Impaired left ventricular systolic function and increased brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity are independently associated with rapid renal function progression

Heart failure and increased arterial stiffness are associated with declining renal function. Few studies have evaluated the association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) and renal function progression. The aim of this study was to assess whether LVEF<40% and baPWV are associated with a decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the progression to a renal end point of >= 25% decline in eGFR. This longitudinal study included 167 patients. The baPWV was measured with an ankle-brachial index-form device. The change in renal function was estimated by eGFR slope. The renal end point was defined as >= 25% decline in eGFR. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared and analyzed. After a multivariate analysis, serum hematocrit was positively associated with eGFR slope, and diabetes mellitus, baPWV (P = 0.031) and LVEF<40% (P = 0.001) were negatively associated with eGFR slope. Forty patients reached the renal end point. Multivariate, forward Cox regression analysis found that lower serum albumin and hematocrit levels, higher triglyceride levels, higher baPWV (P = 0.039) and LVEF<40% (P<0.001) were independently associated with progression to the renal end point. Our results show that LVEF<40% and increased baPWV are independently associated with renal function decline and progression to the renal end point. Hypertension Research (2011) 34, 1052-1058; doi: 10.1038/hr.2011.95; published online 14 July 2011