Declining kidney function increases chances of heart failure

Declining kidney function has been shown to increase the risk of having problems like heart failure, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, and even early death, according to studies from the Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

The results from those studies found out that poor kidney function can raise risks for cardiovascular issues. So, not only is it important for physicians to know the current level of kidney function, but they should also monitor any changes in kidney function as time elapses.

Those who have chronic kidney disease have an increased risk of developing heart disease and dying from it, but how this works is still a bit misunderstood. However, there is a blood test (cystatin C) that can identify changes in kidney function over time as well as the incidence of heart complications in a patient. By using cystatin C, researchers discovered an association between the decline of the kidney function and the incidence of heart problems like heart failure, heart attack and stroke. Those patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) had a greater incidence of these heart problems than those without it.

Another study monitored the kidney function of patients in a span of about 20 years. According to the study, those who suffered from decreased kidney function over the course of the study also suffered from a greater incidence of heart problems.

From the results of these studies, researchers cannot reinforce the importance of routine kidney check-ups enough.