Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) present cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, which increase mortality rates but could be alleviated with proper medical care. The primary aims of this study are determining CV risk factor prevalence and medications prescribed for those patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study is a national, multicenter, noninterventional study performed in seven clinics/hospitals throughout KSA. Adult CKD patients undergoing HD were included. Data on CV risk factors, medications prescribed, and achievement of risk factor control was collected on two three-monthly visits, along with details of HD sessions. Study outcomes are displayed as rates. Numerical and categorical variables were presented. Statistical tests were performed using SAS (v.9.2 for Windows; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Virtually all 389 patients (99.7%) had at least one CV risk factor. Hypertension was the most common traditional risk factor (75.0%), while CKD-mineral and bone disorder (MBD) and anemia closely competed for the highest reported nontraditional risk factors. Antihypertensives, erythropoietin, and phosphate binders were prescribed to over 70% of patients, followed by iron supplements and Vitamin D. Most patients achieved blood pressure (73.3%) and diabetes (64.8%) targets set at baseline, and around 50% for dyslipidemia, anemia, malnutrition, and hemostatic disorder, while only 23% achieved CKD-MBD targets. Most of the 12,852 HD sessions (85%) were complication-free; 165 (44.2%) patients experienced extracorporeal thrombosis incidents (none was severe). Saudi CKD patients are very likely to present CV risk factors (99.7% prevalence), which seem successfully managed. HD is safely practiced, and possible complications are properly addressed.