Prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction in stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease among South Indian patients at a secondary health care center

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, it is of interest to determine the prevalence of LV Dysfunction among 195 patients with Stage 3A–5 CKD attending a secondary healthcare centre in South India using clinical evaluation and 2D echocardiography. The majority of patients were in CKD stages 4 and 5 and worsening renal function was significantly correlated with a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction, grades of diastolic dysfunction, E/A and E/e′ ratios, deceleration time, haemoglobin levels and serum creatinine levels (p<0.05). Serum sodium and hypertension were not significantly different across stages, whereas diabetes mellitus, oliguria and worsening NYHA functional class were significantly associated with advanced CKD. Thus, data shows the progressive relationship between renal dysfunction and cardiac impairment and underscore the importance of routine echocardiographic screening for early diagnosis and management of LV dysfunction in subjects with CKD.