Association of Kidney Function and Hemoglobin with Left Ventricular Morphology among African Americans: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Brad C. Astor, Donna K. Arnett, Andrew Brown, Josef Coresh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) is present in more than 70% of patients with kidney failure. Hypertension and anemia, 2 strong risk factors for LVH, are common in patients with moderate kidney dysfunction. It is unknown whether kidney function and lower hemoglobin levels are associated with LV morphological characteristics among African Americans with moderate kidney dysfunction, independent of blood pressure. Methods: As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, 1,968 African Americans aged 50 to 75 years underwent an echocardiogram after 6 to 9 years of follow-up. LV mass was indexed (LVMI) to body surface area. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated from calibrated serum creatinine levels measured at baseline and after 3 years (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 excluded). Hemoglobin was measured at baseline and after 3 years. Blood pressure was measured every 3 years. Results: A mean GFR of 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 was associated with a 15.3 g/m2 greater LVMI, 0.9 mm greater posterior wall thickness, and 1.0 mm greater interventricular septal thickness compared with a GFR of 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 or greater. These associations remained after adjustment for age, sex, hemoglobin level, blood pressure, and other covariates. Wall thickness and LVMI increased with lower GFR less than 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 (5.5 g/m2 greater LVMI [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9 to 10.1] per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower GFR). A lower hemoglobin level was associated with greater LV diameter (0.5 mm [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7] per 1 g/dL [10 g/L]), but not wall thickness, after adjustment. Conclusion: These results in a general population sample of middle-aged African Americans suggest that moderately decreased kidney function independently predicts greater LV wall thickness, and lower hemoglobin level independently predicts greater LV diameter. These findings may explain, in part, the high risk for cardiovascular disease observed among individuals with kidney disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)836-845
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Supported in part by contracts no. N01HC55015, N01HC55016, N01HC55018, N01HC55019, N01HC55020, N01HC55021, N01HC55022 (The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study), and T32HL07024-23 (B.C.A) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; a grant from the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Baltimore, MD (B.C.A.); and an American Heart Association Established Investigator Award (J.C.).

Funding

Supported in part by contracts no. N01HC55015, N01HC55016, N01HC55018, N01HC55019, N01HC55020, N01HC55021, N01HC55022 (The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study), and T32HL07024-23 (B.C.A) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; a grant from the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Baltimore, MD (B.C.A.); and an American Heart Association Established Investigator Award (J.C.).

FundersFunder number
American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Baltimore, MD
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)T32HL007024
American Heart Association

    Keywords

    • Anemia
    • Echocardiography
    • Hemoglobin
    • Hypertrophy

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nephrology

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