Predictors of coronary artery calcification and its association with cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) and progression of CAC are associated with higher risk of clinical events in the general population, but this has not been quantified among patients with CKD. Hypothesis: Progression of CAC is independently associated with CVD events and mortality among patients with CKD stages 2-4. Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 2 prospective longitudinal cohort studies (the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort [CRIC] Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA]). We included participants with CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m 2 or urinary albumin-to-creatine ratio ≥30 mg/g. In both cohorts, CAC was measured at baseline and a follow-up visit using electron beam or multidetector computed tomography. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the associations of CAC progression between visits with risks of adjudicated atherosclerotic CVD events (myocardial infarction, stroke) and all-cause mortality. Analyses were stratified by presence or absence of CAC at baseline. Results: 2111 participants with CKD were included (1314 with and 797 without CAC at baseline). Over an average of 3 years between CAC scans, 192 (24%) participants without baseline CAC developed CAC while 222 participants (17%) with baseline CAC increased ≥100 Agatston units per year. Over an average 9.4-year follow-up after the second CAC scan, we observed 272 atherosclerotic CVD events (178 myocardial infarction, 94 stroke) and 570 deaths. After multivariable adjustment, CAC progression was significantly associated with higher risk of atherosclerotic CVD and mortality, particularly among those with CAC at baseline (Table). Conclusions: Among adults with CKD stages 2-4, progression of CAC over approximately 3 years is significantly associated with atherosclerotic CVD and mortality.

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Abstract P370: Risk Factors for Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.135.suppl_1.p370 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Joshua D Bundy ◽

Lawrence J Appel ◽

Matthew Budoff ◽

Jing Chen ◽

Alan S Go ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Cystatin C ◽

Coronary Artery Calcification ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk

Introduction: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and predicts the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Risk factors for the progression of CAC in patients with CKD have not been well studied. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that several established and novel CVD risk factors are associated with progression of CAC among patients with CKD. Methods: In a random subsample of 1,123 participants from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study, CAC was measured at baseline and the follow-up visit using electron beam computed tomography (CT) or multidetector CT. CAC progression was defined as an increase of Agatston score ≥100 units during follow-up. Multiple logistic regression and mixed-effects regression models were used to assess risk factors for progression of CAC. Results: Over an average of 3-year follow-up, 332 (29.6%) participants developed CAC progression. After adjusting for age, sex, race, clinical site, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes, and current smoking in the multivariable models, history of CVD (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% CI 1.09-2.15, p=0.02), lipid-lowering treatment (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.28-2.55, p<0.001), higher serum phosphate (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.17-1.61, p<0.001), hemoglobin A1c (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.58, p=0.002), and cystatin C (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06-1.45, p=0.007), and lower estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.56, p=0.002) were associated with CAC progression. In addition, lower physical activity, lipid-lowering treatment, body-mass index, LDL-cholesterol, lower serum calcium, phosphate, total parathyroid hormone, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, fibroblast growth factor-23, lower eGFR, cystatin C, and 24-hour urine albumin were associated with square root transformed change in CAC score from baseline in multiple-adjusted models. These findings persisted after additional adjustment for baseline CAC score. Conclusions: In conclusion, these data suggest that reduced kidney function, calcium and phosphate metabolic disorders and inflammation, in addition to established CVD risk factors, might play a role in CAC progression among patients with CKD.

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