Association of abnormalities in electrocardiography and ultrasonic echocardiography with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

Background In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with disease progression.

CVD screening tests in those with CKD were researched to determine whether abnormalities observed in electrocardiography (ECG) and ultrasonic echocardiography (UCG) were risk factors associated with the development of CVD.

Methods This study included 604 patients with CKD G4 and G5, for whom both ECG and UCG were performed.

They were divided into four groups: those without ECG- and UCG-indicated abnormalities (group A, n = 333), with only ECG abnormalities (group B, n = 106), with only UCG abnormalities (group C, n = 75), and with both ECG and UCG abnormalities (group D, n = 90).

Multivariate analysis using Cox regression analysis of the occurrence of CVD was performed during a follow-up period.

Results During the observation period, 124 patients had clinical events.

Among them, 45 patients (13.5%) were in Group A, 25 patients (23.6%) in Group B, 19 patients (25.3%) in Group C, and 35 patients (38.9%) in Group D, respectively.

CVD event occurrence was highest in Group D.

The results of the multivariate analysis also showed that the CVD event rates were significantly higher in Group C (HR: 2.96, P  = < .001) and D (HR: 4.22, P  < .001) than in Group A. Conclusion In patients with advanced CKD, there was a significant correlation of ECG and UCG abnormalities with CVD events.

Additionally, those having both types of abnormalities may have a higher risk of coronary artery disease than other groups.