Arterial stiffness is a predictor for acute kidney injury following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract

Background

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a serious postoperative complication of cardiac surgery, an episode of which impacts on patient morbidity and mortality. Pulse wave velocity (PWV; a non-invasive measurement tool to assess arterial stiffness) has been shown to predict kidney disease progression, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. We hypothesised that PWV would also predict acute kidney injury in subjects who have undergone non-valve repair elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery .

Methods

This was a prospective, observational, exploratory study. PWV was determined with a Vicorder device, together with standard clinical and biochemical parameters. AKI staging was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Results

137 patients were included in the study. 85% were male, and mean age was 66.3 years (SD = 9.7 years). There were 40 episodes (29%) of CSA-AKI. Each 1 unit increase in PWV score was associated with a 1.5 fold greater odds of a CSA-AKI event (p = 0.006(odds ratio = 1.5; confidence interval:1.13–2.10). A 1 unit increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate resulted in an estimated 85% decrease in the odds of developing AKI, each year, men have an odds reduction of 15% of developing AKI compared with females and each 1 year increase in age lowered the odds of developing AKI by 87%.

Conclusions

This pilot exploratory study revealed that PWV, assessed prior to non-valve repair elective CABG surgery, independently predicts CSA-AKI events. PWV is a simple, non-invasive technique that could potentially be used to risk stratify for CSA- AKI following elective cardiac surgery.

Trial registration

ClinTrial.Gov NCT02364427. Registered 18 February 2015.