Evaluation of intima-media thickness in patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis: a prospective study of 24 months]

Increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered a marker of early-onset atherosclerosis and it seems to predict cardiovascular events in general population. The prognostic value of IMT in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been clearly established.We aimed to evaluate the association between IMT and cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in CKD patients.A cohort of CKD patients in stage 2-4 was evaluated the occurrence of CV events and death in a 24 months follow-up. Laboratory data, carotid ultrasound and coronary computed tomography were performed at baseline.A total of 117 patients (57 ± 11 years-old, 61% male) were evaluated. Mean glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 36 ± 17 mL/min, 96% of patients had hypertension, 23% diabetes and 27% were obese. Coronary calcification was found in 48% of the patients, with higher prevalence among CKD stage 4 (p = 0.02). The median value of IMT was 0.6 mm (0.4-0.7 mm). When compared to patients with IMT ≤ 0.6 mm, those with IMT > 0.6 mm were older (p = 0.001), had higher prevalence of male (p = 0.001) and had lower eGFR (p = 0.01). These patients also had higher prevalence of coronary calcification (p = 0.001). During the follow-up, there were no differences in the occurrence of cardiovascular events and deaths between the two groups.IMT in early-stage CKD patients was related to coronary calcification, but not with the occurrence of cardiovascular events or death.