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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Impact of Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels on Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease: A

Nam Ju Heo1, Kyungdo Han2, Kyu-Na Lee3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The American Journal of Medicine
|August 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

High LDL-C levels increase cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease patients. Different LDL-C targets are needed based on kidney disease stage for effective cardiovascular risk management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Lipid management guidelines vary for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients due to unclear links between LDL-C and cardiovascular events.
  • The benefits of statin therapy in CKD populations remain uncertain, complicating treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and cardiovascular risk.
  • To stratify this association based on varying stages of kidney function.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study utilized the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.
  • Included 4,418,485 patients without prior cardiovascular disease history screened in 2012.
  • Categorized participants by kidney function and LDL-C levels, tracking major adverse cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • Over 10.1 years, elevated LDL-C (≥100 mg/dL) correlated with higher cardiovascular event risk in CKD patients compared to <70 mg/dL.
  • This association was not significant in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients.
  • Cardiovascular risk escalated with higher LDL-C and CKD progression; distinct LDL-C thresholds emerged per CKD stage.

Conclusions:

  • High LDL-C is linked to increased cardiovascular risk in CKD patients, but not in ESKD patients post-adjustment.
  • Implementing stage-specific LDL-C targets is crucial for optimizing cardiovascular risk management in CKD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular DiseasesLipoproteins, LDLMyocardial InfarctionMyocardial RevascularizationRenal Insufficiency, ChronicStroke

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