Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the included studies.
| Study/year | Region | Design | Patients (%women) | Age (years) | Detection Methods | Prevalence of AAC | Comparison of AAC | Events NumberRR or HR (95% CI) | Follow-up (years) | Adjustment for Covariates | NOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogawa et al.9 | Japan | Prospective study | HD 401 (32.7) | 58 ± 13 (CAC); 65 ± 11 (no CAC) | Plain chest radiography | 50.6% | Presence vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (41) 2.56 (1.01–6.49) Total death (72) 0.67(0.39–1.16) | 4 | Age, DB, BMI, DBP, hemoglobin, serum albumin, Kt/V level, and creatinine | 5 |
| Lee et al.8 | Korea | Prospective study | PD 415 (43.7) | 55.8 ± 13.8 | Posterior- anterior plain chest X-rays | 40.7% | Presence vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (39) 3.58 (1.58–8.13) Total death (90) 2.18(1.34–3.56) | 2.85 | Age, DB, previous CVD, lipid-lowering medication, calcium phosphorus products, Hs-CRP and albumin | 7 |
| Liu et al.11 | China | Prospective study | HD 333 (46.5) | 52 ± 14 | Plain chest radiography | Not provided | Presence vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (59) 2.14(1.15–3.98) Total death (105) 1.28(1.11–1.47) | 4.2 | Age, gender, dialytic vintage, dialysis modality, DB, blood pressure, hemoglobin, ferritin, CRP and LVMI. | 6 |
| Abdelmalek et al.12 | USA | Retrospective study | HD 93 (3) | 66 ± 11(CAC); 63 ± 10 (no CAC) | Frontal and lateral chest radiograph | 58%, | Presence vs. absence | Total death (26) 6.23(1.64–23.66) | 1.8 | Age, CAD, pre-dialysis creatinine, phosphorus, DB, hyperlipidemia and CAC. | 6 |
| Bohn et al.10 | Canada | Retrospective cohort study | HD 824(46) | 59.7 | Postero-anterior X-ray | 46% | Gr. vs. absence | Total death (152) 1.52(0.99–2.34) Gr. 1 1.22(0.72–2.05) Gr. 2 2.49(1.28–4.82) Gr. 3 | 3 | Age at x-ray, race, sex, duration of dialysis, DB, history of heart failure, IHD, serum phosphate and creatinine at initiation of dialysis. | 6 |
| Komatsu et al.6 | Japan | Prospective study | HD 301 (34) | 63.8 ± 12.2 | Chest X-rays | 41.9% | Gr. vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (43) 1.73 (0.62–5.62) Gr. 1 2.63 (1.46–5.12) Gr. 2 + 3 Total death (65) 1.23(0.56–2.85) Gr. 1 1.70(1.05–2.68) Gr. 2 + 3 | 3 | Age, DB, serum albumin, non-HDL TC, hypertension, prescription of active vitamin D3 | 7 |
| Lee et al.5 | Taiwan | Prospective study | HD 712 (57.0) | 55.6 ± 14.3 | X-ray films | 57% | Gr. vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (87) 1.75(0.88–3.49) Gr. 1 1.44 (0.68–3.03) Gr. 2 2.50(1.24–5.04) Gr. 3 Total death (231) 1.17(0.78–1.78) Gr. 1 0.94(0.60–1.46) Gr. 2 1.60(1.06–2.43) Gr. 3 | 10 | Age, DB, cardiothoracic ratio, albumin, creatinine, non-fasting glucose, phosphorus, calcium phosphorus product, TC, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase | 8 |
| Hong et al.7 | China | Retrospective cohort study | HD 177 (41.8) | 62.86 ± 14.33 | Chest X-rays | 37.29% | Gr. vs. absence | Cardiovascular death (18) 3.86 (0.74–20.2) Gr. 1 5.64 (1.17–27.07) Gr. 2 + 3 Total death (25) 2.26(0.63–8.14) Gr. 1 3.78(1.18–12.09) Gr. 2 + 3 | 2 | Age, BMI, albumin, hemoglobin, HDL,LDL, serum phosphate, serum calcium, calcium phosphorus products, and residual renal function | 5 |
Abbreviations: AAC, aortic arch calcification; DB, diabetes; RR, risk ratio; HR, hazard ratio; Gr, grade; NOS, Newcastle–Ottawa Scale; PD, peritoneal dialysis; BMI, body mass index; CAC, coronary artery calcification; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CAD, coronary artery disease; TC,total cholesterol; CRP,C-reactive protein; LVMI, left ventricular mass index; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; Hs-CRP, high sensitivity C-reactive protein.