Prevalence of renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing routine cardiac catheterization

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of renal artery stenosis (RAS) and associated risk factors in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected coronary artery disease.

METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-four consecutive patients (71 female) were studied at the Cardiology Unit of King Abdullah University Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, between May 2002 and May 2003. Left-sided cardiac catheterization and abdominal aortography were performed to screen for coronary and renal artery disease.

RESULTS: Of the 354 patients, 285 had coronary artery disease and 27 had RAS. Significant RAS was present in 11 patients. Patients with RAS were older (66 +/- 8 versus 59 +/- 10, mean +/- SD; p=0.004), had higher incidence of systolic hypertension (156 +/-14 versus 130 +/- 16 mm Hg; p=0.005), diabetes mellitus (72% versus 38%; p=0.004), smoker (85% versus 55; p=0.005), and had less than 2 coronary lesions.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of significant and insignificant RAS is 3.1% and 4.5%. Diagnostic yield increase in elderly patient with less than 2 coronary lesions, elevated systolic pressure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and electrocardiogram criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy.