Abdominal Aortic Calcifications in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Single Center Study in Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification in patients diagnosed with chronickidney disease stage III to V.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Nephrology, Fatima MemorialHospital Lahore, Pakistan from December 2022 to December 2023.Methods: A total of 295 patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stages III to V were included. The lateral view of the lumbar radiograph was carried out in the standing position. All the X-rays were confidentiallysubmitted to the Central Radiology Department where a consultant Radiologist interpreted the X-ray in thelight of the Abdominal Aortic Calcification Score. Significant Abdominal Aortic Calcification (AAC) wasdesignated as per the Operation ACC score interpreted and reported by the consultant Radiologist. Chronickidney disease (CKD) and Aortic Calcification were designated.Results: Abdominal aortic calcification was found in 89 (30.17%) patients. Male gender was significantlyassociated with the presence of abdominal aortic calcification (χ2 = 50.019, df = 1, P-value 0.001).Conclusion: We concluded that there is a moderately high frequency (30%) of abdominal aortic calcification inpatients with chronic kidney disease.