Lower Progression Rate of End-Stage Renal Disease in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Using Statins or Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Harm H.H. Feringa*,
Stefanos E. Karagiannis*,
Michel Chonchol,
Radosav Vidakovic*,
Peter G. Noordzij,
Abdou Elhendy,
Ron T. van Domburg*,
Gijs Welten||,
Olaf Schouten||,
Jeroen J. Bax¶,
Tomas Berl and
Don Poldermans
* Departments of Cardiology, Anesthesiology, and || Vascular Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, Colorado; Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska; and ¶ Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
Address correspondence to: Dr. Don Poldermans, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Room H-921, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Phone: +31-10-463-4613; Fax: +31-10-463-4957; E-mail: d.poldermans{at}erasmusmc.nl
Received for publication August 22, 2006.
Accepted for publication March 20, 2007.
Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at increasedrisk for ESRD and cardiovascular events. The primary objectivewas to assess the association between ankle-brachial index (ABI)values and renal outcome. The secondary objective was to evaluatewhether statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) are associated with improved renal and cardiovascularoutcome in patients with PAD. In a prospective observationalcohort study of 1940 consecutive patients with PAD, ABI wasmeasured and chronic statin and ACEI therapy was noted at baseline.Serial creatinine concentrations were obtained at baseline,6 mo, and every year after enrollment. End points were ESRD,all-cause mortality, and cardiac events during a median follow-upperiod of 8 yr. Baseline estimated GFR <60 ml/min per 1.73m2 was assessed in 27% of patients. ESRD, all-cause mortality,and cardiac events occurred in 10, 46, and 31% of patients,respectively. In multivariate analysis, a lower baseline ABIwas significantly associated with a higher progression rateof ESRD (hazard ratio [HR] per 0.10 decrease 1.34; 95% confidenceinterval [CI] 1.21 to 1.49). Chronic use of statins and ACEIwere significantly associated with lower ESRD (HR 0.41 [95%CI 0.28 to 0.63] and 0.74 [95% CI 0.54 to 0.98], respectively),mortality (HR 0.66; [95% CI 0.55 to 0.82] and 0.84 [95% CI 78to 0.95], respectively), and cardiac events (HR 0.71 [95% CI0.56 to 0.91] and 0.81 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.96], respectively).In patients with PAD, low ABI values independently predict theonset of ESRD. Less progression toward ESRD and improved cardiovascularoutcome was observed among patients who were on long-term statinsand ACEI.
Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestationof systemic atherosclerosis and has been recognized as a growinghealth burden worldwide (1). In the United states, prevalencerates for PAD have been reported ranging from 4% in patientswho are 40 yr to 29% in patients who are older than 70 yr oraged 50 to 59 yr and have a history of smoking or diabetes (26).
The prevalence and the incidence of PAD are high among patientswith renal insufficiency (79). Little information isavailable about the prognostic value of renal insufficiencyin patients with PAD, although this may be useful to identifyhigh-risk patients who may benefit from subsequent medical therapy(10). As a result of atherosclerotic lesions in the renal arteryor renal microvascular system, patients with PAD may be at increasedrisk for developing ESRD. The association between the extentof atherosclerosis, as defined by ankle-brachial index (ABI)values, and the onset of ESRD remains ill-defined.
Several studies have suggested that statins and angiotensin-convertingenzyme inhibitors (ACEI) can slow or halt the progression ofchronic kidney disease (11). Given that statins and ACEI caninhibit the atherosclerotic process and reduce cardiovascularevents (1215), a beneficial effect of statins and ACEIon renal outcome may be anticipated in patients who presentwith lower extremity PAD.
In this observational cohort study, our primary aim was to determinethe association between baseline ABI values and renal outcomein patients with PAD. Our secondary objective was to evaluatewhether long-term use of statins and ACEI was associated witha lower progression rate of ESRD, mortality, and cardiovascularevents during long-term follow-up.
Study Participants
This was a single-center observational cohort study of consecutivepatients who had PAD and were referred to the Erasmus MedicalCenter between January 1988 and January 2006. The Erasmus MedicalCenter serves a population of approximately 3 million peopleand acts as a tertiary referral enter for approximately 30 affiliatedhospitals. Patients were referred for ABI measurement, clinicalevaluation, and therapeutic treatment. These patients presentedwith symptoms of PAD, which included typical intermittent claudicationor other symptoms of chronic arterial insufficiency, such asulceration of the foot, hair loss, or reduced capillary refill.Patients who were eligible for the study had to be older than18 yr, and only patients with an ABI of 0.90 or less were included.Patients with one or more episodes of dialysis during the 6mo before enrollment were excluded. All patients agreed on participationin the study, and the study was conducted according to the Declarationof Helsinki. During the first visit, patients were screenedfor clinical risk factors, ABI values, and 12-lead electrocardiographicabnormalities. The long-term use of statins and ACEI was ascertainedwhen patients were taking these medications for at least 1 yrafter the first visit. According to the hospitals protocol,ACEI were not prescribed in patients who presented with significantbilateral renal artery stenosis (>70 or >50% with poststenoticdilation) or stenosis to a solitary kidney or to patients withdecompensated congestive heart failure in a sodium-depletedstate. Diabetes was recorded when patients presented with afasting glucose level of 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/L) or in thosewho required treatment. Hypertension was recorded when patientspresented with a BP 140/90 mmHg or were medically treated forhypertension. Smoking included only current smoking. A baselineelectrocardiogram was obtained in all patients and was consideredabnormal in the presence of one or more of the following: Qwaves, left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block,right bundle branch block, or atrial fibrillation. Clinicaldata were prospectively collected and stored in a computerizeddatabase. Risk factor reduction and lifestyle modificationswere encouraged in all patients who presented with clinicalrisk factors. During follow-up visits, BP was monitored to achievelevels <140/90 mmHg or less than 130/80 mmHg for those withdiabetes or kidney disease.
ABI Measurement
Systolic BP (SBP) in the right and left brachial artery, rightand left dorsalis pedis artery, and right and left posteriortibial artery were measured by trained technicians, using aDoppler ultrasonic instrument with an 8-MHz vascular probe (ImexdopCT+ Vascular Doppler; Miami Medical, Miami, FL). The ABI inthe right and left leg was calculated by dividing the rightand the left ankle pressure by the brachial pressure. The higherof the two brachial BP was used when a discrepancy in SBP waspresent. Again, the higher of the dorsalis pedis and posteriortibial artery pressure was used when a discrepancy in SBP betweenthe two arteries was measured. When no pressure in the dorsalispedis artery was obtained because of an absent dorsalis pedisartery, the pressure in the posterior tibial artery was used.The ABI was measured after the participants had been restingin the supine position for at least 10 min. Of the ABI valuesthat were obtained in each leg, the lower was used in all analyses.Inter- and intraobserver agreement for the ABI was 97 and 98%,respectively.
Renal Function
In all patients, a baseline serum creatinine level was obtainedduring the first visit from a central laboratory. Using serumcreatinine, age, gender, and race, the estimated GFR (eGFR)was calculated by the following equation: GFR (ml/min per 1.73m2) = 186 x serum creatinine level1.154 x age0.203x 0.742 (if female) x 1.210 (if of African descent) (16,17).Patients were classified according to the level of renal functionas recommended by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiativeof the National Kidney Foundation: Normal renal function (eGFR90 ml/min per 1.73 m2), mildly reduced renal function (eGFR60 to 89 ml/min per 1.73 m2), moderately reduced renal function(eGFR 30 to 59 ml/min per 1.73 m2), severely reduced renal function(eGFR 15 to 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2), and kidney failure (eGFR<15 ml/min per 1.73 m2). During regularly scheduled follow-upvisits, serial creatinine levels were measured at 6 mo, 1 yr,and every year after the initial visit to determine deteriorationin renal function, compared with baseline renal function. Baselineserum creatinine measurements were obtained in all patients,and creatinine measurements at 1 yr were obtained in 99% ofthe patients. Progression to ESRD was defined as the need forkidney replacement therapy (treatment with dialysis or kidneytransplantation).
All-Cause Mortality and Cardiac Events
During follow-up, primary study end points were all-cause mortalityand cardiac events, which included cardiac death or nonfatalmyocardial infarction. Information on all-cause mortality andcardiac events was obtained during outpatient follow-up visits,by mailed questionnaires, by telephone interviews, by reviewinghospital records, by contacting the referring physician, orby approaching the municipal civil registry to determine survivalstatus. In patients who died during follow-up, death certificatesand autopsy reports were reviewed and general practitionerswere approached to ascertain the cause of death. Cardiac deathwas defined as death caused by acute myocardial infarction,cardiac arrhythmias, or congestive heart failure. Sudden unexpecteddeath in a previously stable patient was considered as cardiacdeath. Nonfatal myocardial infarction was diagnosed when atleast two of the following were present: Elevated cardiac enzymelevels (creatinine kinase [CK] level >190 U/L and CK-myocardialband >14 U/L, or CK-myocardial band fraction >10% of totalCK, or cardiac troponin T >0.1 ng/ml), development of typicalelectrocardiographic changes (new Q waves >1 mm or >30ms), and typical symptoms of angina pectoris.
Statistical Analyses
Continuous data were compared using the t test or ANOVA techniqueswhen appropriate. Categorical data were compared using the 2test. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was usedto assess differences in survival between patients with differentlevels of renal function. Statins and ACEI were not randomlyassigned in these patients, and the impact of selection biasmay profoundly distort the results of our study. Propensityanalyses are reliable tools to correct for selection bias, andthe rationale for using propensity scores has been describedpreviously (18). Therefore, we calculated separate propensityscores for statins and ACEI. Variables that were independentlyassociated with the decision to prescribe statins and ACEI (P< 0.25) were included in the multivariate propensity score,which was constructed using multiple logistic regression analysis.Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis wasused to evaluate whether statins and ACEI were associated withlower progression toward ESRD, all-cause mortality, and cardiacevents during long-term follow-up. Multivariate Cox proportionalhazard regression analysis with stepwise backward deletion ofthe least significant variable was used to determine independentpredictors of all-cause mortality and cardiac events. Propensityscores were added to all multivariate regression models. However,results were comparable in multivariate analysis with or withoutadjustment for weighted propensity scores. Tests for heterogeneitywere used to evaluate the effect of statins and ACEI on outcomebetween patients with different levels of baseline renal functionand between patients with or without diabetes. For all tests,P < 0.05 (two-sided) was considered significant. All analyseswere performed using SPSS 11.0 statistical software (SPSS, Chicago,IL).
Baseline Characteristics
A total of 1940 patients were available for analysis. The meanage was 64 ± 11 yr, and 1385 patients (71%) were male.The mean ABI was 0.61 ± 0.19. Severe PAD (ABI was 0.70)was identified in 1397 (72%) patients. An abnormal electrocardiogramwas observed in 911 (47%) patients. A total of 551 (28%) patientswere using long-term statins, and 515 (27%) patients were usinglong-term ACEI. The mean eGFR at baseline was 78 ± 31ml/min per 1.73 m2. Normal renal function, mildly reduced renalfunction, moderately reduced renal function, severely reducedrenal function, and kidney failure were assessed in 31, 42,22, 3, and 2% of patients, respectively. A history of coronaryartery disease, history of heart failure, diabetes, and hypertensionwere significantly associated with declining baseline renalfunction (Table 1).
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study population, divided by level of renal functiona
Follow-Up
Mean time from baseline to last follow-up visit was 8 yr (interquartilerange 4 to 11 yr). At 1-yr follow-up, a reduction in eGFR of>25% was assessed in 211 (11%) patients. Assessment of renalfunction at the last follow-up visit revealed a reduction ineGFR of >25% in 443 (23%) patients and progression to ESRDin 198 (10%) patients. Improvement in eGFR of >25% was assessedin 293 (15%) patients. All-cause mortality occurred in 889 (46%)patients, cardiac death in 474 (24%) patients, and nonfatalmyocardial infarction in 127 (7%) patients. Kaplan Meier curvesdemonstrate that higher decreases in baseline eGFR were associatedwith higher rates in all-cause mortality (P < 0.001) andcardiac events (P < 0.001) during follow-up (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves for survival and freedom from hard cardiac events in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) stratified according to the level of renal function.
ABI and Outcome
Patients with lower baseline ABI values were more likely topresent with a lower baseline eGFR, compared with patients withhigher ABI values (P < 0.001; Figure 2). In multivariateanalysis, lower ABI values were significantly associated witha higher progression rate of ESRD (Table 2). Multivariate analysisalso demonstrated that lower ABI values significantly correlatedwith higher all-cause mortality and cardiac event rate (Table 2).
Table 2. Association between baseline ABI values and renal and cardiovascular outcome in multivariate analysisa
Independent Predictors of Mortality and Cardiac Events
Significant predictors for adverse long-term outcome were determinedby stepwise multivariate analysis and are presented in Figure 3.Lower baseline eGFR (per 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2) and reductionin eGFR (per 25%) during the first year of follow-up both weresignificantly associated with higher all-cause mortality rate(hazard ratio [HR] 1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to1.12] and HR 1.05 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.09], respectively) and cardiacevent rate (HR 1.07 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.11] and HR 1.04 [95% CI1.00 to 1.08], respectively). Lower ABI (per 0.10 decrease)was also an independent predictor of mortality (HR 1.08; 95%CI 1.03 to 1.12) and cardiac events (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02 to1.14). Importantly, chronic statin and ACEI use was associatedwith a lower all-cause mortality rate (HR 0.66 [95% CI 0.55to 0.80] and HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.77 to 0.96], respectively) andlower cardiac event rate (HR 0.70 [95% CI 0.56 to 0.90] andHR 0.82 [95% CI 0.69 to 0.97], respectively). Although in multivariateanalysis the combined treatment of statins and ACEI was associatedwith a decreased risk for all-cause mortality (HR 0.79; 95%CI 0.65 to 0.97) and cardiac events (HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.57 to0.98), it was not independently associated with improved outcomein a multivariate model that included the single treatment ofstatin and ACEI therapy.
Figure 3. Multivariate model demonstrating significant predictors of all-cause mortality and cardiac events in patients with PAD.
Statin and ACEI Therapy across Different Levels of Renal Function
Multivariate analysis demonstrated that long-term statin therapywas associated with a significantly lower risk for ESRD, mortality,and cardiac events during follow-up across all categories ofrenal function (Table 3). Tests for heterogeneity revealed nonsignificantP values for interaction (Table 3). ACEI were significantlyassociated with lower progression rate of ESRD, all-cause mortality,and cardiac events in patients with moderately reduced renalfunction, severely reduced renal function, and kidney failurebut not in patients with preserved or mildly reduced renal function(Table 3). Tests for heterogeneity further revealed that statinsand ACEI were associated with improved outcome among both patientswith and without diabetes (NS P values for interaction).
This study shows that renal dysfunction is highly prevalentamong patients who present with PAD. Mildly reduced, moderatelyreduced, and severely reduced renal function and kidney failurewere assessed in 42, 22, 3, and 2% of patients, respectively,perhaps reflecting the significance of generalized atherosclerosisas potential cause of renal dysfunction in patients with PAD.The mean baseline eGFR in this Dutch population of patientswith PAD was 78 ml/min per 1.73 m2, which was almost similarto the results of the National Health and Nutrition ExaminationSurvey, which found a mean eGFR of 77 ml/min per 1.73 m2 ina US population of patients who had PAD and were 40 yr of age.Many patients with PAD may present with undiagnosed renal dysfunction,which may eventually progress to chronic kidney disease or ESRD.In our population, 4% had progressed to ESRD at 1 yr of follow-up,and 10% had progressed to ESRD as assessed during the last follow-upvisit.
ABI and Renal Outcome
Baseline characteristics demonstrated that a lower ABI value,a measure of atherosclerotic disease severity, was associatedwith more severe baseline renal dysfunction. The AtherosclerosisRisk in Communities Study (ARIC) showed that patients with anABI of 0.90 to 0.99 and <0.90 were at increased risk forserum creatinine increases over a 3-yr time period, comparedwith patients with ABI values >1.00 (19). This study showedthat even in patients with ABI levels 0.90, lower ABI valuescan independently predict reductions in eGFR during follow-upand can identify patients who are at greatest risk for renaldeterioration. Another strength is the use of ESRD as clinicallysignificant end point in addition to declines in eGFR. Thisfinding supports the notion that atherosclerosis has indirecteffects on the kidney because of atherosclerotic lesions inthe renal artery and that atherosclerosis or atherogenic factorsinduce directly intrarenal microvascular disease and renal injury(20). Low ABI value should therefore be regarded as a risk factorfor development of ESRD. These high-risk patients may benefitfrom close renal monitoring and appropriate treatment strategies.
Statins and Renal Outcome
A major finding in our study was that long-term use of statinswas significantly associated with a lower rate of ESRD progressionacross all patients with different levels of baseline renalfunction. The beneficial properties of statins beyond the lipid-loweringeffect include atherosclerotic plaque stabilization, oxidativestress reduction, and decrease in vascular inflammation (21,22).Intensive statin therapy may even result in significant regressionof atherosclerosis, as demonstrated in a recent study (14).Given that atherosclerosis is now becoming a recognized causeof renal deterioration, it seems plausible that statins canprevent renal deterioration in patients with PAD, as a resultof its pleiotropic effects. Experimental studies have suggesteda preventive effect of statins on nephropathy (23,24). A meta-analysisshowed that statins can reduce proteinuria or albuminuria, especiallyin patients with cardiovascular disease (25). Finally, a recentstudy demonstrated in 103 consecutive patients with hyperlipidemiaand PAD that creatinine levels decreased after 3 to 4 mo oftreatment with simvastatin, independent of the degree of LDLcholesterol reduction (26).
ACEI and Renal Outcome
This study also showed that long-term ACEI therapy was associatedwith a lower rate of renal deterioration, especially in patientswith decreased baseline renal function. ACEI have been shownto inhibit the atherosclerotic process and improve vascularendothelial function, peripheral BP, and blood flow (16,27,28).Many studies have suggested that ACEI slow or halt the progressionof chronic nephropathies (29). Patients with PAD may have ahigh rate of renal artery stenosis; in these patients, activationof the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system serves to preserverenal blood flow and filtration rate. It should be noted thatin our study population, ACEI were not prescribed to patientswith bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis to a solitarykidney or to patients with decompensated congestive heart failurein a sodium-depleted state, to minimize the risk for acute renalfailure.
Combined Use of Statins and ACEI
Our study failed to demonstrate an independent effect of thecombined treatment of statins and ACEI. However, animal studieshave demonstrated that combining statins and ACEI resulted inimproved renal function; remarkable antiproteinuric effect;and less glomerulosclerosis, tubular damage, interstitial inflammation,and podocyte damage (30,31). These results are also supportedby a previous clinical study that suggested that atorvastatinin addition to ACEI or angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonistsreduce proteinuria and the rate of progression of kidney diseasein patients with chronic kidney disease, proteinuria, and hypercholesterolemia(32).
Cardiovascular Outcome
The prognosis of patients with PAD is characterized by a highcardiovascular event rate, as a result of the high prevalenceof concomitant coronary artery disease. On the basis of previousreports in literature, patients with PAD are at two to fourtimes increased risk for cardiovascular events, compared withpatients with no PAD (3337). Our study showed that acrossthe whole range of renal function, statins were associated witha lower risk for mortality and cardiac events. The beneficialeffect of ACEI was noted especially in patients with decreasedrenal function. The Heart Protection Study provided convincingevidence that 40 mg/d simvastatin significantly lowered therisk for vascular events in 6748 patients with PAD, when comparedwith placebo (11). The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation(HOPE) study investigators showed in a subgroup of 4051 patientswith PAD that ramipril significantly reduced the rate of majorcardiovascular events (13). In our study, baseline eGFR andreduction in eGFR during the first year both were independentpredictors of late mortality and cardiac events. In additionto ABI values, these variables may be useful to identify patientswho are at increased risk and may benefit from statin and ACEItherapy.
Limitations
The main limitation of this study is that the findings mustbe interpreted in the context of the study design. For minimizationof selection bias, propensity scores were added to multivariateanalysis. The causal relationship between statins and ACEI andimproved renal outcome could not be established in this observationalcohort study. Randomized, controlled trials would be requiredto establish this. Second, the results apply to patients whoare referred to a university hospital that acts as a tertiaryreferral center for 30 affiliated hospitals. Patients who areadmitted to our hospital may have a higher risk profile comparedwith patients with suspected or known PAD in the general population.Extrapolation of our results to patients with PAD in the generalpopulation should therefore be done with caution. Furthermore,we used the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equationto estimate renal function, and our study may be limited bythe absence of data on albuminuria and proteinuria, which isrecommended for the detection of early kidney disease. However,this equation is now widely used in clinical practice and hasbeen recommended by the National Kidney Foundation practiceguidelines as a useful estimation of renal function (16,17).Another limitation that should be mentioned is that it was notknown whether patients with low ABI values may have been exposedto more intravenous contrast material during follow-up, leadingto temporary or permanent renal dysfunction. However, imagingwas performed with low-dosage contrast material, and the hospitalprotocol required cautious use of intravenous contrast materialin patients with severe ABI. Finally, before implementationof routine use of ACEI in clinical practice in patients whohave PAD with or without renal dysfunction, future studies shouldconfirm its safety.
This long-term prospective cohort study showed that renal dysfunctionis highly prevalent among patients with PAD. Lower ABI valuesproved to be correlated with renal deterioration and may beused to identify patients who are at increased risk for ESRD.Baseline eGFR and reductions in 1-yr eGFR could also identifypatients who are at increased risk for mortality and cardiacevents, in addition to ABI values. These patients may benefitfrom long-term statins and ACEI therapy, which was demonstratedto be associated with a lower progression rate of ESRD. In patientswith PAD, statins and ACEI were significantly associated withimproved survival and freedom from cardiac events. Tests forheterogeneity revealed that the beneficial effect of statinsexisted across the whole range of renal function and among bothpatients with and without diabetes. ACEI were associated withimproved renal and cardiovascular outcome, especially in patientswith reduced baseline renal function.
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