Hypoalbuminaemia - A marker of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease stages II - IV

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Serum albumin, a negative acute-phase reactant and marker for underlying inflammation and/or malnutrition, is an independent predictor of CVD and mortality in CKD VI patients. Such an association in patients with less severe CKD is not well established. We conducted a cross sectional study of all CKD II - IV patients attending the nephrology clinic (N=376; mean age: 57±17 years; GFR: 47±20 mL/min/1.73m2; females 48%; blacks 15%; diabetics 27%; hypertensive 79%). Laboratory and clinical data including risk factors and evidence of CVD were obtained at the point of the most recent visit. The association between risk factors and CVD was evaluated by logistic regression. In the simple logistic regression model, age (p<0.0001), sex (P= 0.02), hypertension (P<0.0001), diabetes (P