Chronic Kidney Disease is a Risk Factor for Stroke

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a sustained reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and/or presence of albuminuria. People with CKD have adverse cardiovascular outcomes including stroke. CKD and stroke share several risk factors, most notably older age, diabetes and hypertension, but CKD is also an independent risk factor for stroke. Relative burden of increased risk is worse for younger people and women, with <40 years with end stage CKD having more than 11 times the risk of their age-matched peers. Risk also varies by CKD treatment, with a risk peak for those starting dialysis, but dropping after the first month of treatment. Proposed mechanisms for increased risk are uraemia, cerebral blood flow dysregulation, vascular calcification, arterial stiffness, chronic inflammation, vascular access impacts, and for those on haemodialysis the use of anticoagulation to maintain dialysis circuits. Outcomes for people with CKD and stroke are poorer; functional outcomes may be impacted by reduced access to specialised stroke care. Stroke mortality is higher for those with CKD; with standardised mortality ratio more than three times higher than expected, but for some groups higher still (young women <40 years with a kidney transplant have 19 times the risk of stroke mortality than women without a transplant). Interventions to prevent and treat stroke lack the evidence base in CKD patients that is present for the general population.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Epidemiology; Kidney failure; Risk factors; Stroke.