Cardiovascular Disease in Dialysis Patients

Abstract

During the past several years evidence has been accumulating that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis therapy. Between 40 and 60 per cent of all such deaths have been from cardiovascular causes, and by far the leading contributor has been heart disease. Experience with large numbers of patients in both Europe1 and the United States2 has been remarkably similar in this regard, and our European colleagues have recently updated their data,1 which condense reports from 584 centers including over 13,000 patients. Their recorded experience spans some 10 years and suggests that approximately 50 . . .