Decreased Serum Decorin Levels Are Correlated with Aortic Stiffness as Assessed Using Carotid–Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis

In patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD), aortic stiffness (AS) is a common cardiovascular condition that can predict cardiovascular events and mortality. Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan that plays a vital role in extracellular matrix organization and vascular remodeling. The relationship between decorin and AS in patients with PD remains unclear. We enrolled 140 patients on PD and collected their demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data. Serum decorin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a diagnosis of AS was established in 42 patients (30%), who were found to be of advanced age and showed higher prevalence rates of systolic blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, triglyceride, fasting glucose, and lower decorin levels, compared with those who had no AS. After proper adjustment for confounding factors in the multivariable logistic regression model, AS development was associated with decorin, age, and triglyceride levels. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that decorin, when subjected to logarithmic transformation, can be viewed as a significant independent predictor of cfPWV (β = -0.289; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Low decorin level was significantly and independently associated with AS in patients undergoing chronic PD.