title: An association between the estimated glomerular filtration rate and carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem. There is conflicting evidence concerning whether CKD is an independent risk factor for carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 428 men aged 70+/-15 (mean+/-standard deviation) years and 582 women aged 75+/-12 years enrolled consecutively from patients in the Medical Department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital. Carotid IMT was derived via B-mode ultrasonography and CKD was evaluated by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men, age (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.001), antihypertensive drug use (p<0.001), HDL-C (p=0.006), LDL-C (p=0.004), prevalence of diabetes (p=0.035) and eGFR (p<0.001) were significantly correlated with carotid IMT. In women, age (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.001), antihypertensive drug use (p<0.001), HDL-C (p=0.035), LDL-C (p=0.017) and eGFR (p<0.001) were significantly correlated with carotid IMT. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis using IMT as an objective variable, adjusted by various factors as explanatory variables, showed that eGFR was a significant independent contributing factor along with known risk factors in men (beta, -0.096; p=0.018) and women (beta, -0.080; p=0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggested that eGFR was associated with an increased prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis independent of common cardiovascular risk factors in both men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seiyo Nomura Municipal Hospital. rykawamo@ehime.med.or.jp
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Tomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.forename: Nobukazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yorimitsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography