Use of cardio-ankle vascular index in chronic dialysis patients

Background: Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for de novo arterial stiffness in long-term dialysis patients.Materials and methods: A total of 59 dialysis patients without initial arterial stiffness were studied for 1 year. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was measured and a CAVI value ≥ 9 at the end of 1 year was defined as de novo arterial stiffness. The initial baseline characteristics and laboratory parameters and final laboratory parameters after 1 year were analysed.Results: Dialysis patients with de novo arterial stiffness were significantly older than dialysis patients without de novo arterial stiffness. Initial serum phosphorus and calcium × phosphorus product of dialysis patients with de novo arterial stiffness were significantly greater than those of dialysis patients without de novo arterial stiffness. The haematocrit of dialysis patients with de novo arterial stiffness was significantly lower than that of dialysis patients without de novo arterial stiffness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and initial serum phosphorus were independent risk factors for de novo arterial stiffness in dialysis patients.Conclusion: After 1-year follow-up, de novo arterial stiffness in dialysis patients as determined by CAVI was significantly associated with age and initial serum phosphorus.