In recent health news, a study published on November 27 in ESC Heart Failure has uncovered a significant connection between the health of our kidneys and the function of our hearts.
Specifically, the research, led by Robin W.M. Vernooij, Ph.D., from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, reveals that people with mild to moderate kidney dysfunction are more likely to experience problems with the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
The study centered on a condition called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a type of heart failure where the heart muscle contracts normally but doesn’t relax as it should.
This relaxation is essential for the heart to fill with blood between beats. The researchers wanted to see if there was a link between this heart issue and kidney dysfunction.
To investigate this, the team calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of the participants, a measure of how well the kidneys are working.
They used creatinine and cystatin C levels in the blood to make this calculation, notably excluding race as a factor, which is a more recent and equitable approach to assessing kidney function.
The study included data from 880 people, averaging 62.9 years in age. Of these, a significant number—406 participants—had either mild (37.6%) or moderate (8.5%) kidney dysfunction.
The findings were quite revealing. Those with mild and moderate kidney problems had a higher likelihood of having HFpEF compared to those with normal kidney function.
The rates were 10.3% and 16.0%, respectively, in the mild and moderate groups, against only 3.4% in those with normal kidney function.
Additionally, the study found that lower kidney function was associated with certain changes in the heart, such as higher E/e’ ratios and increased relative wall thickness—both indicators of diastolic dysfunction, where the heart doesn’t relax as well as it should.
Perhaps most strikingly, the study showed that people with moderate kidney dysfunction were over twice as likely to have advanced heart failure, as classified by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (with an odds ratio of 2.07).
The authors of the study emphasize that this link between kidney dysfunction and diastolic heart dysfunction, along with HFpEF, exists independently of other risk factors.
They note that this association is not only stronger for those with moderate kidney dysfunction but also significantly present even in mild cases.
This study highlights the intricate connections within our body systems and underscores the importance of maintaining kidney health as a means to support heart health.
It serves as a reminder that conditions like kidney dysfunction can have far-reaching effects beyond the organ itself, influencing other critical aspects of our health, such as heart function.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about drug that prevents kidney failure in diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and common painkillers may harm heart, kidneys and more.
The research findings can be found in ESC Heart Failure.
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