title: Risk factors for cardiovascular calcifications in non-diabetic Caucasian haemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dialysis patients display an increased mortality which is associated with cardiovascular calcifications. Diabetes mellitus and ethnicity are known factors that affect the extent of cardiovascular calcifications. However, most studies have investigated mixed cohorts with diabetics and/or mixed ethnicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular calcifications were assessed in non-diabetic Caucasian haemodialysis patients by the semiquantitative Adragao calcification score (X-ray pelvis and hands) and a novel composite calcification score encompassing the Adragao score as well as calcifications detected by X-ray of the fistula arm, echocardiography of heart valves and carotid ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using multivariate analysis, age, male gender, dialysis vintage, lower Kt/V, calcium-phosphate product, smoking and high-sensitivity CRP were independent risk factors for cardiovascular calcifications as assessed by the Adragao or the composite score. Pulse wave velocity was independently related to both calcification scores. Body mass index, cholesterol, triglycerides, iPTH and serum levels of fetuin-A and uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein were not associated with cardiovascular calcifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our cohort of non-diabetic Caucasian haemodialysis patients, age, male gender, dialysis vintage, smoking, calcium-phosphate product, high-sensitivity CRP and lower Kt/V were independent risk factors for cardiovascular calcifications. Whether lowering the calcium-phosphate product and increasing dialysis efficiency can reduce cardiovascular calcifications in dialysis patients remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany. gschlieper@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schlieper
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brandenburg
authors.forename: Zivka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Damjanovic
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schurgers
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westenfeld
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haselhuhn
authors.forename: Sinisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimkovic
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketteler
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Floege
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dimkovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People