Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children With Kidney Disease

Summary: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in individuals diagnosed with kidney disease during childhood. Children with kidney disease often incur a significant cardiovascular burden that leads to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Evidence has shown that children with kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease, dialysis, kidney transplantation, and nephrotic syndrome, develop abnormalities in cardiovascular markers such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and aortic stiffness. Early identification of modifiable risk factors and treatment may lead to a decrease of long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but evidence in this population is lacking.