Abstract: Objective To explore the predictive value of aortic stiffness for cardio- cerebral vascular (CV) mortality and all-cause mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods A cohort of 76 MHD patients from Peking University People’s Hospital was recruited. Demographic data was collected. Laboratory examinations and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) were performed. Results In a follow-up period of 5 years 17 fatal and 9 non-fatal CV events occurred, and 33 patients died. Patients with a CFPWV >13m/s had lower all-cause and CV survival rates by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, as compared
those with a CFPWV <13m/s. Age and diabetes were the independent predictors for all-cause survival, and age, diabetes, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and CFPWV were the independent predictors for CV survival. Conclusions MHD patients with higher CFPWV have lower all-cause and CV survival rates. Higher CFPWV is an independent predictor for CV survival in MHD patients.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Arterial stiffness, Pulse wave velocity, Prognosis