A 10% reduction in kidney function has been shown to significantly increase an individual’s risk for cardiovascular disease and deaths. Living kidney donors lose 20-40% of their pre-donation kidney function.
50 people approved as living kidney donors were assessed for heart risk prior to donation.
In 72% of subjects, at least 1 of the risk factors was detected. Atherogenic index values considered to indicate high risk of atherosclerosis were found in 16% of subjects. More than 40% of subjects had more than 1 coronary risk factor, and most had 2.
In 26%, heart risk exceeded what would be expected by the individual’s age by 1-9%
Conclusion (emphasis mine):
The prevalence of coronary risk factors is high in potential kidney donors. HeartScore seems to be a useful method to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular mortality in these individuals, and is a simple tool to use in controlling the influence of the modification of risk factors on the global risk in follow-up. Comparison with the value of risk acceptable according to age and sex may oblige the physician to take action to reduce it.
Take care of yourselves…
Jankowski K, Gozdowska J, Lewandowska D, Kwiatkowski A, Chmura A, Durlik M, & Pruszczyk P (2013). Prevalence of the coronary artery disease risk factors and 10-year risk of cardiovascular mortality based on HeartScore in people qualified for kidney donation. Annals of transplantation : quarterly of the Polish Transplantation Society, 18, 393-8 PMID: 23912481
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