Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the rates of cardiovascular events among renal transplant recipients according to pre-transplantation coronary artery disease (CAD) and revascularization status and to describe the coronary angiographic findings in patients with post-transplantation events.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who had coronary angiography within 2 years before kidney transplantation. The predictor variables were pre-transplantation CAD and coronary revascularization. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, acute coronary syndrome, and post-transplantation revascularization.
Results: The study included 403 patients. Pre-transplantation CAD was present in 73%, and 22% were revascularized. During a follow-up period of 5.6 years, the primary outcome occurred in 5% of the subjects without CAD, in 23% of those with CAD and no revascularization, and in 26% of those with CAD and revascularization (CAD hazard ratio [HR], 4.39 [P = .002]; revascularization HR, 1.27 [P = .36]). Thirty-five patients had a primary outcome and repeated coronary angiography, which demonstrated progression of previously nonsevere disease in the majority of cases.
Conclusions: Adverse cardiovascular outcomes are common after renal transplantation and are associated with pre-transplantation CAD of any severity. Secondary prevention of CAD events should be a high priority in the management of this high-risk population.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.