Factors Associated with Arterial Stiffness and Its Change in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness, as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), is an important predictor of cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. However, factors associated with arterial stiffness and its change have not been well defined in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.METHODS: Prevalent CKD stages 3-5 patients who visited our outpatient department were screened for enrollment. baPWV values were recorded at baseline and again after 6 months. baPWV change was defined us the baPWV measured at baseline subtracted from the baPWV measured at 6-month follow-up. Factors associated with baPWV and baPWV change were analyzed.RESULTS: This study included 337 patients with CKD stages 3-5, and 221 patients completed repeat baPWV measurement. Baseline baPWV was independently predicted by age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diabetes mellitus, and urine protein creatinine ratio. At 6-month follow-up, baPWV decreased (1565 ± 286 cm/s at baseline and 1515 ± 250 cm/s at 6 months; P ＜0.001), and so did blood pressure, baPWV change was independently associated with baseline baPWV, SBP reduction, and age.CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness, as measured by baPWV, was associated with both traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors in CKD patients. However, baPWV in CKD patients decreased during the 6-month follow-up period.