Prevalence of factors related to vascular calcifications in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.

The main aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of vascular calcifications in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis in our population assessed by X-ray. The secondary objectives were to determine the cardiovascular risk factors associated with the presence of vascular calcifications and to evaluate the complementary use of the echocardiogram in a cross-sectional, observational, multicentric study. We included patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, age =18 years with at least 3 months of renal replacement therapy in 8 dialysis centres in Argentina. The degree of vascular calcification was determined using Adragao and Kauppila scores. The presence of valvular calcifications was established through a trans-thoracic doppler echocardiogram. Univariate and multivariate analysis were undertaken, considering the degree of vascular calcification as the dependent variable; 443 adult patients were evaluated at 8 centres across 5 provinces in Argentina. The prevalence of vascular calcifications by the X-rays was 63%, while 73% presented calcifications in hands and pelvis, with an Adragao score > 3, and 60% presented calcifications in the abdominal aorta with a Kauppila score > 4. The prevalence of valvular calcifications: 28%. We have shown a higher rate of vascular calcifications with the use of plain X-rays when compared to the prevalence of valvular calcifications obtained with echocardiograms. In this regard, valvular calcifications were present particularly in those patients with a severe level of radiological vascular calcification.