Low GFR amplifies the association between coronary three-vessel disease and all-cause mortality.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Three vessels disease (3VD) has been associated with worse prognosis and higher mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for premature death, mostly due to coronary artery disease (CAD). We aim to examine the prognostic impact of 3VD on all-cause mortality in a cohort of high cardiovascular risk subjects undergoing coronary angiography (CA) and to explore whether low eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m) modulates the risk of all-cause mortality associated to 3VD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One-thousand-seventeen subjects (759 M, mean age 68.4 ± 11 years) consecutive subjects undergoing CA from 2016 to 2018 were evaluated. Subjects were classified according to the severity of CAD as follows: group "three vessels disease" (3VD), and "no three vessels disease" (No 3VD). Serum creatinine was measured to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The whole population was divided into 4 groups (A, B, C, D), according to the presence/absence of low eGFR and/or 3VD. One-hundred-fourteen deaths occurred (median follow-up:44 months). The risk of death in subjects with 3VD was almost 2-time higher than subject without 3VD (adjusted HR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.094-2.373, p = 0.0157). Among 4 subgroups, subjects with low eGFR and 3VD (Group D) had the highest risk of death (adjusted HR = 3.881; 95% CI 2.256-6.676, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Low eGFR significantly amplifies the risk of all-cause mortality associated to 3VD. Our results strengthen the role of kidney disease as a risk multiplier for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and highlight the need to prevent its onset and progression.