Cardiovascular Impact of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease can contribute to coronary artery or heart disease, resulting in the death of over 20 million individuals in the U.S. with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The presence of CKD significantly heightens the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, with coronary disease accounting for the majority of fatalities in CKD patients. Even in the early or mild stages of renal disease, individuals face an elevated risk of heart-related issues, including heart attacks and death from heart disease. Among kidney dialysis patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, mortality rates are 10 to 30 times higher than in the general population of cardiovascular patients. Major risk factors for both heart disease and chronic kidney disease include diabetes and hypertension. Regardless of the presence of hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and concurrent diabetes, kidney disease (whether acute or chronic) can escalate the risk of cardiovascular illness.