Predictors and Consequences of Subclinical Renal Impairment in Patients with Vascular Disease

FIGURE 1.

Correlation analysis of patient characteristics and cystatin C levels

Parameter	Correlation coefficient	p value
Age	0.38 (0.16–0.57)	<0.001*
Body mass index	–	0.52
Heart failure (NYHA class)	–	0.34
Hemoglobin	−0.30 (−0.50 to −0.07)	0.01*
White blood cells	–	0.47
Platelets	–	0.52
Glucose	0.32 (0.10–0.52)	<0.01*
Total cholesterol	–	0.52
LDL-cholesterol	–	0.68
HDL-cholesterol	−0.54 (−0.74 to −0.31)	<0.01*
Triglycerides	–	0.12
Total protein	–	0.72
Albumin	−0.67 (−0.88 to −0.42)	0.02*
Uric acid	0.70 (0.50–0.87)	<0.0001*
Potassium	0.65 (0.43–0.82)	0.0001*

Correlation analysis of patient characteristics and NGAL levels

Parameter	Correlation coefficient	p value
Age	–	0.31
Body mass index	–	0.13
Heart failure (NYHA class)	0.26 (0.03–0.46)	0.02*
Hemoglobin	–	0.94
White blood cells	0.68 (0.45–0.88)	0.01*
Platelets	–	0.41
Glucose	–	0.51
Total cholesterol	–	0.89
LDL-cholesterol	–	0.47
HDL-cholesterol	−0.60 (−0.82 to −0.44)	0.03*
Triglycerides	–	0.76
Total protein	–	0.96
Albumin	−0.52 (−0.72 to −0.29)	<0.01*
Uric acid	0.78 (0.55–0.97)	0.001*
Potassium	0.40 (0.18–0.58)	<0.001*

Multiple linear regression analysis of factors associated with increased cystatin C levels

Parameter	Correlation coefficient	Standard error	p value
Age	0.40	0.01	0.30
Hemoglobin	−0.30	0.02	0.46
Glucose	0.32	0.01	0.73
HDL-cholesterol	−0.20	0.01	0.03*
Albumin	−0.24	0.02	0.04*
Uric acid	0.56	0.02	<0.001*
Potassium	0.61	0.07	0.0001*
Diuretic therapy	0.42	0.03	0.02*

Main characteristics of the study participants (n = 71)

Parameter	Value
Age (years)	63.8 ± 9.3
Male sex (n, %)	47 (66.1%)
Body mass index, mean (kg/m2)	28.6 ± 3.9
Medical history
Arterial hypertension (n, %)	65 (91.5%)
Diabetes mellitus (n, %)	30 (42.2%)
Heart failure (NYHA class)	2 (2-2)
Ongoing therapy
ACEI (n, %)	49 (69.0%)
ARB (n, %)	15 (21.1%)
Diuretic (n, %)	30 (42.2%)
Statin (n, %)	70 (98.5%)
Laboratory parameters
White blood cells (/mm3)	7,648 ± 1,876
Platelets (/mm3)	231,812 ± 66,047
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	13.4 ± 1.5
Glucose (mg/dl)	141.1 ± 62.7
Total cholesterol (mg/dl)	163.6 ± 47.8
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl)	90.9 ± 41.6
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl)	40.6 ± 24.3
Triglycerides (mg/dl)	163.4 ± 104.5
Total protein (g/dl)	66.0 ± 4.8
Albumin (g/dl)	4.3 ± 0.3
Uric acid (mg/dl)	6.2 ± 1.7
Potassium (mEq/l)	3.9 ± 0.4
Serum creatinine (mg/dl)	1.04 ± 0.32
eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2)	76.0 ± 23.0
Cystatin C (mg/l)	1.10 ± 0.37
NGAL (ng/ml)	75.8 ± 26.6

Multiple linear regression analysis of factors associated with increased NGAL levels

Parameter	Correlation coefficient	Standard error	p value
Age	0.29	5.52	0.06
Hemoglobin	0.49	0.01	<0.01*
Glucose	−0.46	0.04	0.03*
HDL-cholesterol	−0.34	0.05	0.02*
Albumin	0.39	0.07	<0.01*
Uric acid	0.43	6.22	0.10
Potassium	0.28	5.80	0.31
Diuretic therapy	0.42	0.03	0.02*