Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major problem of public health. Currently, many of these patients experience progression of cardiovascular and renal ...disease, even when receiving optimal treatment. In previous years, several new drug classes for the treatment of type 2 DM have emerged, including inhibitors of renal sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Apart from reducing glycaemia, these classes were reported to have other beneficial effects for the cardiovascular and renal systems, such as weight loss and blood pressure reduction. Most importantly, in contrast to all previous studies with anti-diabetic agents, a series of recent randomized, placebo-controlled outcome trials showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists are able to reduce cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, as well as progression of renal disease, in patients with type 2 DM. This document presents in detail the available evidence on the cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 analogues, analyses the potential mechanisms involved in these actions and discusses their place in the treatment of patients with CKD and DM.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Optimal fluid management is a challenge in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy (MBIS) ...is a non-invasive method to estimate body composition, including estimates of extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) and the ratio between both spaces (ECW/ICW). Pulse pressure is a significant risk factor of cardiovascular disease and death in general and dialysis population. Our study aimed to analyse the correlation between systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure with body composition status in ESRD patients before HD.
Method
We performed a retrospective single-centre cohort study in 93 HD patients. The body composition was measured using the portable whole-body MBIS device, Body Composition Monitor-BCM(®) (Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany). Blood pressure was measured with OMRON monitors.
Results
The mean age of patients was 64 ± 13 years, mean dialysis vintage 63 (1-352) months, 61% were men, all patients had arteriovenous fistula as vascular access. Sixty-nine (74.2%) patients were fluid overload (FO) with > 1.1 L overhydration. Other data are presented in table 1. We found a statistically significant correlation between the pulse pressure and ECW/ICW ratio (r=0.258; P=0.033) in FO patients. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between systolic, diastolic blood pressure and ECW/ICW ratio in FO patients.
Conclusion
Only pulse pressure and not systolic or diastolic blood pressure values measured before HD are associated with ECW/ICW ratio in FO patients.
Variable
All patients (N=93) Mean ± SD
Fluid overload patients (N=69) Mean ± SD
NOT fluid overload patients (N=24) Mean ± SD
P value
Age (years)
64.3 ± 13
64.3 ± 13
64.1 ± 12
0.943
Dialysis vintage (months)
63.2 ± 64
65.8 ± 68
55.8 ± 49
0.509
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
151 ± 21
151 ± 22
149 ± 19
0.708
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)
78 ± 13
79 ± 13
75 ± 12
0.168
Pulse pressure (mmHg)
73 ± 21
72 ± 22
75 ± 21
0.654
MBIS: Extracellular water (ECW) (L)
18.1 ± 4.2
19.03 ± 4.2
15.4 ± 3.1
<0.0001
MBIS: Intracellular water (ICW) (L)
18.8 ± 4.4
19 ± 4.5
18.3 ± 4.4
0.527
MBIS: ECW/ICW
0.97 ± 0.14
1.01 ± 0.13
0.84 ± 0.1
<0.0001
MBIS: Overhydration (L)
2.14 ± 1.9
2.83 ± 1.6
0.16 ± 1
<0.0001
Abstract
Background and Aims
Serum cystatin C (cysC) is produced by all nucleated cells at a constant rate, is filtered freely by the glomerulus and metabolized after tubular reabsorption. It is ...influenced less by age, gender and muscle mass compared to serum creatinine. These properties make it an important marker in detecting renal impairment. Arterial stiffness is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and is connected to cardiovascular events and mortality. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), cysC correlates with increased arterial stiffness, but less is known about the association between cysC and arterial stiffness in non-CKD patients.
Method
The study was performed at the University Medical Centre Maribor between October 1st 2018 and January 1st 2020. Basic demographic and laboratory data were recorded. To estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equation was used. Patients with previously diagnosed CKD and/or eGFR ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 at the time of admission, known malignancy, thyroid disease and/or on steroid therapy were not enrolled in the study. Arterial stiffness was measured with applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor®, Australia), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was used as the gold standard of central arterial stiffness and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) was used as the marker of myocardial perfusion. SPSS® version 22 was used for statistical analysis.
Results
111 patients (65.8% male, average age 64.3±9.4 years) were included in our study. Most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (n=86, 77.5%), hyperlipidaemia (n=64, 57.7%) and diabetes mellitus (n=22, 19.8%). Mean creatinine value was 77.7±13.8 μmol/L (range 49-108 μmol/L), mean eGFR was 81.3±9.4 ml/min/1.73m2 (range 62-90 ml/min/1.73m2) and mean value of cysC was 0.94±0.18 mg/L (range 0.67-1.63 mg/L). Mean SEVR value was 165.7±36.1% (range 92-299%) and mean cfPWV value was 10.1±2.4 m/s (range 6.2-16.8 m/s). Significant correlation was found between cysC and SEVR (r=-0.316, p<0.001) and between cysC and cfPWV (r=0.472, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis of arterial stiffness indices and cysC, age, gender, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, eGFR and hyperlipidemia, showed statistically significant association between cysC and cfPWV (ß=0.220, p=0.038) and cysC and SEVR (ß=-0.278, p=0.017).
Conclusion
Serum cysC is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness, reduced myocardial perfusion and increased cardiovascular risk in non-CKD patients.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Cardiovascular mortality is high in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Recognizing patients with higher cardiovascular risk might help in their treatment. ...CHA2DS2-VASc score was originally used to predict cerebral infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is also useful in predicting outcome in different cardiovascular conditions, independent of the presence of AF. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the role of CHA2DS2-VASc score in cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients.
Method
Eighty-seven non-dialysis CKD patients from our outpatient clinic were included. At the time of inclusion, medical history data and standard blood results were collected and CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated. Patients were followed for assigned time or until their death. Mean follow-up time was 1696.45±564.60 days.
Results
Descriptive statistics of our patients are presented in table 1. During follow-up 11 patients suffered from cardiovascular death. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score is a significant predictor of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.19, CI: 1.42-3.37, p=0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis in which CHA2DS2-VASc score, serum creatinine, urinary albumin/creatinine, haemoglobin, high sensitivity CRP and intact PTH were included, CHA2DS2-VASc score was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.04, CI: 1.20-3.45, p=0.008) (table 2).
Conclusion
CHA2DS2-VASc score is a simple and quick way to identify cardiovascular risk in CKD patients.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients suffer from high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness is an important parameter for the evaluation of ...cardiovascular risk. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is the gold standard measure for the assessment of arterial stiffness. CHA2DS2-VASc score was originally used to predict cerebral infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is also useful in predicting outcome in different cardiovascular conditions, independent of the presence of AF. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the association of CHA2DS2-VASc score with cfPWV in CKD patients.
Method
Eighty-seven non-dialysis CKD patients from our outpatient clinic were included. At the time of inclusion, medical history data and standard blood results were collected, CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated, cfPWV measurements (SphygmoCor System) were done. Correlation between CHA2DS2-VASc score and cfPWV was assessed. Multiple regression analysis with cfPWV as dependent and CHA2DS2-VASc score, eGFR, urinary albumin/creatinine, haemoglobin, high sensitivity CRP, serum calcium, phosphate and intact PTH as independent variables was performed. Additionally, patients were divided into two groups according to median value of CHA2DS2-VASc score (group 1: CHA2DS2-VASc score ≤2, group 2: CHA2DS2-VASc score >2). Data of both groups were compared by t-test or Mann-Whitney test.
Results
CHA2DS2-VASc score correlated with cfPWV (r=0.380, p=0.001). In multiple regression analysis only CHA2DS2-VASc score was significantly associated with cfPWV (p=0.001). Data of both groups of patients divided according to median value of CHA2DS2-VASc score are presented in table 1. cfPWV was significantly higher in group 2 (13.40±3.50 vs 10.46±2.93, p=0.001). Groups of patients also differed significantly in age, presence of diabetes, eGFR and serum phosphate.
Conclusion
CHA2DS2-VASc score is associated with cfPWV in CKD patients. Patients with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score have stiffer arteries.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Several factors may be responsible for the increased mortality in dialysis patients, but volume overload is considered among the main mechanisms of this association. ...Volume status is usually estimated using clinical criteria, i.e., patien's signs and symptoms, peridialytic blood pressure measurements, and intradialytic hemodynamic instability. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is another way to measure volume status in dialysis patients. BIA can measure overhydration (OH), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW) and ECW/ICW ratio.
The aim of our study was to analyze the role of BIA parameters before and after hemodialysis (HD) on all-cause mortality.
Method
Eighty-three patients (mean age 64.2 years; 51 men) on maintenance HD were included. BIA was performed and blood pressure was measured before and after the HD session. Patients were followed for assigned time, until transplantation or death. The mean follow-up time was 1181±564 days.
Results
Descriptive statistics of our patients are shown in Table 1. During the follow-up period, 6 (7.2%) patients were transplanted and 39 (47%) patients died. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that only ICW before HD was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (HR=1.089; 95%CI: 1.01-1.17, p=0.018). OH, ECW, ECW/ICW ratio before and after HD and ICW after HD were not associated with survival. In multivariate Cox regression analysis including ICW before dialysis, age, dialysis vintage, pulse pressure before HD, hemoglobin, CRP and serum albumin, ICW before dialysis was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR=1.102; 95%CI: 1.01-1.20, p=0.029) (Table 2).
Conclusion
ICW before HD predicts all-cause mortality in HD patients.
Renal dysfunction is associated with increased risk of mortality. The novel Full Age Spectrum (FAS) equations estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on serum creatinine (FAScrea) and ...cystatin C (FAScysC) are validated across the entire age spectrum and are superior markers of renal function compared to other equations. Possible association of these equations with mortality in patients with ischemic stroke is not known.
We included 390 patients (207 men, 183 women) in our observational cohort study who had suffered from an ischemic stroke and followed-up on for 3 years. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were measured at admission; GFR was estimated according to the FAScrea, CKD-EPIcrea, FAScysC and CKD-EPIcysC equations. The values of estimated GFRs were divided into quintiles.
During the follow-up period, 173 (44.4%) patients died. The association of hazard ratios for FAScrea and CKD-EPIcrea with all-cause mortality was J-shaped and only significantly higher when comparing the fifth quintile hazard ratio for mortality with the first quintile (P < 0.001). For FAScysC and CKD-EPIcysC, hazard ratios increased from the first to the fifth quintile linearly. In an adjusted analysis, FAScrea and CKD-EPIcrea were not associated with all-cause mortality and the hazard ratios of the fifth quintile of FAScysC (P = 0.008) and CKD-EPIcysC (P = 0.042) were significantly associated with mortality compared to the first quintile.
In patients with an ischemic stroke, estimated GFR based on serum cystatin (FAScysC and CKD-EPIcysC) was a better predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than estimated GFR based on serum creatinine.
•Renal dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with stroke.•The novel Full Age Spectrum equations are superior markers of renal function.•Cystatin C based equation is better predictor of mortality than creatinine based.
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