A Comparison of Abdominal Aortic Calcification Index (Aci) between Hemodialysis Patients and Control Group (Non-Diabetic, Non-Hypertensive Traumatic Patients)

Calcification of media layer of peripheral arteries (Monkeburg sclerosis) often occurs with age and in diabetic patients with chronic renal failure. The appearance of this mark in hemodialysis patients can help predict cardiovascular events. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the Abdominal Aortic Calcification Index (ACI) in hemodialysis and non-renal patients. In this cross sectional study, 84 hemodialysis patients who had the inclusion criteria were enrolled. 157 traumatic patients who had no chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension were enrolled as the control group. The evaluation of CT scan sections, put the patients in three ACI groups (0-40), (41-80) and (81-120).
FINDINGS: A sum of 241 patients were enrolled in the study [ 84 (34.9%) in the case and 157 (65.1%) in the control group]. There was a significant difference in ACI between the two groups (P< 0.001). Comparing the chance of ACI in two groups, dialysis patients have a 22.67 times more chance to have severe ACI than mild ACI {CI 95% (4.987-103.062) (p=0.001)}, and also dialysis patients have a 7.32 times more chance to have severe ACI than moderate one {CI 95%(1.486-34.891) (p=0.001)}. According to more severe ACI in dialysis patients in comparison to healthy people, renal disease and dialysis may have an essential role in vascular calcification and its complications.