Epidemiology and chronic kidney disease as a cardiovascular risk factor

Chronic kidney disease defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min or the presence of albuminuria is present in about 10% of the European populations. The risk increases with age, arterial hypertension, and diabetes. Both aspects—reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria—are major factors associated with the progression of renal failure, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Patients on dialysis have a 10- to 20-fold increase in the cardiovascular event rate. Furthermore, heart failure and sudden cardiac death are associated with the severity of renal failure