Silent Kidney Disease Tied To Heart Attacks And Early Death, Even Among Young Adults
August 10th, 2008 | by admin |Chronic kidney disease doubles the risk of heartattack, stroke, and early mortality, even among young and middle-agedadults, according to results of a nationwide screening program.
Chronic kidney disease is a recognized risk factor for cardiovasculardisease in elderly people. New data from the National KidneyFoundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), reported in theAugust issue of the American Heart Journal, provides the first proofthat the danger is not restricted to people over the age of 65.
The research team at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan,was led by Dr. Peter A. McCullough, vice chair of the Foundation’sKEEP program.
“We used to think that chronic kidney disease was just an issue ofgetting older,” Dr. McCullough said. “But when we took age out ofthe equation, we found that kidney disease can affect even youngadults.”
Early Identification and Treatment Lower Risk
However, by routinely testing all adults for kidney disease, those atrisk for premature cardiovascular disease can be identified and treated,increasing their chances of a normal lifespan.
In the study, more than 30,000 individuals over 18 years of age with afamily history of hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease weretested between 2000 and 2007. Participants answered questions aboutpast heart attacks and strokes, and blood and urine specimens werecollected for laboratory testing.
To ensure that results could not be attributed to old age, the studywas restricted to men less than 55 years old and women less than 65years old. The researchers determined mortality by cross-checkingagainst national data systems.
Twenty percent of subjects were found to have chronic kidney disease(CKD).
Among those with CKD, roughly 5% had a premature heart attack orstroke, versus 2.5% of those without CKD. The mortality rate was fourtimes higher in the CKD group (total 50 deaths out of 6000 individualsduring the 5 years after screening) than in those with normal kidneyfunction (total 44 deaths out of 23,000 individuals).
The worst survival occurred among those with both CKD and a history ofheart attack or stroke.
“The vast majority of these people were in the prime of theirlife,” Dr. McCullough noted. “This is a call to action thatAmericans need to improve their health.”
He suggests that kidney damage causes biological changes in the bodythat accelerate vascular injury throughout the body.
He recommends that all adults at risk for kidney disease — anyone whois overweight, smokes or has high blood pressure, diabetes, and a familyhistory of kidney disease– routinely be checked for albumin in theirurine and for reduced kidney function. If detected, risk factors forheart disease and stroke have to be addressed.
“These simple tests can motivate patients to change their livesincluding losing body fat, controlling blood pressure, treatingdiabetes, and quitting cigarette smoking,” he said.
For patients with reduced kidney function, the National KidneyFoundation advises further testing for abnormalities that can lead tobone disease and blood vessel calcification.
The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing and treatingkidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well beingof individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasingavailability of all organs for transplantation.
To learn more about chronic kidney disease, risk factors or to find afree KEEP screening in your area contact the National Kidney Foundationat http://www.kidney.org.
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