Predictors of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and anemia: An analysis of the Trial to Reduce cardiovascular Events with Aranesp (darbepoetin-alfa) Therapy (TREAT)

In patients with diabetes, CKD, and anemia, cardiovascular risk is most strongly predicted by age, history of HF, C-reactive protein, urinary protein/creatinine ratio, abnormal electrocardiogram, and 2 specific cardiac biomarkers, serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin T, which are elevated in many. These findings suggest ways to improve cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with predialysis CKD, support the concept of cardiorenal syndrome, and may help target therapy.