Association between pulse pressure and cardiovascular disease in renal transplant patients

Elevated pulse pressure in general population has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of death in renal transplant patients. We investigated the effect that a wider pulse pressure range may have on cardiovascular disease after renal transplantation in 532 transplant patients with functioning graft for more than 1 year. Patients were classified into two groups depending on 1-year pulse pressure ( or 65 greater than or equal to mmHg) and we analyzed patient and graft survival, post-transplant cardiovascular disease and main causes of death. Higher pulse pressure was associated with older recipient age (40.8 +/- 10.8 vs. 50 +/- 11.3), higher systolic blood pressure (132.7 +/- 16.1 vs. 164.5 +/- 16), lower blood diastolic pressure (84.5 +/- 11.6 vs. 84.4 +/- 11.2), higher prevalence of diabetes (12% vs. 23%) and total cardiovascular disease (20.9% vs. 33.6%). Five- and 10-year patient survivals were lower in the group with higher pulse pressure, being vascular disease the main cause of death in both groups. In a Cox regression model increased pulse pressure was associated with higher cardiovascular disease (RR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.13-2.32 p < 0.01). In conclusion, pulse pressure was an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in renal transplant patients.