Evaluation Arterial Stiffness In Chronic Hemodialysis Patients And The Related Risk Factors

Aim: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI) are indicators of arterial stiffness and non invasive methods of detecting the severity of vascular injury. This study included large sample size and evaluated PWV and AI in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients to detect the related risk factors. Method: 881 patients on chronic HD program (44% females) were included in this study. PWV and AI of the patients measured by single operator using pulse wave analysis device (Sphygmocor). Pulse wave was measured from carotid-radial distance. Aortic AI was obtained from aortic pulse wave forms derived from radial artery .for all patients, left ventricular geometry was evaluated by echocardiography and volume status was evaluated by bioimpedence device. Results: The average PWV in patient group was 10.0± 2.5 m/s, average AI was 27±11%. AI -HR75, the heart rate corrected form at 75 beat/minute of AI was found to be 29±11%. PWV and AI were found above limit value in 29% and 67% of the patients respectively. A positive relation was found between PWV and AI. when patients with high and normal AI were compared, albumin values were lower while average blood pressure values, cardiothoracic ratio(CTR) were higher and ejection time longer in patients with high AI. AI had a negative relation with height and weight. AI 75 was also negatively related to height and weight. In patients with high AI75 Araştırma Yazısı 151 more patients had left ventricular hypertrofy (LVH). Male patients percentage and average blood pressure was higher in patients with high PWV. In the analysis of PWV of the subgroup (n:408 patients), evident interdialytic weight increase was present in the group with PWV of ≥ 11.5 m/ sc compared to the group of < 8.5 m/sc. Conclusion: measures that can be used to evaluate vascular stiffness like PWV and AI are related to average arterial blood pressure, cardiothoracic ratio, hypoalbuminemia, interdialytic weight increase. We think that the relation between these parameters and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality will become clear in the follow up of our hemodialysis patients.