Noncardiovascular mortality in CKD: an epidemiological perspective

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are known to have increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Of late, it has been recognized that these patients also have increased noncardiovascular mortality. Here, the authors discuss both cardiovascular and nonocardiovascular mortality in CKD, provide examples of traditional cardiovascular risk factors that also seem to be associated with noncardiovascular mortality, and summarize the potential pathophysiological mechanisms involved.