# Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH)

## TL;DR

This study examines how common heart disease is among kidney patients in Saudi Arabia and identifies key risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed analysis of cardiovascular disease prevalence and risk factors in CKD patients in Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- 56.3% of CKD patients had cardiovascular disease, with heart failure and ischemic heart disease being most common.
- Hypertension and diabetes were prevalent comorbidities in 84.7% and 72.3% of patients, respectively.
- Severely reduced heart function, proteinuria, diabetes, and higher BMI were significant CVD risk factors.

## Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a significant global health concern, with its incidence doubling over the past three decades. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) pose a major threat to CKD patients, surpassing the risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease. While previous studies worldwide have shed light on this association, limited research has been conducted in Saudi Arabia regarding this burden. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying the prevalence and risk factors of CVD in CKD patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2017 and 2022.

Methods: A six-year retrospective review of medical records at KAUH was conducted, including 465 non-end-stage CKD patients aged 30 to 79. Data, including demographics, clinical information, and laboratory results, were collected and statistically analyzed to investigate the association between variables.

Results: Out of 465 CKD patients, 262 (56.3%) were diagnosed with CVD, with congestive heart failure and ischemic heart disease being the most common types. The majority were male 259 (55.7%), non-Saudi 278 (59.8%), and aged 60 years and older 291 (62.6%). Hypertension 394 (84.7%) and diabetes mellitus 336 (72.3%) were prevalent comorbidities. Severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, proteinuria, diabetes mellitus, and higher BMI were identified as significant risk factors for CVD in CKD patients.

Conclusion: This research contributes valuable insights into the prevalence and risk factors of CVD in CKD patients in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the need for early detection and intervention. The identified risk factors provide a basis for developing targeted preventive strategies to mitigate this population's CVD burden.