title: Primary renal disease as a cardiovascular risk factor.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is approximately 3 to 5 times that of non-uremic control subjects. Moreover, higher rates of CVD are seen in patients with moderate and even mild renal dysfunction, particularly if the patient has hypertension or diabetes. Recent studies have indicated that even modest elevations in serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion are associated with increased CVD risk, not only in persons with diabetes or hypertension but also in the general population. In addition, recent studies have suggested that targeting the kidney and/or kidney specific endpoints (via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-kinin system) in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure slows progression of renal disease and reduces the risk of extra-renal micro- and macrovascular complications. We conclude that it is important to screen for renal disease in those with hypertension, diabetes, and other CVD risk factors because it predicts those who are at high risk for major CVD events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA. ecrook@dmc.org
authors.forename: Errol D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Flack
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Abdulla K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Salahudeen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003404:Creatinine