Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Patients with Nephropathy

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in nephropathic patients. Risk factors such as systemic inflammation, immunosuppression and diet are common in kidney patients; they modify body composition, resulting in increased deposition of visceral fat, a known CVD risk factor. The use of different biomarkers, such as: anthropometric parameters, bioimpedance and echocardiography are useful in the stratification of CV risk in four populations of kidney patients. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling, from January to March 2025, 38 patients of whom: 9 kidney transplant recipients, 9 pre-dialysis , 9 hemodialysis and 9 peritoneal dialysis patients. Each patient underwent: -anthropometric data: height, weight and BMI, -bioimpedance analysis, - two-dimensional echocardiography with evaluation of epicardial fat thickness. Results: We observed in the transplant group a higher prevalence of metabolically obese (NMOW) patients with a mean body fat percentage (BF%) of 35% ( Fig. 1)and a higher epicardial fat thickness, with a mean value of 45 mm (Fig. 2). Conclusion: Biomarkers have provided a decisive contribution in defining cardiovascular risk. Kidney transplant patients present a higher cardiovascular risk, which could be attributable to immunosuppressive therapy.