In a new study, researchers found chronic kidney disease, which afflicts an estimated 6.4% of U.S. adults 45 and older, is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and other heart problems.
The research was conducted by a team from Mayo Clinic.
While the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. has stabilized in recent decades, the prognosis for patients remains poor.
Heart disease long has been identified as the major cause of premature death for chronic kidney disease patients, but this was believed to be due in part to common risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes.
However, there’s growing evidence that impaired kidney function alone is a risk factor.
The study analyzed data from the Olmsted County, Minn., Heart Function Study, a population-based random sample of 2,042 county residents 45 and older, and it used one of the longest follow-up periods in chronic kidney disease research.
The team focused 1,981 patients who were treated for chronic kidney disease at Mayo Clinic between 1997 and 2000 found that over a 10.2-year follow-up period.
They found these patients had much higher cardiac biomarkers and were at increased risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke and other adverse cardiovascular events.
The results regarding heart attack were especially striking: Chronic kidney disease was associated with a 95% increased risk of a heart attack during the follow-up period.
The study highlights the strong association between chronic kidney disease and heart disease, with evidence that patients with kidney disease are at an increased risk for heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, and even death.
Further studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of the cardiac biomarkers and the effectiveness of risk modification strategies.
The lead author of the study is Shravya Vinnakota, M.B.B.S.
The study is published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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