https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1554-3836
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Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is considered an inflammatory cytokine. However, few studies have investigated the association between serum IL-4 and cardiovascular events in CKD. This study investigated whether serum IL-4 levels were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with CKD.
Patients and Methods
A total of 302 patients with stage 1–5 CKD were followed up for a mean of 32 (range=4–36) months for end points (CV events). Serum IL-4 levels were measured at baseline. The independent relationship between serum IL-4 and the risk of CV events was assessed with multivariate Cox regression analysis.
Results
The average age of this cohort (N=302) was 65.4 years. A total of 69.9% of them were male. CV events numbered 41 (13.6%) during the follow-up period. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the rate of CV events was higher in patients with CKD with IL-4 levels above the mean (126.2 pg/mL) than in those with IL-4 levels below the mean. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that serum IL-4 (HR=1.650, 95% CI 1.266–2.210, P<0.001) was associated with CV events in these patients with CKD. Sensitivity analysis showed that the association between serum IL-4 and CV events was not affected by the use of anti-inflammatory medication. The significant association between higher IL-4 levels and increased risk of CV events existed in patients with CKD3-5 but not in patients with CKD1-2 by using the stratified analysis.
Conclusion
Higher serum IL-4 levels were associated with an increased risk of CV events during follow-up. Elevated serum IL-4 levels may help clinicians predict early CV events in patients with CKD.
Acknowledgements
there is no funding to report
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.