Aortic Stiffness Is Independently Associated With Rate of Renal Function Decline in Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 and 4

Abstract

Aortic stiffness and chronic kidney disease are closely linked by shared risk factors and associated increased cardiovascular mortality. At lower levels of renal function, aortic stiffness is independently associated with glomerular filtration rate. However, the longitudinal impact of aortic stiffness on renal function has not been reported previously. A cohort of 133 patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate: 15 to 59 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) underwent prospective measurement of arterial stiffness parameters and monitoring of renal function. Aortic pulse wave velocity measurement was performed in 120 patients. The mean age was 69+/-12 years (mean..