[Cardiovascular calcifications in hemodialysis patients. Prevalence and risk factors].
OBJECTIVE
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic hemodialysed patients. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular calcifications in dialysed patients and to evaluate their risk factors.


METHODS
We did a transversal study in 86 chronically hemodialysed patients in the hemodialysis department, Ibn Sina university hospital (Rabat). All patients, 44 men and 42 females, mean age 42 +/- 15.5 years were hemodialysed for more than one year.


RESULTS
The prevalence of cardiovascular calcifications was 24.5%. Chronic hemodialysed patients with cardiovascular calcifications were older (50.5 years +/- 15.4 vs 39 years +/- 14.6; p = 0.003). They had a long hemodialysis duration (81 months +/- 51 vs 59 months +/- 43; p = 0.05) and a higher calcium plasmatic concentration (2.27 +/- 0.15 vs 2.1 +/- 0.19 mmol/l; p = 0.03). We noted a male gender predominance (sex ratio M/W = 18/3 vs 26/39; p = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis showed, as an independent predictor of cardiovascular calcifications, the old age (p = 0.01). Cardiovascular calcifications seem uncommon in our hemodialysis patients. Older age, longer hemodialysis duration and male gender are risk factors. The use of low doses of calcium carbonate, vitamin D and low milk products diet may explain this low prevalence.
Benamar
L
L
Service de néphrologie et d'hémodialyse, CHU Ibn Sina, Rabat, Maroc.
Rhou
H
H
Guerraoui
M H
MH
Bakkal
B
B
Benjelloun
H
H
Laouad
I
I
Arzouk
N
N
Benabdellah
L
L
Ouzeddoune
N
N
Ezaitouni
F
F
Balafrej
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D002118:Calcium