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. 2022 Mar 30;23(1):123.
doi: 10.1186/s12882-022-02748-0.

Circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 level independently predicts incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis black Africans patients

François-Pantaléon Musungayi Kajingulu  1 , François Bompeka Lepira  2 , Aliocha Natuhoyila Nkodila  3 , Jean-Robert Rissassy Makulo  2 , Vieux Momeme Mokoli  2 , Pepe Mfutu Ekulu  4 , Justine Busanga Bukabau  2 , Yannick Mayamba Nlandu  2 , Augustin Luzayadio Longo  2 , Nazaire Mangani Nseka  2 , Laura Labriola  5 , Ernest Kiswaya Sumaili  2
Affiliations

Circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 level independently predicts incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis black Africans patients

François-Pantaléon Musungayi Kajingulu et al. BMC Nephrol. .

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The aim of the present study was to determine whether Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) could be an independent predictor of CV events and all-cause mortality in black African haemodialysis patients.

Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study of all consecutive hemodialysis (HD) patients between August 2016 and July 2020, admitted in six hemodialysis centers of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Independent determinants of plasma PCSK-9 measured by ELISA were sought using multiple linear regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier's method described the incidence of CV events while competitive and proportional risk models looked for independent risk factors for death at the .05 significance level.

Results: Out of 207 HD patients, 91 (43.9%) died; 116 (56.1%) have survived. PCSK9 level was significantly higher in deceased patients compared to survivors: 28.0 (24.0-31.0) ng/l vs 9.6 (8.6-11.6) ng/ml (p < 0.001). Patients with plasma PCSK9 levels in tertile 3 had a higher incidence of CV events and mortality compared to patients with plasma PCSK9 levels in tertile 2 or tertile 1 (p < 0.001). Tertile 3 negatively influence survival rates (26.6%) compared to tertile 2 (54.7%) and tertile 1 (85.3%). Patients in tertile 3 and tertile 2 had a 4-fold higher risk of death than patients in tertile 1. After adjustment for all parameters, competitive risk analysis showed that mortality was 2 times higher in patients with stroke. Similarly, serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL or PCSK9 in tertile 3 were respectively associated with 2 or 6 times higher rates of deaths.

Conclusion: Elevated plasma PCSK9 level is an independent major predictor of incident CV events and all-cause mortality in black African HD patients.

Keywords: Black Africans; Cardiovascular events; Haemodialysis; Kidney disease; Mortality rates; Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart describing participants’ sampling process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Simple linear correlation between lipid profile and PCSK-9
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Degree of risk of cardiovascular event by PCSK9 percentile
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Degree of risk of cardiovascular event and death by PCSK9 percentile
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Kaplan-Meier survival estimate of mortality in the study population
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Survival curves in relation to PCSK 9 level
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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