Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Role in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is another public health concern, affecting roughly 1 in 7 individuals in the United States. Characterized by kidney damage or decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate to below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, there is a significant overlap in the mechanisms of disease progression for CVD and CKD. Among individuals between the ages of 18-64 with CKD, 38.4% of individuals have CVD, while in the population without CKD, only 7.1% of individuals have CVD. With this significant overlap, it is important to delve into the mechanisms for the progression of CKD and CVD to better understand how to treat and prevent overall disease burden. This paper reviews several mechanisms, including how impaired kidney function, the state of chronic inflammation, and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system affect the heart and vasculature. Based on these mechanisms, several treatment methods were delved into, including renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, to better understand mechanisms of action and safety profile.