Factors associated with carotid intima-media thickness in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) with various parameters in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (mHD).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 68 subjects (41 men, 27 women) on mHD in the Hemodialysis Unit, Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, Indonesia. CIMT was measured with B-mode ultrasonography using a USG Sonoace 8000 and a 7.5 MHz linear transducer.

Results: CIMT was higher in subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with those without CVD (0.6494 vs 0.7288 mm; P =0.026), and in men compared with women (0.7056 vs 0.6141 mm; P =0.003). CIMT was correlated with age ( R =0.607; P <0.001), plasma albumin ( R =-0.291, P =0.016), serum phosphate ( R =-0.294, P =0.015), calcium-phosphate product ( R =-0.284, P =0.011), and plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( R =0.279, P =0.030). However, after multiple linear regression testing, only age consistently had a role in determining the CIMT value (β=0.452, P <0.001).

Conclusion: Subjects with CVD have higher CIMT than those without CVD and men had higher CIMT than women. In addition, older age, higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and lower albumin, phosphate, and calcium-phosphate product levels were correlated with higher CIMT. Age was the most important marker for CIMT in subjects on mHD.