassified chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 17% of patients, improving risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Public Health
Background:
- Kidney function is integral to cardiovascular health and prognosis in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS).
- Urinary spot albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR) is crucial for diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) but is often underutilized.
- This study investigates the prevalence of impaired kidney function in CCS patients using both estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of impaired kidney function in patients with CCS.
- To determine the impact of albuminuria on CKD classification in this population.
- To highlight the importance of uACR in comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 1957 patients from Poland hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome or myocardial revascularization.
- Complete uACR and eGFR data were analyzed for 1152 patients (median age 67, 71.23% male).
- Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with CKD reclassification by albuminuria.
Main Results:
- Albuminuria reclassified CKD in 17% (200) of patients, indicating eGFR alone is insufficient for risk assessment.
- CKD reclassification was more common in older patients with higher blood pressure, heart rate, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lower HDL levels.
- These findings underscore the clinical value of uACR in specific patient subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Albuminuria significantly alters kidney function classification in a substantial portion of CCS patients.
- Routine assessment of albuminuria is essential for accurate CKD diagnosis and cardiovascular risk stratification.
- Integrating uACR into standard care can improve patient management and outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Background: Kidney function is critical for cardiovascular health, and its appropriate assessment entails proper determination of prognosis in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCSs). However, assessment of the urinary spot albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR) is often overlooked, whereas it is crucial for determination of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study assesses the prevalence of impaired kidney function in patients with CCS based on their eGFR and albuminuria. Methods and results: This study comprised a total of 1957 patients from seven regions in Poland, aged ≤ 80 years, who, 6-18 months earlier, were hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome or elective myocardial revascularization. Complete uACR and eGFR data were obtained from 1152 patients (median age was 67 years, and 71.23% of participants were male). The finding of albuminuria reclassified the CKD in 17% (200) patients, suggesting that a patient's risk cannot be ascertained only based on their eGFR result. CKD reclassification by albuminuria was observed in older (p < 0.001) patients with higher BPs (p = 0.008), BPd (p = 0.038), HR (p < 0.001), fasting glucose (p < 0.001), and HbA1c (p < 0.001) and decreased HDL concentration (p = 0.001); hence, this is the population where uACR assessment is particularly valuable. Conclusions: In a notable percentage of patients with CCS, their kidney function classification is changed based on their albuminuria. Therefore, it is important to include albuminuria in the routine assessment of patients with cardiovascular disease.
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