title: Decreased Renal Function Is a Risk Factor for Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Korean Postmenopausal Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Decreased renal function is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Our study was planned to verify the association of decreased renal function and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of 251 Korean postmenopausal women who visited the health promotion center for a routine health checkup. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was used to show renal function, which was estimated by calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formulas. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by 64-row multidetector computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with reduced eGFR (< 60 mL/minute/1.73 m2) had significantly higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) than women with normal eGFR (≥ 60 mL/minute/1.73 m2). The eGFR was negatively correlated with baPWV (r = -0.352,P< 0.001), significantly. The eGFR was lower in women with coronary atherosclerosis than in normal control women, markedly. Reduced eGFR was significantly associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR] = 7.528, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.728-20.772,P< 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased eGFR was closely associated with increased arterial stiffness and coronary atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. Evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis by screening the renal function in postmenopausal women may be helpful screening high risk group and considering starting menopausal hormone therapy before atherosclerosis development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Hyon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gil Hospital, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Si Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Kyo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Kidney function tests; Postmenopause; Vascular stiffness