chronic renal insufficiency

IJCS

Editorial

Coronary Artery Disease In Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Are We Acting Too Late?

Jorge Paulo Strogoff de Matos et al. Jocemir Ronaldo Lugon

The study by França et al. confirms the well-known high prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and the high mortality rate among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, which is mainly due to cardiovascular causes. The authors also found a significantly higher crude mortality rate among those who were not under statin use. However, this should be cautiously interpreted since no adjustment was made for confounding factors, and a bias cannot be ruled out, for example, that statins were not prescribed to those patients with a very low remaining life expectancy who would likely not benefit from the therapy.

The population undergoing renal replacement therapy is increasing worldwide. In Brazil alone, there are currently more than 150,000 patients on maintenance dialysis. In general, these patients are stratified and treated for CAD based on guidelines derived mainly from evidence from clinical trials in which, due to the study design, patients on dialysis therapy or those with advanced CKD were excluded.

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IJCS

Original Article

Analysis of the Lipid Profile and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hemodialysis Patients from an Academic Health Institution in Belo Horizonte

Sarah Mattos Moraes et al. Matheus Evangelista da Costa Flávia Carvalho Leão Reis Kleisson Antônio Pontes Maia

Abstract

Background:

There is a lack of epidemiological data regarding the cardiovascular risk profile of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

Objective:

To analyze the lipid profile and assess the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors among patients with CKD on hemodialysis treated at an academic healthcare institution in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional, observational, and non-interventional study. The researchers obtained clinical, laboratory, and demographic data from medical records and conducted structured individual interviews with all participants. The chi-square test of independence, Fisher’s exact test, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were applied. A significance level of 0.05 was adopted to establish the statistical validity of comparisons.

Results:

A total of 66 patients were included, representing 91.6% of all individuals undergoing hemodialysis at the study center. The mean age was 56 years. Among participants, 59% were male, and 89% self-identified as mixed race. A high prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors was observed, including hypertension (95%), physical inactivity (69%), dyslipidemia (55%), diabetes mellitus (27%), current smoker (19%), and obesity (15%). The lipid profile analysis showed a median total cholesterol level of 170.9 mg/dL (interquartile range: 142.05 to 195.78 mg/dL) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol) of 98.55 mg/dL (interquartile range: 77.80 to 121.98 mg/dL).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors among hemodialysis patients, with systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, and diabetes mellitus being the most prevalent conditions. Furthermore, the lipid profile findings suggest suboptimal control of this lipid fraction in the studied population.

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Original Article

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on Electrocardiography and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case–Control Pilot Study

Nabil Hajar et al. Nabila Nuralya Joveazhari Shofa Chasani Zulfachmi Wahab … Galih Prakasa Adhyatma Indira Aura Balqis Zeidan Ahmad Fahdalhaq Bintang Adhiyoso Wicaksono

Abstract

Background:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by abnormalities in kidney structure or function lasting more than 3 months. CKD is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular events, which may be predicted by electrocardiography (ECG) abnormalities, such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). ECG is widely used in under-resourced health care settings due to its practicality and accessibility.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between LVH and CKD using ECG.

Methods:

This analytical observational study used a case–control design. The case group included patients diagnosed with CKD, while the control group consisted of patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of CKD but without a confirmed diagnosis. Each group included 35 participants. Simple random sampling was used for the case group, and stratified random sampling for the control group. ECG examinations were performed, and measurements were taken using calipers in millimeters (mm). The Sokolow–Lyon criteria were applied to identify LVH. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

The Sokolow–Lyon score was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (p = 0.03).

Conclusion:

There is a significant association between LVH, as identified on ECG, and CKD. These findings may assist health professionals in resource-limited settings, where access to ECG is restricted.

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Original Article

Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: An Emerging Cardiovascular Risk to Hemodialysis and Non-Hemodialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients of Primary Renal Diagnosis

Aswin PR et al. Sandip Kumar Panda Manisha Kar Pranati Nanda Balakrishnan Kannan

Abstract

Background:

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. A dysfunctional autonomic nervous system may be the underlying cause. However, very few studies have determined the status of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in both non-hemodialysis and hemodialysis CKD patients.

Objectives:

The present study intended to determine and compare CAN in both non-hemodialysis and hemodialysis CKD patients of primary renal diagnosis only and its correlation with the progression of the disease.

Methods:

Non-hemodialysis and hemodialysis CKD patients (n = 23 in each group) of both sexes of 18 to 50 years were recruited in this cross-sectional, observational study. Resting blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured, and lead II ECG was recorded for analysis of time- and frequency-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV). Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the variables between the two groups. Spearman correlation was conducted to examine the relationship between variables and the stage of the disease (non-hemodialysis and hemodialysis CKD). A 2-tailed p value < 0.05 was taken as the cutoff level of significance.

Results:

Body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in non-hemodialysis patients (p = 0.008). Resting HR was significantly higher in the hemodialysis group (p = 0.001). Among HRV measures, standard deviation of RR intervals (SDRR; p = 0.0001), standard deviation of successive differences (SDSD; p = 0.001), and root mean square of successive RR intervals (RMSSD; p = 0.001) were significantly lower in the hemodialysis group. Peripheral blood pressure was not significantly different between the two groups. Resting HR (r = 0.498, p = 0.001) was positively associated with the end-stage renal disease. However, SDRR (r = −0.507, p = 0.001), RMSSD (r = −0.507, p = 0.001), and BMI (r = −0.427, p = 0.004) were negatively associated with end-stage renal disease.

Conclusion:

Altered autonomic function was more profound in hemodialysis patients as evidenced by increased resting HR and decreased HRV measures (SDRR, SDSD, and RMSSD). Moreover, altered autonomic function was associated with end-stage renal disease. Therefore, CKD patients may be screened for CAN for early detection of cardiovascular disease.

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Original Article

Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With end Stage Renal Disease

Maria da Graça Lepre Hawerroth et al. Lucas Yuji Sonoda Jean José Silva Walter Alvarenga de Oliveira

Abstract

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The coexistence of high thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risks, added to the lack of strong scientific evidence on the safety of anticoagulants in the setting of renal failure, makes this a clinically challenging situation.

Objectives

To describe the clinical-demographic profile and prevalence of AF in the population with ESRD undergoing dialysis. Secondary objectives include the assessment of thromboembolic (CHA₂DS₂VASC) and bleeding (HASBLED) risk scores.

Methods

Cross-sectional analytical-descriptive study, carried out between January and March 2020. Patients with ESRD were evaluated by means of a medical history questionnaire, physical examination, and 12-lead electrocardiogram. A chi-square (χ2) association test was applied to calculate association between clinical variables and AF, with a significance level of α = 0.05.

Results

This study evaluated 295 patients, most of whom were men (170), elderly (63, IQR 53-71), current smokers (130), with associated cardio-endocrine comorbidities. The prevalence of AF was 6.7% (20). Heart failure (HF) (χ2=15.417; p<0.001), age of 65 years or older (χ2=14.584; p<0.001), and anticoagulation (χ2=5.715; p<0.01) were associated with AF. The median CHA₂DS₂VASC and HASBLED was 4 and 3, respectively. Eight patients were taking warfarin and five were receiving apixaban.

Conclusion

The prevalence of AF in this study is similar to that reported in other published articles on the subject, and patients were at high risk for cardiovascular outcomes. Non-anticoagulation strategy was commonly adopted due to controversies in the literature as well as the absence of published randomized clinical trials.

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