Ankle brachial index independently predicts early kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often both present in selected populations. The independent association of early renal disease and atherosclerosis has not been studied in the general population. We hypothesized that the presence of low ankle brachial index (ABI), a surrogate measure of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is associated with a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

METHODS: The study population consisted of 14,917 middle-aged black and white men and women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. An ABI

RESULTS: The presence of an ABI

DISCUSSION: This study gives support to the independent association of early CKD and atherosclerotic CVD. The relationship appears to be stronger among African Americans than among Whites. It will be necessary to investigate this observation more fully with prospective studies given the rising incidence of CKD.