Risk factors associated with aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: There are some uncertainties among the risk factors of vascular calcification in the hemodialysis patients. This study was planned to examine the association between abdominal aortic calcification and concerned biochemical parameters in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: In this cross- sectional study, 84 stable hemodialysis patients admitted on hemodialysis section of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in 2013 were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Pre-dialysis venous blood samples were taken from patients to determine the amount of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), alkaline phosphatase (Alk.P), C - reactive protein (CRP), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). Patients underwent abdominal CT scanning and ACI (ACI) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square, Kruskal Wallis and One Way ANOVA tests were used. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 50.15±17.03 years (18-83 y/o).A statistically significant correlation was observed between ACI and ALK-P serum levels (p=0.01). It was found that ACI had a significant relationship with phosphorus in women (p=0.01). ALK-P serum levels in men also had a significant relationship with ACI (p=0.02). In addition, there was a significant correlation between ACI and history of cerebro-cardiovascular disease and also duration of dialysis (p=0.004 and 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with longer duration of dialysis, and patients with a history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, ACI levels were significantly higher. ALK-P and phosphorus were correlated with aortic calcification in males and females respectively. No significant correlation was found between iPTH serum levels and aortic calcification.