Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease in North America: Lessons from the Usrds and Naprtcs Databases

Cardiovascular (CV) disease mortality has not changed in the past three decades, remaining the second most common cause of death in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This article reviews pediatric data pertaining to CV disease obtained from the two largest renal databases in North America. The data indicate high incidence and prevalence of CV complications and cardiac risk factors in children with ESRD, accounting for high cardiac mortality in this patient population. Early identification and intervention to treat modifiable risk factors and asymptomatic cardiac disease might lead to prevention of cardiac disease and to a decrease in CV morbidity and mortality in young adults who developed chronic kidney disease during childhood.