Thursday, June 1, 2023

Significance of Collaboration Between Cardiologists and Nephrologists

The connection between heart and renal health issues is still a topic of discussion among physicians. It is well established in both sectors that kidney function could have an impact on cardiac health. As a risk factor, kidney patients are more susceptible to cardiovascular problems than the opposite is true. A chronic renal disease that is mild to severe affects more than 50% of all heart failure patients. Similar risk factors for both diseases include age, family medical history, diabetes, obesity, as well as hypertension. The connecting link between heart and kidney disease has long been thought to be caused by these common risk factors. In order to better understand and treat these diseases, the best cardiologist in India and other countries are continually collaborating with kidney specialists. 

The kidneys, as well as the heart, are 2 of the body’s major organs that function closely together. The kidneys operate to filter the blood, remove waste materials, and maintain normal physiological functions while the heart works to supply the body with an adequate amount of oxygenated blood.

Blood pressure that is too high due to kidney disease might narrow the heart veins if it is not managed. The smaller blood vessels leading to the filters, the filters themselves, and the arteries and veins around the kidney can all be strained by high blood pressure. It’s sodium, chloride, and even potassium levels in the blood, among many others, which are regulated by the kidneys. These electrolytes should be balanced properly to prevent dangerous disorders like arrhythmia and irregular heartbeat. The chronic renal disease also has an impact on the ratio of blood calcium and phosphate levels. A thickening of plaque in the heart, as well as adjacent blood vessels brought on by an overabundance of plaque buildup, may prevent blood flow to certain other organs.

The phrase “cardiorenal syndrome” is used to refer to overlapping disorders that involve both kidney and cardiac problems. 

Here are a few of the more severe issues that affect both kidney and heart function:

Congestive heart failure seems to be a condition where the body is unable to circulate enough blood throughout the body at a sufficient volume as well as pressure. In the west, illness is on the rise, especially among older individuals. It can induce kidney damage, most likely as a consequence of a reduced renal blood flow brought on by the heart muscle’s weakness. High blood pressure would be a key risk factor for both renal and heart failure, and consequently, both. 

Chronic kidney disease, commonly brought on by complications from other conditions like diabetes or hypertension, is the progressive loss of kidney function over time. Cardiovascular issues are more likely to arise in patients with chronic renal disease and become more severe as kidney function declines. The leading cause of death for those with kidney disease is heart disease. It has been demonstrated that statins, which are frequently used to address high cholesterol and reduce the likelihood of heart attacks, also delay the rate at which kidney function declines in individuals with the illness. A meta-analysis of statins used in clinical trials found a nearly 20% reduction in fatal cardiovascular events.

The end-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys are unable to perform as they should, leaving only dialysis or transplant as options. Patients with the condition are considerably more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Heart, as well as kidney specialist doctor in dubai and other places, must comprehend one another’s specialties and share knowledge in order to effectively treat patients with these diseases. Cardio-renal disorders have a lot of crossover sites; therefore, it needs cooperation from both parties to enhance patient care and aim for the best results.

Conclusion: 

Associations between both the heart as well as the kidneys happen whether or not one wants them to. The need for a cardio nephrology specialist seems to be warranted from both a theoretical and a clinical standpoint. Chronic renal disease patients have a significant prevalence of cardiovascular illness, according to Professor Thomas Lüscher, who is a chief editor of the European Heart Journal. It is believed that this collaboration would enable practitioners of both disciplines to advance their knowledge and study because cardiac arrest is frequently experienced by patients within the initial 90 days of dialysis.

Clearly, nephrologists have taught cardiologists a lot. What, though, can nephrologists teach cardiologists? Myocardial infarction was the cause of the very high rate of sudden cardiac arrest among dialysis patients, according to a ground-breaking observation. Cardiological research has also taught nephrologists that not everyone’s coronary plaques are the same, those unsteady plaques can easily elude detection, and that calcified plaques really aren’t passive “tombstones”; in fact, coronary calcification has proven to be a powerful forecaster of cardiovascular events in renal patients. Additionally, cardiologists taught nephrologists the value of -blockade, especially in the context of increased sympathetic nervous system activation and reduced catecholamine breakdown due to renalase deficiency.