Association of Serum Galectin-3 with Aortic Stiffness in Adults with Stage 3–5 Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: Overall and Stage-Stratified Analyses

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular injury is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the relationship between serum galectin-3 and aortic stiffness (AS) in adults with non-dialysis CKD remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between serum galectin-3 and AS in adults with stage 3–5 non-dialysis CKD. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 176 adults with stage 3–5 non-dialysis CKD. Serum galectin-3 concentrations were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured to assess AS, de-fined as cfPWV > 10 m/s. Results: Sixty-three participants (35.8%) met the criterion for AS. Compared with the non-AS group, participants with AS were older and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting glucose, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, and serum galectin-3 levels. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that galectin-3 (odds ratio [OR], 1.100; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.015–1.192; p = 0.020), age (OR, 1.068; 95% CI, 1.026–1.111; p = 0.001), and SBP (OR, 1.158; 95% CI, 1.098–1.221; p < 0.001) were independently associated with AS. After adjustment for covariates, log-transformed galectin-3 remained independently associated with cfPWV in stepwise linear regression. Conclusions: Higher serum galectin-3 concentrations were independently associated with AS in adults with stage 3–5 non-dialysis CKD.