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Biomedical subjects

R N Foley

Publications and source records attributed to R N Foley.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The impact of anemia on cardiomyopathy, morbidity, and and mortality in end-stage renal disease.

To determine the possible association between anemia and clinical and echocardiographic cardiac disease, a cohort of 432 end-stage renal disease patients (261 on hemodialysis and 171 on peritoneal dialysis) who started dialysis therapy between 1982 and 1991 were followed prospectively for an average of 41 months. Baseline demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic assessments were performed, as well as monthly serial clinical and laboratory tests while the patients were on dialysis therapy. The mean (+/-SD) hemoglobin level during dialysis therapy was 8.8 +/- 1.5 g/dL. After adjusting for age, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, as well as for blood pressure and serum albumin levels measured serially, each 1 g/dL decrease in mean hemoglobin was independently associated with the presence of left ventricular dilatation on repeat echocardiogram (odds ratio, 1.46; P = 0.018) and the development of de novo (relative risk [RR] = 1.28; P = 0.018) and recurrent (RR = 1.20; P = 0.046) cardiac failure. In addition, each 1 g/dL decrease in the mean hemoglobin level was independently associated with mortality while the patients were on dialysis therapy (RR = 1.14; P = 0.024). Anemia had no independent association with the development of ischemic heart disease while the patients were on dialysis therapy. Anemia, an easily reversible feature of end-stage renal disease, is an independent risk factor for clinical and echocardiographic cardiac disease, as well as mortality in end-stage renal disease patients.

Anemia↗
PubMed1996

Impact of hypertension on cardiomyopathy, morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease.

A cohort of 432 ESRD (261 hemodialysis and 171 peritoneal dialysis) patients was followed prospectively for an average of 41 months. Baseline and annual demographic, clinical and echocardiographic assessments were performed, as well as serial clinical and laboratory tests measured monthly while on dialysis therapy. The average mean arterial blood pressure level during dialysis therapy was 101 +/- 11 mm Hg. After adjusting for age, diabetes and ischemic heart disease, as well as hemoglobin and serum albumin levels measured serially, each 10 mm Hg rise in mean arterial blood pressure was independently associated with: the presence of concentric LV hypertrophy (OR 1.48, P = 0.02), the change in LV mass index (beta = 5.4 g/m2, P = 0.027) and cavity volume (beta = 4.3 ml/m2, P = 0.048) on follow-up echocardiography, the development of de novo cardiac failure (RR 1.44, P = 0.007), and the development of de novo ischemic heart disease (RR 1.39, P = 0.05). The association with LV dilation was of borderline statistical significance (OR 1.48, P = 0.06). Mean arterial blood pressures greater than 106 mm Hg were associated with both echocardiographic and clinical endpoints. Paradoxically, low mean arterial blood pressure (RR 1.36 per 10 mm Hg fall, P = 0.009) was independently associated with mortality. The association of low blood pressure with mortality was a marker for having had cardiac failure prior to death. We conclude that even moderate hypertension worsens the echocardiographic and clinical outcome in ESRD patients, especially in those without previous clinical cardiac disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Outcome and risk factors of ischemic heart disease in chronic uremia.

To determine the prognosis and risk factors for ischemic heart disease in chronic uremia, a cohort of 432 dialysis patients were followed prospectively from start of dialysis therapy until death or renal transplantation. Baseline demographic, clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained. After the initiation of dialysis laboratory data were collected at monthly intervals, and clinical and echocardiographic data at yearly intervals. Twenty-two percent of patients (N = 95) had either a history of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction on starting dialysis therapy. Median time to onset of heart failure was 24 months in those with ischemic heart disease on initiation of dialysis, compared to 55 months in those without (P < 0.0001). This effect was independent of age, diabetes and underlying cardiomyopathy. Median survival was 44 months in those with ischemic disease compared to 56 months in those without (P = 0.0001). This adverse impact was independent of age and diabetes mellitus but, when cardiac failure was added to the Cox's model, ischemic heart disease was no longer an independent predictor of survival. De novo ischemic heart disease, not evident on starting dialysis therapy, occurred in 41 (9%) patients. When compared to patients who never developed ischemic disease (N = 296; 69%), significant and independent predictors of de novo disease were older age (P = 0.0007), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0001), high blood pressure during follow up on dialysis (P = 0.02) and hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.03), whereas anemia was not an independent predictor. LV mass index was 174 +/- 7 g/m2 in those who developed de novo ischemic disease compared to 155 +/- 3 g/m2 (P < 0.001) in those who did not. Concentric LV hypertrophy, LV dilation and systolic dysfunction were independent risk factors for de novo ischemic heart disease. We conclude that ischemic heart disease occurs frequently in dialysis patients, that its adverse impact is mediated through the development of heart failure, and that the most important, potentially reversible risk factors are hypertension, hypoalbuminemia, and underlying cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hypocalcemia, morbidity, and mortality in end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia with secondary hyper-parathyroidism are characteristic of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although calcium levels critically affect almost all cellular processes, the impact of chronic hypocalcemia and other abnormalities of calcium-phosphate homeostasis on the prognosis of ESRD patients is unknown. METHODS: An inception cohort of 433 patients starting ESRD therapy was followed prospectively for an average of 41 months. Serum calcium and other parameters were measured monthly. The mean calcium levels were 9.4 +/- 0.7 mg/dl. 23% of the patients had mean calcium levels < 8.8 mg/dl. After adjusting for baseline age, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, smoking and cholesterol levels, as well as serial albumin, hemoglobin, mean arterial blood pressure, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels, chronic hypocalcemia was strongly associated with mortality (RR 2.10, p = 0.006 for a mean calcium level < 8.8 mg/dl). The association with mortality was similar in hemodialysis (RR 2.10, p = 0.006) and peritoneal dialysis patients (2.67, p = 0.034). Using similar covariate adjustment, chronic hypocalcemia was associated with de novo ischemic heart disease (RR 5.23, p < 0.001), recurrent ischemic heart disease (RR 2.46, p = 0.006), de novo cardiac failure (RR 2.64, p < 0.001), and recurrent cardiac failure (RR 3.30, p < 0.001). Hypocalcemia retained its independent impact on morbidity and mortality when analyzed as a time-dependent covariate. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hypocalcemia, a very common, reversible feature of chronic uremia, is independently associated with morbidity and mortality in ESRD patients.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

Ischemic heart disease in chronic uremia.

The burden of ischemic heart disease is high in dialysis patients. Ischemia may result from atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic disease and may cause myocardial infarction and angina. The impact of diminished perfusion is intricately associated with the underlying cardiomyopathy, both of which predispose to heart failure. The etiology of ischemia is complex and associated with the underlying cardiomyopathy, whether it be concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular dilatation, or systolic dysfunction. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, abnormalities of divalent ion metabolism, hypoalbuminemia, and left ventricular hypertrophy are probably adverse risk factors for ischemia, but the relative importance of each is unknown.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1996

Hypoalbuminemia, cardiac morbidity, and mortality in end-stage renal disease.

A cohort of 432 ESRD (261 hemodialysis and 171 peritoneal dialysis) patients was followed up prospectively for an average of 41 months. Baseline and annual demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic assessments were performed, as well as serial clinical and laboratory tests measured monthly while patients were on dialysis therapy. Among hemodialysis patients, after adjustment was made for age, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, as well as hemoglobin and blood pressure levels measured serially, a 10-g/L fall in mean serum albumin level was independently associated with the the development of de novo (relative risk [RR], 2.22; P = 0.001) and recurrent cardiac failure (RR, 3.84; P = 0.003), de novo (RR, 5.29; P = 0.001) and recurrent ischemic heart disease (RR, 4.24; P = 0.005), cardiac mortality (RR, 5.60; P = 0.001), and overall mortality (RR, 4.33; P < 0.001). Among peritoneal dialysis patients, a 10-g/L fall in mean serum albumin level was independently associated with the progression of left ventricular dilation as seen on follow-up echocardiography (beta, 13.4 mL/m2; P = 0.014), the development of de novo cardiac failure (RR, 4.16; P = 0.003), and overall mortality (RR, 2.06; P < 0.001). Hypoalbuminemia, a major adverse prognostic factor in dialysis patients, is strongly associated with cardiac disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Outcome and risk factors for left ventricular disorders in chronic uraemia.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular disease occurs frequently in dialysis patients. It may be manifest as concentric LV hypertrophy, LV dilatation with or without LV hypertrophy, or systolic dysfunction. Little is known concerning the clinical outcome and risk factors for these disorders. METHODS: A cohort of 432 end-stage renal disease patients who survived at least 6 months had an echocardiogram on initiation of dialysis therapy. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data was obtained annually during follow-up. RESULTS: On initiation of ESRD therapy 16% of patients had systolic dysfunction, 41% concentric LV hypertrophy, 28% LV dilatation, and only 16% had normal echocardiograms. Median time to development of heart failure was 19 months in patients with systolic dysfunction, 38 months in concentric LV hypertrophy and 38 months in LV dilatation. The relative risks of heart failure in the three groups were significantly worse than in the normal group, after adjusting for age, diabetes and ischaemic heart disease. Median survival was 38 months in systolic dysfunction, 48 months in concentric hypertrophy, 56 months in LV dilatation, and >66 months in the normal group. Two hundred and seventy-five patients had a follow-up echocardiogram 17 months after starting dialysis therapy together with serial measurement of potential risk factors prior to the echocardiogram. On follow-up echocardiogram the degree of concentric LV hypertrophy was independently related to hypertension while on dialysis, older age, and anaemia while on dialysis; the degree of LV dilatation was related to ischaemic heart disease, anaemia, hypertension and hypoalbuminemia while on dialysis; the degree of systolic dysfunction was associated with ischaemic heart disease and anaemia during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Manifestations of left ventricular disease are frequent and persistent in chronic uraemia, and are associated with high risks of heart failure and death. Potentially reversible risk factors include anaemia, hypertension, hypoalbuminaemia and ischaemic heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Impact of renal transplantation on uremic cardiomyopathy.

In chronic uremia, cardiomyopathy manifests itself as systolic dysfunction, concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, or LV dilatation. To determine the impact of renal transplantation on uremic cardiomyopathy, all dialysis patients participating in a long-term cohort study who received a successful renal transplant were followed with echocardiography. The transplanted group comprised 102 of 433 (24%) endstage renal disease (ESRD) patients. They were significantly younger and, on starting ESRD therapy, had significantly less ischemic heart disease and cardiac failure than the overall ESRD cohort. During followup, ischemic heart disease developed in only 1 patient and none experienced cardiac failure. In the 12% (n = 12) of patients with systolic dysfunction before renal transplant, fractional shortening normalized in all patients, increasing from 21.5 +/- 4.6% to 33.5 +/- 5.6% after transplantation. In the 41% (n = 41) with concentric LV hypertrophy before transplantation, the LV mass index improved from 158 +/- 39 g/m2 to 132 +/- 39 g/m2. LV dilatation was present in 32% (n = 32) of patients before transplantation. After transplantation, LV volume fell from 116 +/- 3.1 ml/m2 to 89 +/- 21 ml/m2, and LV mass index in this group fell from 166 +/- 55 g/m2 to 135 +/- 37 g/m2. It was not possible to associate risk factors characteristic of the uremic state with the improvement in cardiac structure and function, although the fall in LV mass was significantly associated with fall in blood pressure. We conclude that correction of the uremic state by renal transplantation leads to normalization of LV contractility in systolic dysfunction, regression of hypertrophy in concentric LV hypertrophy, and improvement of cavity volume in LV dilatation. The degree of improvement suggests that dialysis patients with uremic cardiomyopathy would benefit from renal transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cardiac function and hematocrit level.

Patients on dialysis have an age-adjusted death rate 3.5 times that of the general population. The most common cause of death in patients on dialysis is cardiovascular disease. We prospectively followed a cohort of 433 patients in three centers for a mean of 41 months. Mean hemoglobin level at the beginning of dialysis was 8.39 (+/- 1.7) g/dL, and the mean hemoglobin level during follow-up was 8.84 (+/- 1.5) g/dL. Using Cox's regression model, we found that anemia predicted mortality independently of age, diabetes mellitus, cardiac failure, hypoalbuminemia, serum creatinine, mean arterial pressure, or echocardiographic heart disease. The independent relative risk (RR) of mortality was 1.18 per 1.0 g/dL decrease in hemoglobin level. Anemia also independently predicted the de novo occurrence of congestive heart failure when the same covariates were controlled for (RR, 1.49 per 1.0 g/dL decrease). Anemia was also independently predictive of heart failure at the start of dialysis (RR, 1.14 per 1.0 g/dL decrease) and heart failure recurrence (RR, 1.25 per 1.0 g/dL decrease). Left ventricular hypertrophy is present in 75% of patients on dialysis at the start of therapy for end-stage renal disease. It independently predicts mortality. Our prospective cohort study identified increasing age, hypertension, and anemia as risk factors for its development. One controlled study and several uncontrolled studies demonstrated improvement (but not complete regression) of elevated left ventricular mass in patients on dialysis treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin).

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1995

Congestive heart failure in dialysis patients: prevalence, incidence, prognosis and risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in dialysis subjects. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common presenting symptom of cardiovascular disease in the dialysis population. Information regarding prevalence, incidence, risk factors and prognosis is crucial for planning rational interventional studies. A prospective multicenter cohort study of 432 dialysis patients followed for a mean of 41 months was carried out. Prospective information on a variety of risk factors was collected. Annual echocardiography and clinical assessment was performed. Major endpoints included death and the development of morbid cardiovascular events. One hundred and thirty-three (31%) subjects had CHF at the time of initiation of dialysis therapy. Multivariate analysis showed that the following risk factors were significantly and independently associated with CHF at baseline: systolic dysfunction, older age, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. Seventy-six of 299 subjects (25%) who did not have baseline CHF subsequently developed CHF during their course on dialysis. Compared to those subjects who never developed CHF (N = 218) multivariate analysis identified the following risk factors for the development of CHF: older age, anemia during dialysis therapy, hypoalbuminemia, hypertension during dialysis therapy, and systolic dysfunction. Seventy-five of the 133 (56%) subjects with CHF at baseline had recurrent CHF during follow-up. Independent and significant risk factors for CHF recurrence were ischemic heart disease and systolic dysfunction, anemia during dialysis therapy and hypoalbuminemia. The median survival of subjects with CHF at baseline was 36 months compared to 62 months in subjects without CHF. In this study the prevalence of CHF on starting ESRD therapy and the subsequent annual incidence was high.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗
PubMed1995

Clinical and echocardiographic disease in patients starting end-stage renal disease therapy.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have a high cardiovascular mortality rate. Precise estimates of the prevalence, risk factors and prognosis of different manifestations of cardiac disease are unavailable. In this study a prospective cohort of 433 ESRD patients was followed from the start of ESRD therapy for a mean of 41 months. Baseline clinical assessment and echocardiography were performed on all patients. The major outcome measure was death while on dialysis therapy. Clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease were highly prevalent at the start of ESRD therapy: 14% had coronary artery disease, 19% angina pectoris, 31% cardiac failure, 7% dysrhythmia and 8% peripheral vascular disease. On echocardiography 15% had systolic dysfunction, 32% left ventricular dilatation and 74% left ventricular hypertrophy. The overall median survival time was 50 months. Age, diabetes mellitus, cardiac failure, peripheral vascular disease and systolic dysfunction independently predicted death in all time frames. Coronary artery disease was associated with a worse prognosis in patients with cardiac failure at baseline. High left ventricular cavity volume and mass index were independently associated with death after two years. The independent associations of the different echocardiographic abnormalities were: systolic dysfunction-older age and coronary artery disease; left ventricular dilatation-male gender, anemia, hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia; left ventricular hypertrophy-older age, female gender, wide arterial pulse pressure, low blood urea and hypoalbuminemia. We conclude that clinical and echocardiographic cardiovascular disease are already present in a very high proportion of patients starting ESRD therapy and are independent mortality factors.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1995

The prognostic importance of left ventricular geometry in uremic cardiomyopathy.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and mass-to-volume ratio on mortality in chronic dialysis patients. The Design was a multicenter, prospective inception cohort study with a median follow-up of 41 months. The Setting was three university-affiliated nephrology units. A total of 433 patients who (1) survived > 6 months from the start of ESRD therapy and (2) had a technically satisfactory baseline echocardiogram were studied. Measurements included a baseline clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic assessment. LV hypertrophy was present in 74% and LV dilation was present in 36% of patients. In patients with normal cavity volume (< or = 90 mL/m2) and normal systolic function, high LV mass index (> 120 g/m2) and mass-to-volume ratios (> 2.2 g/mL) were independently associated with late mortality (> 2 yr after starting dialysis therapy). After adjusting for baseline age, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, the relative risk for the former was 3.29 and for the latter was 2.24. Cavity volume was of no prognostic significance in this group. In patients with LV dilation and normal systolic function, high cavity volume (> 120 mL/m2) and low mass-to-volume ratio (< 1.8 mL/m2) were independently associated with late mortality, the relative risk in the former being 17.14 and the latter being 4.27. LV mass index was of no prognostic significance in this group. The baseline echocardiographic classification, based on LV mass and cavity volume, was the strongest predictor of late mortality, after adjusting for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, chronic hypertension, and hemoglobin and serum albumin levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Advance prediction of early death in patients starting maintenance dialysis.

Accurate information on short-term prognosis is needed to help patients, their doctors, and society to make appropriate decisions concerning starting dialysis. We sought to develop a clinically applicable prognostic scoring system to aid in the prediction of death within 6 months of starting maintenance dialysis. Factors potentially predictive of early death were examined retrospectively in an inception cohort of all 325 patients starting dialysis for irreversible renal failure between 1980 and 1991 at a single tertiary care center. The overall mortality rate was 22% at 6 months. Age, cardiac failure, ischemic heart disease, dysrhythmia requiring therapy, severe peripheral vascular disease, advanced neoplasia, ventilator dependency, coma, systemic sepsis, and hepatic failure were independent, significant, prognostic indicators for early death. Multivariate models were used to suggest weights for these variables in a simplified scoring system. Patients with scores < or = 4 (N = 201) had a 6-month mortality rate of 4%, whereas those with a score higher than 9 (N = 21) had a 6-month mortality rate of 100%. Thus, when age and multiple comorbid illnesses were taken into account, it was possible to identify with 100% accuracy 29% of the patients who died within 6 months of starting maintenance dialysis therapy, accounting for 6.5% of the cohort studied. A larger prospective study is warranted to validate this scoring system.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for cardiac morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients.

Clinical and echocardiographic manifestations of cardiac disease are frequently present in patients starting end-stage renal disease therapy. Congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, systolic dysfunction, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular dilatation are significant, adverse prognostic indicators, independent of age, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Risk factors related to the uremic state, which are potentially reversible, include inadequate dialysis, anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcemia. Hypertension predisposes patients to congestive heart failure, following the development of which hypotension becomes an independent predictor of mortality.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An economic analysis of strategies for the use of contrast media for diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

A decision tree model was used to estimate the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of low- as opposed to high-osmolality contrast media for cardiac angiography. Analyses were done from the viewpoints of a third-party payer and society using data from a randomized trial and the literature. Assuming low-osmolality media reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, the incremental cost per QALY gained with these media is $17,264 in high-risk or $47,874 in low-risk patients for a third-party payer. From a societal viewpoint, the corresponding costs are $649 and $35,509. These estimates are sensitive to the cost and volume of the contrast medium employed and to the estimate of reduction in severe adverse events with low-osmolality media. The authors conclude that, in the context of restricted budgets, limiting the use of low-osmolality media to high-risk patients is justifiable, as the incremental cost per QALY in high-risk patients may be reasonable and it is not certain that low-osmolality media prevent severe or fatal events. A considerable reduction in the cost per QALY gained is possibly by minimizing the volume of contrast medium used.

Cardiac Catheterization↗