Background

Cardiovascular calcification, aprevalent condition at all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), is one of the major causes for increased cardiovascularmorbidity and mortality world wide [1]. It has been well acknowledged that cardiovascular calcification is associated with the pathogenesis of severe coronary artery disease, arterial stiffness, and peripheral vascular disease. The prevalence of vascular calcification usually increasedin patients with advanced CKD. For example, the prevalence in patients with stage 5 CKD on dialysis (stage 5D CKD) was superior to that of patients with stage 3D CKD (80–90% vs. 40%) [2].

Vascular calcification has been acknowledged as a strong predictor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality inCKD population [3]. A cross-sectional analysis showed that cardiac valve calcification (CVC) was closely associated with vascular calcification that was considered as a risk factor for prevalent hemodialysis [4]. According to the previous cohort studies [5, 6], the association between CVC and mortality in dialysis patients is still controversial. Besides, thesample size of the existing cohort CVC studies on dialysis is small, which results in various differences among the studies. This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association between CVC and risk of cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in dialysis patients.

Methods

Data sources

Meta-analysis was performed according to the recommendations proposed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Statement [7]. We searched the PubMed, Embase, as well as two Chinese databases including Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases using the following terms: ‘hemodialysis’ OR ‘peritoneal dialysis’ OR ‘end stage renal disease’ AND ‘cardiac valve calcification’ OR ‘valve calcification’ AND ‘mortality’ OR ‘death’. Studies published up to November 25, 2016 were eligible. Meanwhile, the references of selected articles were searched manuallyfor additional eligible studies.

Inclusion criteria

Studies met the following criteria were eligible: 1) original observational cohort studies; 2) involving participants with end-stage kidney disease underwent dialysis; 3) evaluating the association between the presence and extent of CVC at baseline and subsequent cardiovascular or all-cause mortality; and 4) reporting outcomesas raw data or risk estimation of cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. In cases of several publications from the same study group, only the most recent complete publication was selected. Studies of cross-sectional design, published in types of review or protocol, or duplicated publication were excluded from the study.

Data extraction

Two authors (Z Wang and HY Chen) independently collected data from the eligible studies, and did the data extraction including first author’s name, publication year, research design, geographical region of study, demographic characteristics of patients, examination methods, prevalence of CVC, number of death events, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), length of follow-up, and adjustment for covariates. A profound discussion was held in cases of any discrepancies during the data collection until consensus. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies was applied to assess the quality of methodology of each study [8]. A study with six or more stars was regarded as a higher quality study after NOS evaluation.

Statistical analyses

We pooled the overall risk estimates using the adjusted HR with the 95% CI. The Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistic were utilized to evaluate the heterogeneity among studies. Random effect model as described by DerSimonian and Laird was applied in cases of significant heterogeneity (P < 0.10 and I2 > 50%). Otherwise, a fixed-effect model as described by Mentel-Haenszel was applied [9]. Subgroup analyses were performed by study region (Asia or non-Asian regions), dialysis modality (hemodialysisor peritoneal dialysis), and number of CVC (one or two calcified cardiac valve). The source of heterogeneity was analyzed by Meta-regression analysis. The publication bias was evaluated using the Begg’s and Egger’s [10] tests. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The sensitivity analysis was carried out by excluding one study at each turn to test the robustness of the pooled results. Stata 11.0 software was used for the statistical analysis.

Results

Study selection

In total, 175 studies were initially identified through electronic search, among which 113were excluded as these articles were presented in the forms of meeting abstract, reviews or articles with no relevant outcomes reported. Then 52 studies were excluded mainly due to not confirming with the inclusion criteria. Finally, ten cohort studies involving 2686 dialysis patients [5, 6, 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18] were eligible in this study. Flow chart of study selection was detailed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow chart of article selection

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The baseline characteristics of the studies were listed in Table 1. All the ten studies were of a prospective design. The length of follow-up was 1.46-10 years. Echocardiographywas used to detect CVC.

Table 1 Study characteristics
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All-cause and cardiovascular mortality

A total of 650 all-cause mortality events were reported in seven studies [5, 6, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18] among the 2345 dialysis patients. Three studies [5, 11, 14] reported the all-cause mortality risk among patients with one calcified cardiac valve compared with those without CVC. Two studies [5, 11] reported the all-cause mortality risk among patients with two calcified cardiac valve compared with those without CVC (Table 2). CVC was related to a greater risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.42–2.11; I2 = 24.6%; P = 0.242, Fig. 2) in a fixed-effect model. A total of 309 cardiovascular mortality events were reported in six studies [5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 18] among the 2192 dialysis patients. CVC was associated with 1.81-fold greater risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.92–4.10; I2 = 48.5%; P = 0.084, Fig. 3) in a random effect model.

Table 2 Subgroup analyses of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
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Fig. 2
figure 2

Association between CVC and all-cause mortality risk revealed by Forest plot

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Association between CVC and cardiovascular mortality risk revealed by Forest plot

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Subgroup analyses, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses

Subgroup analysis for the study region demonstrated thatAsian patients with CVC had greater cardiovascular (HR: 3.255; 95%CI: 2.428-4.363; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.492) and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.761; 95%CI: 1.380-2.246; I2 = 0.0%,P = 0.45). However, in the non-Asian region, no relationship was identified between presence of CVC and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. Subgroup analyses based on the number of CVC, dialysis modality, and length of follow-upshowed the cardiovascular or all-cause mortality was higher than those without CVC. Subgroup analysis was performed with the number of physiciansanalyzing echocardiographic recordings serving as a variable, which revealed significant decrease in the heterogeneity (all-cause mortality: two physicians: HR: 1.386; 95% CI: 1.064–1.805; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.762; one physician: HR: 2.320; 95% CI: 1.714–3.140; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.778; cardiovascular mortality: two physicians: HR: 1.890; 95% CI: 1.256–2.845; I2 = 9.0%; P = 0.333; one physician: HR: 3.718; 95% CI: 2.624–5.268; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.691, Table 2). In the Meta-regression analysis, region, follow up duration, dialysis modality, being a multicenter study or not, a randomized study or not, a blinded follow up or not served as variables to investigate the effects of CVC on the cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. No statistical differences were noticed (all P > 0.1). In addition, Meta-regression analysis showed that there was atrend towards the number of physiciansanalyzing echocardiographic recordings being correlated tostudy outcomes (all-cause mortality: P = 0.054; cardiovascular or all-cause mortality: P = 0.061). Sensitivity analyses by excluding one study at each turn showed that there were no changes in the direction of pooling risk estimate of all-cause mortality (pooled HR: 1.62-1.88) and cardiovascular mortality (pooled HR: 2.41-3.25). For the all-cause mortality analysis, only one study (Wang et al., 2003) including 192 cases corrected the dialysis vintage (HR: 2.5, 95%CI: 1.32-4.76). The other five subsequent studies including 2153 subjects (HR: 1.665, 95%CI: 1.351-2.053; I2 = 23.8%; P = 0.255). For the cardiovascular mortality analysis, Wang et al. (2003) and Zhong and Na (2011) corrected the dialysis vintage. After a pooled analysis, the following data were obtained: HR: 3.810; 95% CI: 2.539–5.720; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.407. The other four subsequent studies involving 1904 subjects were included in the analysis (HR: 2.265; 95% CI: 1.473–3.481; I2 = 35.0%; P = 0.202).

Publication bias

Begg’s rank correlation test and Egger’s linear regression test showed nopublication bias for all-cause mortality (Begg’s test: P = 0.368, Fig.4a; Egger’s test: P = 0.199). Besides, no evidence was observed in the publication bias of the cardiovascular mortalityaccording to the Begg’s rank correlation test (P = 0.707, Fig.4b) and Egger’s linear regression test (P = 0.517).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Evaluation of publication bias for all-cause mortality (a) andcardiovascular mortality (b)

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Discussion

This meta-analysis showed that prevalence of aortic arch calcification ranged from 23.27% to 57.60%, and presence of CVC increased the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 181% and all-cause mortality by 73% in dialysis patients. Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) indicates that detection of vascular/valve calcification is useful for risk stratification of patients undergoing dialysis, while echocardiographyis reasonable for the detection of valve calcification [19]. Our study further supports the recommendations of KDIGO.

Subgroup analysis revealed CVC in dialysis patients with two calcified cardiac valves was associated with greater mortality. The results supported that higher degree of CVC was associated with increased risk of mortality. Additionally, peritoneal dialysis patients with presence of CVC seemed to show a higher risk of mortalitythan hemodialysis patients. CVC was related to higher mortality riskin Asian patients. Moreover, single physiciananalyzing echocardiographic recordingswas related to higher mortality risk.

The inter-study heterogeneity showed decrease after grouping based on the hemodialysis (I2 = 17.8%) and peritoneal dialysis (I2 = 0.0%) in the all-cause mortality. The cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the peritoneal dialysis patient with concurrent cardiac valve calcification was higher than that of the hemodialysis patients. Besides the heterogeneity, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of dialysis mode on the effects of vascular calcification and prognosis. In the all-cause mortality analysis, the risk of cardiac valve calcification induced all-cause mortality in the Asian population was higher than that of the other populations, among which in a previous study by Panuccio et al. (2004) in the non-Asian population [HR (95% CI):1.20 (0.75-1.92)] that was significantly lower than the other studies. This may be related to the exclusion of heart failure subjects, which may be an important cause for the mortality. For the sensitivity analysis, the heterogeneity showed significant decrease after excluding the study reported by Varma et al. (I2 = 12.4%), which may be related the higher heterogeneity as the study was of low quality. Meta-regression analysis revealed region, follow up duration, dialysis modality, being a multicenter study or not, a randomized study or not, a blinded follow up or not were not the major sources for the inter-study heterogeneity (all P > 0.1). Besides, the number of physiciansanalyzing echocardiographic recordings served as variable, which also showed no statistical differences (P = 0.054). As only a few studies were included, it may be a source for the heterogeneity despite a P value of > 0.05. For further analysis, subgroup analysis was performed using the number of physicians as the variable, which revealed significant decrease in the heterogeneity. Thus, single physician may increase the bias, which overestimated the effects of CVC on the all-cause mortality.

For the analysis of cardiovascular mortality, the regions were divided into Asia and non-Asian regions. The heterogeneity in the 5 studies performed in Asia was low (I2 = 0.0%). Only one study (Panuccioet al, 2004) was performed in the non-Asian region, which may be responsible for the heterogeneity. This may be related to the exclusion of patients with heart failure that was an important cause for cardiovascular mortality. Meta-regression analysis revealed region, follow up duration, dialysis modality, being a multicenter study or not, a randomized study or not, a blinded follow up or not were not the major sources for the inter-study heterogeneity (all P > 0.1). Besides, the number of physiciansanalyzing echocardiographic recordings served as variable (P = 0.061). As only a few studies were included, it may be a source for the heterogeneity despite a P value of > 0.05. For further analysis, subgroup analysis was performed using the number of researchers as the variable, which revealed significant decrease in the heterogeneity (two physicians: HR: 1.890; 95% CI: 1.256–2.845; I2 = 9.0%; P = 0.333; one physician: HR: 3.718; 95% CI: 2.624–5.268; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.691). Thus, single physician may increase the bias, which overestimated the effects ofCVC on the cardiovascular mortality. In a previous study, Panuccio et al. (2004) excluded the patients with heart failure, which may increase the heterogeneity. Meta-regression analysis showed heart failure may be a source for the heterogeneity (P = 0.064). In the meta-analysis excluding such study, the heterogeneity showed significant decrease (HR: 3.255; 95% CI: 2.428–4.363; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.492). As heart failure was one of the major causes for the cardiovascular mortality, exclusion of heart failure may underestimate the effects of CVC.

CVC isan active pathobiological process resulting in calcium deposition involving aging, inflammation, CKD, diabetes mellitus, and phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells. In an environment with changed profiles of calcification-regulating humoral factors including calcium and phosphate, VSMCs can transform to osteo/chondrogenic phenotype. In addition, other factors such as degradation of elastin fibers also played important roles insubsequent calcification [20].

CKD progression may trigger various abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism such as hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, bone disorders, and cardiovascular calcification. To date, several factors were identified as the risk factors of cardiovascular calcification, including metabolic disorder of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor 23, inflammation, oxidative stress, declining of calcification inhibitor such as fetuin-A and matrix Gla protein, as well as pharmacological interventions such as active vitamin D and calcium-based phosphate binders. These factors may increase the cardiovascular events and mortality finally.

CVC refers to a condition with the presence of bright echoes of more than 1 mm on one or more cusps of the aortic valve, mitral annulus or mitral valve based on the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography [21]. Generally, dialysis patients usually present CVC [22]. The incidence and progression of CVC increased with the duration of dialysis [23]. In a previous study, CVC patients showed elevation of left ventricular mass index and pulmonary artery pressure and decrease of ejection fraction [24]. Besides, CVC was associated with the arterial wall stiffness, which then resulted in cardiac afterload elevation and left ventricular hypertrophy that were considered to be markers for the decrease of heart function [25]. Furthermore, CVC was significantly associated with peripheral arterial calcification, alterations of mineral metabolism [26], coronary artery calcification [27], arterial calcification [28], carotid atherosclerosis, arrhythmias, stroke and mortality [11]. Therefore, it was necessary to evaluate the CVC of the patients, which contributed to the risk stratification, modulation of treatment regimen, as well as delaying the calcification. In a previous meta-analysis [29], patients assigned to non-calcium-based binders had a 22% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with those assigned to calcium-based phosphate binders, and the reduction in vascular calcification was greater in patients assigned to non-calcium-based phosphate binders than in those assigned to calcium binders. The KDIGO 2017 clinical practice guideline update for CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) [30] suggests restricting the dose of calcium-based phosphate binders. We need to use calcium-based phosphate binders or non-calcium-based phosphate binders, calcitriol or vitamin D analogs, and calcimimetics in a reasonable manner, in order to avoid the increased calcium load and the poor calcium phosphate control, prevent or retard the progression of cardiovascular calcification in dialysis patients.

Our study had some limitations. Firstly, some eligible studies were of small sample size and short follow-up duration, which may lead to limited generalizability. Secondly, the adjust covariates in different studies were not the same, which might affect the results of this meta-analysis. Thirdly, there are some negative findings that are not published, which may affect the results of this meta-analysis. Finally, the result based on the limited studies may be not robust, especially in the subgroup analyses.

Conclusion

In summary, this meta-analysis indicates that CVC is associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. The number of calcified cardiac valve is correlated with the mortality risk. Our study provides the evidence that detection of valve calcification is beneficial for risk stratification of dialysis. In future, more prospective trials with large sample size are needed to further evaluate the relationship between CVC and the outcome of dialysis patients.