ASSOCIATION OF LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS INDEX WITH ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Although the association of left ventricular mass (LVM) with outcome is well established in dialysis patients, the importance of this association in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations is not well documented. Aim of the study was to examine the association of LVM index with all-cause mortality in CKD patients. Design and method: Our study population consisted of 126 patients with CKD stages 3–4, referred for evaluation at the Hypertension Unit of our department. The patients underwent office blood pressure measurements and echocardiographic measurements. LVM was estimated using Devereux’s formula according to the Penn Convention Protocol. LVM index was defined as LVM divided by the body surface area. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between LVM index and all-cause mortality. Results: After a median follow-up of 3 years, 11 cardiovascular and 16 non-cardiovascular deaths occurred. The study population consisted of 95 men (75%). Mean age was 70 years, mean office BP was 143/76 mmHg. The multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that LVM index was independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 1.011, 95%CI 1.000–1.023, p = 0.049) after adjustment for age, sex, history of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, smoking, antihypertensive treatment and mean office blood pressure values. Conclusions: Left ventricular mass index is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients with CKD.