Assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease –A study from a tertiary care centre in south India

Abstract Introduction Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with ethnic and geographic differences. The present study aimed to assess the CVD risk in patients with CKD attending a tertiary care centre in south India using the global CVD risk score incorporating the traditional risk factors and compared with a risk score incorporating the novel risk factors to assess which among these could identify the CVD risk better. Methods Seventy five patients with CKD from stages 1 to 4 were included along with 25 healthy individuals. Biochemical markers i.e lipid profile, hsCRP, fibrinogen, uric acid, homocysteine, Lp(a) and MDA were estimated using standard methods. Global risk was calculated as described previously. We developed a similar risk score incorporating the novel risk factors called novel CVD risk score. Results Patients with end stage renal disease and advanced CKD had higher novel CVD risk score compared to patients with early CKD and increased with progression of disease.The global risk score was comparable between the groups. Conclusion Novel CVD risk score increases with progression of disease and may thus be a better index of CVD risk in patients with CKD in south Indian population. We recommend calculating each CKD patient’s global risk and risk based on novel risk factors and its documentation in their case records so as to guide risk factor intervention.