To patients without ventricular arrhythmia, those with ventricular arrhythmia exhibited higher frequency of systolic dysfunction (18 vs 6 ; p = 0.037), ventricular hypertrophy (38 vs 10781694 21 ; p = 0.047), and coronary artery calcification (69 vs 39 ; p = 0.004). In the stepwise logistic regression analysis, age, hemoglobin, and ejection fraction were the factors independently associated with the presence of ventricular arrhythmia in nondialyzed CKD patients (Table 3).(N = 111) Male [n( )] Age (years) Black [n( )] Follow up time (months) Diabetes [n( )] Tobacco use [n( )] Body mass index (kg/m2) Creatinine (mg/dL) eGFR (ml/min/1,73 m2) Proteinuria (g/24 h) Hemoglobin (g/dL) Potassium (mEq/L) Magnesium (mEq/L) Ionized calcium (mmol/L) Phosphate (mg/dL) Alkaline phosphatase (mg/dl) PTH (pg/ml) iFGF 23 (pg/ml) CRP (mg/dl) IL6 (pg/ml) Total 14636-12-5 cholesterol (mg/dL) LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) Triglycerides (mg/dL) Median systolic pressure (mmHg) Mean diastolic pressure (mmHg) Absence of systolic decency [n( )] Non controlled hypertension [n( )] Left ventricular mass index (g/m2) Ejection fraction ( ) Calcium score (AU) 67 (60 ) 57611.38 21 (19 ) 21 (9?5) 27 (24 ) 57 (51 ) 26.865.26 2.2660.84 34.7616.1 0.24 (0?.79) 12.761.8 4.7 (4.3?.1) 1.9 (1.7?.1) 1.2860.05 3.7860.72 81 (66?03) 110 (63?93) 47.3 (23.2?02.8) 0.28 (0.12?.77) 4.6 (2.7?.4) 184.2637.7 101628.2 51.5614.3 125 (99?06) 125 (116.7?37) 78.6610.9 32 (29 ) 23 (21 ) 102.3 (84.4?31.3) 67 (62?0) 9 (0?34)DiscussionAccording to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) database, the single largest cause of death is attributed to arrhythmic disturbances. In fact, 26 of all-cause mortality among dialysis patients is due to cardiac arrest, unknown cause or arrhythmia [16]. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia and its associated risk factors had not been so far described in CKD patients in the initial stages of the disease. Herein we demonstrated that the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmia is elevated among CKD patients not yet requiring dialysis. In addition, we identified aging, hemoglobin levels and ejection fraction as the factors independently related to the presence of ventricular arrhythmia in these patients. Patients with end-stage renal disease have several factors that could predispose to the development of ventricular arrhythmia. In the general population, the association of aging with episodes of fatal ventricular arrhythmia has been well recognized [17,18]. Accordingly, in the present study, we confirmed the association of age with the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with CKD. In fact, the aging process contributes to changes in the cardiovascular system such as increased arterial stiffness, increased systolic ventricular wall stress, and diastolic dysfunction [19]. Those structural cardiac alterations over time, along with the uremic cardiomyopathy, are potential contributors for the high prevalence of arrhythmias in CKD patients. Numerous studies in the general Apocynin population have pointed out men experience a higher rate of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death when compared to women [20?2]. In patients with coronary artery disease and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators it has been demonstrated that women were less likely to experience ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation recurrences than men [20]. Accordingly, in the present study, 77 of the patients with ventricular arrhythmias were men. In fact, although the exact physiol.To patients without ventricular arrhythmia, those with ventricular arrhythmia exhibited higher frequency of systolic dysfunction (18 vs 6 ; p = 0.037), ventricular hypertrophy (38 vs 10781694 21 ; p = 0.047), and coronary artery calcification (69 vs 39 ; p = 0.004). In the stepwise logistic regression analysis, age, hemoglobin, and ejection fraction were the factors independently associated with the presence of ventricular arrhythmia in nondialyzed CKD patients (Table 3).(N = 111) Male [n( )] Age (years) Black [n( )] Follow up time (months) Diabetes [n( )] Tobacco use [n( )] Body mass index (kg/m2) Creatinine (mg/dL) eGFR (ml/min/1,73 m2) Proteinuria (g/24 h) Hemoglobin (g/dL) Potassium (mEq/L) Magnesium (mEq/L) Ionized calcium (mmol/L) Phosphate (mg/dL) Alkaline phosphatase (mg/dl) PTH (pg/ml) iFGF 23 (pg/ml) CRP (mg/dl) IL6 (pg/ml) Total cholesterol (mg/dL) LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) Triglycerides (mg/dL) Median systolic pressure (mmHg) Mean diastolic pressure (mmHg) Absence of systolic decency [n( )] Non controlled hypertension [n( )] Left ventricular mass index (g/m2) Ejection fraction ( ) Calcium score (AU) 67 (60 ) 57611.38 21 (19 ) 21 (9?5) 27 (24 ) 57 (51 ) 26.865.26 2.2660.84 34.7616.1 0.24 (0?.79) 12.761.8 4.7 (4.3?.1) 1.9 (1.7?.1) 1.2860.05 3.7860.72 81 (66?03) 110 (63?93) 47.3 (23.2?02.8) 0.28 (0.12?.77) 4.6 (2.7?.4) 184.2637.7 101628.2 51.5614.3 125 (99?06) 125 (116.7?37) 78.6610.9 32 (29 ) 23 (21 ) 102.3 (84.4?31.3) 67 (62?0) 9 (0?34)DiscussionAccording to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) database, the single largest cause of death is attributed to arrhythmic disturbances. In fact, 26 of all-cause mortality among dialysis patients is due to cardiac arrest, unknown cause or arrhythmia [16]. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia and its associated risk factors had not been so far described in CKD patients in the initial stages of the disease. Herein we demonstrated that the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmia is elevated among CKD patients not yet requiring dialysis. In addition, we identified aging, hemoglobin levels and ejection fraction as the factors independently related to the presence of ventricular arrhythmia in these patients. Patients with end-stage renal disease have several factors that could predispose to the development of ventricular arrhythmia. In the general population, the association of aging with episodes of fatal ventricular arrhythmia has been well recognized [17,18]. Accordingly, in the present study, we confirmed the association of age with the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with CKD. In fact, the aging process contributes to changes in the cardiovascular system such as increased arterial stiffness, increased systolic ventricular wall stress, and diastolic dysfunction [19]. Those structural cardiac alterations over time, along with the uremic cardiomyopathy, are potential contributors for the high prevalence of arrhythmias in CKD patients. Numerous studies in the general population have pointed out men experience a higher rate of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death when compared to women [20?2]. In patients with coronary artery disease and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators it has been demonstrated that women were less likely to experience ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation recurrences than men [20]. Accordingly, in the present study, 77 of the patients with ventricular arrhythmias were men. In fact, although the exact physiol.
