Abstract 145: Rates of Transfusion and Progression to End-Stage Renal Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Transradial Versus Transfemoral Cardiac Catheterization - An Analysis from the VA CART Program

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of bleeding and transfusion after cardiac catheterization. Whether rates of these complications or progression to new dialysis are increased in this high-risk population undergoing transradial (TR) access compared to transfemoral (TF) access is unknown. Methods: From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (CART) Program between 10/2007-09/2012 we identified 40,160 CKD patients undergoing cardiac catheterization with baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≤ 60 ml/min. We used multivariable Cox modeling to determine the independent association between TR access and post-procedure transfusion as well as progression to new dialysis using TF as the reference. Results: Overall, 3,828 (9.5%) of CKD patients underwent TR access and tended to be slightly younger but overall had similar rates of CKD severity compared with TF patients (GFR 45-60 ml/min: 77.0% vs. 77.0%; GFR 30-44 ml/min: 19.7% vs. 19.3%; GFR 15-29 ml/min: 3.3% vs. 3.7%, p=0.35). TR patients had longer fluoroscopy times (8.1 vs 6.9 minutes, p=<0.0001) but decreased contrast use (90.0 vs 100.0 ml, p=<0.0001). Among the 31,692 patients with a full year of follow-up, 42 (1.7%) of TR patients and 545 (1.9%) of TF patients progressed to new dialysis within 1 year (p=0.64). However, only 33 (0.9%) of TR patients compared with 570 TF patients (1.6%) needed post-procedure blood transfusion (p=0.0006). After multivariable adjustment, there was no significant difference in progression to ESRD between TR and TF patients but TR was associated with a significant decrease in transfusion (Figure). Conclusion: Among CKD patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in the VA health system, TR access is associated with a decreased risk for post-procedure transfusion compared with TF access. There was no significant difference between the two approaches with respect to progression to ESRD. These data suggest that TR is a reasonable option for patients with any level of CKD undergoing cardiac catheterization.