Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the status of vascular calcification in nondialysed stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and to explore the role of diabetes on vascular calcification in CKD patients. Methods Vascular calcification was quantitatively evaluated by plain radiographic films from abdomen, pelvis and hands. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The parameters relating to vascular calcification were then analyzed. Results In this study we analyzed 68 nondialysed stage 5 CKD patients including 36 non-diabetic and 32 diabetic patients. Among the 68 patients, vascular calcification was found on radiographic films in 29 cases (42.6%), of which 82.8% had calcification of abdominal aorta and 37.9% showed calcification of peripheral muscular arteries. Logistic regression revealed that age and diabetes were the independent risk factors for vascular calcification in nondialysed stage 5 CKD patients. The prevalence and degree of vascular calcification were higher in the patients with diabetes than those without diabetes (P＜0.05), and so did the prevalence of calcification of abdominal aorta and peripheral muscular arteries (P＜0.05). Conclusions The undialyzed stage 5 CKD patients with diabetes have higher prevalence rate and more severity of vascular calcification than those without diabetes. Diabetes therefore plays an important role in vascular calcification in CKD patients.

Key words: Nondialysed, Diabetes, Vascular calcification