Chronic kidney disease and statin eligibility

Abstract

•Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, and 7.5% of USA population has CKD.•A total of 46.3% of participants with CKD have low 10-year CVD risk; 31.7% have intermediate risk.•A total of 45.8% report cholesterol-lowering treatment.•Guidelines for statin eligibility vary widely. BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). American cardiovascular societies consider CKD a risk-enhancing factor that supports statin therapy in intermediate-risk patients aged 40–75 years. In contrast, European cardiovascular societies recommend statins for all middle-aged adults with CKD. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes lipid management guideline for CKD recommends statin therapy for all patients with CKD >50 years. Clinical implications for these differences have not been examined.ObjectiveThis study examines CKD prevalence and statin eligibility in non-ASCVD adults, representative of the US population, at 3 levels of 10-year risk of ASCVD estimated by pooled cohort equations.MethodsNational Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2016 weighted data were evaluated for CKD defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Overall prevalence of low, intermediate, and high 10-year risk for ASCVD was determined.ResultsA total of 92.5% of all participants had estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; 7.5% (confidence interval 6.9%, 8.1%) had CKD. Among participants with CKD, 46.3% had 10-year risk for ASCVD <7.5% (low risk); 31.7% had intermediate risk (7.5-< 20%), and 22.0% had high risk (≥20%). In participants with CKD, 62.5% were women. A total of 19.6% of all participants with CKD had diabetes. A total of 46.3% of participants with CKD at intermediate or high risk reported taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.ConclusionA total of 46.3% of patients with CKD aged 40–75 years had 10-year risk <7.5% (low risk) and hence were statin eligible by European and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (>50 years) guidelines. US cardiovascular guidelines limit statin eligibility to intermediate- and high-risk CKD. Statin eligibility in lower-risk patients may be best determined by measuring coronary artery calcium. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). American cardiovascular societies consider CKD a risk-enhancing factor that supports statin therapy in intermediate-risk patients aged 40–75 years. In contrast, European cardiovascular societies recommend statins for all middle-aged adults with CKD. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes lipid management guideline for CKD recommends statin therapy for all patients with CKD >50 years. Clinical implications for these differences have not been examined. This study examines CKD prevalence and statin eligibility in non-ASCVD adults, representative of the US population, at 3 levels of 10-year risk of ASCVD estimated by pooled cohort equations. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2016 weighted data were evaluated for CKD defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Overall prevalence of low, intermediate, and high 10-year risk for ASCVD was determined. A total of 92.5% of all participants had estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; 7.5% (confidence interval 6.9%, 8.1%) had CKD. Among participants with CKD, 46.3% had 10-year risk for ASCVD <7.5% (low risk); 31.7% had intermediate risk (7.5-< 20%), and 22.0% had high risk (≥20%). In participants with CKD, 62.5% were women. A total of 19.6% of all participants with CKD had diabetes. A total of 46.3% of participants with CKD at intermediate or high risk reported taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. A total of 46.3% of patients with CKD aged 40–75 years had 10-year risk <7.5% (low risk) and hence were statin eligible by European and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (>50 years) guidelines. US cardiovascular guidelines limit statin eligibility to intermediate- and high-risk CKD. Statin eligibility in lower-risk patients may be best determined by measuring coronary artery calcium.

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