title: Aortic pulse wave velocity is a strong predictor of all--cause and cardiovascular mortality in chronic dialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients (CHP) and to identify the determinants of mortality predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study with 3 years of follow-up period, we studied a cohort of 80 CHPs. Mean age at entry was 59.3 ± 11.8 years (duration of dialysis 5.47 ± 5.16 years). At entry, together with standard clinical and biochemical analyses, pulse wave velocity (PWV) was determined from time diversity propagation of the common carotid artery and common femoral artery flow signals by Doppler ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean PWV (m/s) was presented at entry: in survived (12.5 ± 2.01) and deceased (13.13 ± 1.70) patients. The PWV cutoff point (by ROC curves) was 11.8. The regression coefficients (b) and Exp (b) hazard ratio coefficients of covariates in Cox-regression survival analysis in all-cause and CV outcomes was: PWV (b = 0.2617, Exp[b] = 1.2992, p = 0.0027; b = 0.3569, Exp[b] = 1.4289, p = 0.0005), CRP (b = 0.0776, Exp[b] = 1.0807, p = 0.0001; b = 0.0832, Exp[b] = 1.0868, p = 0.0001) and albumin (b = -0.1302, Exp[b] = 0.8779, p = 0.0089; b = -0.1881, 0.8285, p = 0.0030), respectively. Relative risk for exposed groups according to all-cause and CV events was 4.2976 (95% CI = 1.6051-11.5071) and 14.3590 (95% CI = 1.6051-11.5071), p = 0.0037, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that PWV, CRP and serum albumin are strong independent predictors of overall and CV mortality in patients undergoing dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital , Bitola , Republic of Macedonia .
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avramovski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janakievska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sotiroski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zafirova-Ivanovska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sikole
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein