Arterial Stiffness and Related Factors in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: This study aims to compare arterial stiffness parameters, augmentation index (AIx), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) between patient groups with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD) and analyze the factors influencing these parameters. Materials and Methods: This study included 69 patients with CKD and 106 without CKD. All clinical and laboratory parameters and PWV and AIx values obtained from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were compared between the two groups. Results: PWV values, including 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime measurements, were significantly higher in the CKD group than the non-CKD (all p<0.001). Among individuals with CKD, PWV showed a positive correlation with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and augmentation index (AIx), while a negative correlation was observed with pulse rate. AIx values did not show significant differences between the groups; however, they were found to be associated with demographic and clinical factors such as female sex, lipid profiles, and hemoglobin levels. Multivariable regression models revealed that age and the number of medications were independently associated with PWV, while age, hemoglobin levels, and gender were independently associated with AIx. Conclusion: Our study identified significantly higher PWV values among individuals with CKD, confirming its role as an important indicator of arterial stiffness. The use of parameters such as PWV and AIx may contribute to personalized risk assessments and improve the clinical management of CKD.