Calcification of the abdominal aorta in patients on hemodialysis in a renal unit

Abstract

Objective: to describe the prevalence of abdominal aortic calcifications and risk factors in patients on hemodialysis in the renal unit Imbanaco Medical Center in the city of Cali.

Background: vascular calcification is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease. Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and factors such as age, associated diseases and some metabolic abnormalities increase the risk of vascular calcification.

Material and methods: we included 47 hemodialysis patients over 18 years and more than three months in dialysis. The lateral lumbar radiography was used to assess the calcification of the segments L1 to L4 using a score for quantification and a single trained observer. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between AAC and patient characteristics.

Results: median age of patients was 60.8 years (range 25""84), 57.4% were female, median duration of HD 44.6 months (range 3""156). We found that in 63.8% of patients had calcifications in any segment of the abdominal aorta. We found that older age (P = 0.0006) and lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.036) the risk is greater prevalence of calcification.

Conclusions: abdominal aortic calcification is prevalent in patients with CKD on hemodialysis. Factors such as age and decreased DBP were associated with the group of calcifications.The lateral lumbar radiograph is a tool widely available and less expensive than can be taken into account in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis patients and as a predictor of complications