Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is independently associated with cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study aimed to determine the factors related to cTnT levels in pre-dialysis CKD patients, which result in increased cardiovascular risk.
A total of 147 patients, with a mean age of 69.1 ± 14.7 years old, were enrolled. These participants were classified to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria categories, according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes 2012 criteria. The estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV), as an index of arterial stiffness, was calculated using an equation, which included age and mean blood pressure. Coronary arterial disease (CAD) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were also recorded. The cTnT concentrations were measured by high-sensitivity immunoassay. The significant correlation between cTnT and different variables was determined, and the significant risk factors for high cTnT levels were defined.
A significant correlation was observed between cTnT serum concentrations and age, triglycerides/HDL-C, ePWV, glucose, phosphate (P), intact-parathyroid hormone (i-PTH), serum uric acid and albuminuria, although the association with eGFR was shown to be significantly inverse. The multifactorial model revealed that current smoking (p = 0.03, OR = 8.3, 1.15–60.3), CAD (p = 0.001, OR = 25.2, 5.6–113.6), low eGFR (p = 0.001, OR = 0.9, 0.8–0.9), high ePWV (p = 0.04, OR = 2.6, 1.0–6.8), and primary renal disease (p = 0.001, OR = 3.8, 1.7–8.5) are independent risk factors for elevated cTnT levels, after adjusting for age, gender, obesity and albuminuria.
Arterial stiffness, smoking, primary renal disease and unregulated metabolic abnormalities may have an independent association between high cTnT levels and low eGFR in pre-dialysis CKD patients, with or without overt cardiovascular disease.
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