Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the patients.
| Characteristics | Non-CCU patients (N = 56) | CCU patients (N = 14) | Difference (95% CI) |
| Age, years | 39.8±14.2 | 49.9±12.4 | 10.1 (2.1–18.7) |
| Male, n (%) | 38 (67.8) | 4 (28.6) | −39.2 (−59.3– −10.1)(1) |
| Caucasian, n (%) | 47 (83.9) | 13 (92.8) | 8.9 (−22.0–16.5)(1) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.8±3.7 | 24.6±3.3 | −0.2 (−2.4–1.9) |
| Desensitized, n (%) | 7 (12.5) | 8 (57.1) | 44.6 (17.7–67.0)(1) |
| CKD duration, months | 114.0 (46.5–210.3) | 200.5 (93.0–270.0) | 60.0 (0.0–132.0)(2) |
| Dialysis duration, months | 4.5 (0.0–26.8) | 32.0 (18.8–89.5) | 24.0 (6.0–36.0)(2) |
| Pre-dialysis, n (%) | 24 (42.9) | 1 (7.2) | −35.7 (−8.6– −50.0)(1) |
| Dialysis-dependent, n (%) | 32 (57.1) | 13 (92.8) | 35.7 (8.6–50.0)(1) |
| Resting blood pressure | |||
| Systolic, mmHg | 137.3±20.6 | 137.6±16.8 | 0.3 (−11.5–12.3) |
| Diastolic, mmHg | 82.2±12.3 | 80.4±6.4 | −1.8 (−8.7–4.9) |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
| Hypertension (%) | 52 (92.9) | 12 (85.7) | −7.1 (−33.2–7.1)(1) |
| Dyslipidemia (%) | 20 (35.7) | 6 (42.8) | 7.1 (−18.0–34.2)(1) |
| Diabetes (%) | 5 (8.9) | 2 (14.3) | 5.4 (−9.2–31.5)(1) |
| Tobacco (%) | 28 (50.0) | 6 (42.8) | −7.1 (−32.1–20.5)(1) |
| CAD (%) | 3 (5.4) | 0 (0.0) | −5.4 (−14.6–16.4)(1) |
| CVD (%) | 3 (5.4) | 0 (0.0) | −5.4 (−14.6–16.4)(1) |
| Blood parameters | |||
| Hemoglobin, g/dl | 11.8±1.4 | 11.44±2.1 | −0.4 (−1.4–0.4) |
| C-reactive protein, mg/L | 0.0 (0.0–6.0) | 4.5 (0.0–9.7) | 0.0 (0.0–5.0)(2) |
| Albumin, g/L | 44.0 (42.0–46.0) | 43.5 (39.0–45.0) | −1.0 (−3.0–1.0)(2) |
| Spirometry | |||
| FEV1, % predicted | 89.1±18.6 | 83.9±21.5 | −5.2 (−19.7–3.6) |
| FEV1/FVC | 75 (72–83) | 76 (68.8–77.3) | −2.0 (−7.0–2.0)(2) |
| Arterial compliance | |||
| PWV, m/s | 7.4 (6.4–8.8) | 8.2 (7.4–10.3) | 0.9 (−0.2–2.0)(2) |
| Augmentation index, % | 20.6±15.3 | 26.5±12.8 | 5.9 (−3.7–14.0) |
| CPET variables | |||
| VO2AT, ml/min/kg | 12.5±2.2 | 9.7±1.7 | −2.8 (−4.1– −1.6) |
| VO2peak, ml/min/kg | 22.1±5.8 | 16.8±4.3 | −5.3 (−8.6– −2.0) |
| Oxygen pulse (ml O2/min) | 11.8±4.5 | 9.0±2.4 | −2.8 (−5.3– −0.3) |
| VE/VCO2 slope | 31.2±6.6 | 33.9±5.2 | 2.7 (−1.2–6.4) |
Data are mean ± SD, median (IQR) or frequencies (%). BMI, body mass index; CI, Confidence interval; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CAD, coronary artery disease; CVD, cerebrovascular disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FVC, full vital capacity; PWV, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity; CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise testing; VO2AT, anaerobic threshold; VO2peak, oxygen consumption at maximal exercise. VE/VCO2 (ventilatory efficiency) measured from the start of unloaded pedaling to maximal exercise. (1) Differences for non-continuous variables are expressed as relative frequency differences with corresponding Wilson Score confidence limits. (2) Differences for non-normal continuous variables are expressed as Hodges-Lehmann location shifts and Hodges-Lehmann confidence limits.