Coronary artery calcification in patients with diabetes mellitus and advanced chronic kidney disease

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) have high cardiovascular risk. Both conditions are related to systemic atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. The prevalence and severity of coronary artery calcification (CaC) is higher in patients with DM, regardless of their renal function. Data about the long-term prognostic role of CaC in diabetic patients with CKD are scarce. Material and methods: We carried out a prospective longitudinal study enrolling 137 patients with advanced CKD. A non-enhanced multislice coronary computed tomography (CT) was performed at baseline. CaC was assessed using Agatston method. Patients were stratified according to their CaC score: severe calcification group (CaCs >= 400 HU) and mild-moderate calcification group (CaCs < 400 HU). Results: The median follow-up time was 87.5 months. DM was found in 28% of subjects. The patients with DM showed more severe CaC, lower albumin and higher C-reactive protein serum levels. Serum albumin was correlated with severe CaC (r = -0.45, P = .009). Overall mortality rate reached 58%. Patients with DM also tended to have higher mortality compared to non diabetic subjects (X-2 3.51, P = .061) especially those with severe CaC showed higher mortality than those with severe CaC without DM (93% vs.73%, P = .04). Conclusions: Patients with advanced CKD and DM have more severe CaC, increased inflammation-malnutrition data and higher mortality compared to those without DM. (C) 2018 SEEN y SED. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.