I Have Been Diagnosed With End-Stage Kidney Disease. Am I At An Increased Risk Of Heart Attack?

Gregg Stone, M.D., Professor of Medicine; Director of Cardiovascular Research and Education Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy, Columbia University Medical Center

May 2, 2008

Question: I have been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. Am I at an increased risk of heart attack?

Answer: Patients who develop end-stage kidney disease -- and we define that basically when the kidneys are working at such a low level that dialysis is required, whether hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis -- basically, survival is not an option without an artificial kidney.

ABC News Photo Illustration

That yes, the likelihood of developing blockages in the arteries of the heart is more common, the likelihood of developing a heart attack is more common, and the prognosis after a heart attack is worse.

Patients in this situation often will have a kidney transplant, which may somewhat improve the prognosis. However, we need more studies in this area, before we can say that for sure.

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