Risk factors associated with increased left ventricular mass index in chronic kidney disease patients evaluated using echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: It is still not clear which factors are associated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, based on the patient's physical and biochemical parameters at the time of echocardiography. The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with LVMI in CKD patients (predialysis patients), using echocardiography.
METHODS: Physical, biochemical and LVMI data evaluated by echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed in 930 CKD patients in Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
RESULTS: Levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hemoglobin (Hb) were independent risk factors for increased LVMI in multivariate regression analysis. SBP was significantly correlated with LVMI (r=0.314, p<0.0001). The level of Hb was inversely correlated with LVMI (r=-0.372, p<0.0001). LVMI increased with decreasing renal function. SBP was significantly higher in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in CKD stages 2 and 5, and Hb was significantly lower in patients with LVH in stages 4 and 5 than in the group without LVH.
CONCLUSIONS: It is important to treat hypertension and anemia to prevent LVH in CKD patients. These findings have some therapeutic implications for treatment strategies for predialysis patients.