Several advances in dialysis therapies have been made. Still, the mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains high at rates exceeding 15%. Cardiovascular disease from heart failure or sudden death remains an important cause for mortality in these groups. The most common cardiac anomaly in ESRD is cardiac hypertrophy and this has been observed in 75% of patients at the time of starting dialysis. Also, in patients on conventional hemodialysis (CHD) (4 hours, 3 times per week), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for mortality, arrhythmias, heart failure and myocardial ischemia. Stroke work index and left ventricular mass (LVM) are closely associated, in ESRD.
Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Hemodialysis; Left ventricular mass.