Epidemiology/Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in the General Population and in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dyslipidemia, which is a major traditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is very common both in the general population and in patients with CKD. Epidemiologic studies have shown that dyslipidemia is frequently associated with other metabolic disturbances. Several studies have reported that lipoprotein abnormalities exist in a wide range of patients with kidney disease. Lipid abnormalities are observed in patients with CKD stages 1–4, in patients with nephrotic syndrome, in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, and even in kidney transplant recipients. These abnormalities contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients. Moreover, dyslipidemia may adversely affect the progression of renal disease in patients with CKD.