Cardiovascular calcifications (CVC) are common in among patients undergoing dialysis and are associated increased morbidity and mortality. They are secondary to several factors, especially the disturbances of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. The aim of our work is to describe the epidemiology of CVC in chronic hemodialysis.

It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the hemodialysis department of the Military Hospital of Tunis compiling all cases with CVC among 61 chronic hemodialysis patients during the period from May to August 2014.

A total of 61 dialysis individuals were included. Mean age was 55 years, ranging from 16 to 86 years. Thirty eight were males. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia were noted respectively in 95 %, 19 % and 23 % of cases. Fifty Two percent of our patients were smoking and 31 % were alcoholics. The initial nephropathy was glomerular, vascular, tubulointerstitial and indeterminate nephropathy in 33 %, 23 %, 13 % and 26 % of all cases. The median time on dialysis was 8.5 years. Biological parameters showed a mean serum calcium at 2, 15mmol/l [1.51-2.27, phosphorus at 1,54mmol/l [0.44 - 2.45], alkaline phosphatase at 131 IU/L [14-710] and PTH at 414pg/mL [36-2417]. CVC were noted in 28% of our patients. Vascular calcifications were present in 16 cases while valvular calcification in only one patient. Fourteen patients present valvular alterations especially at the mitral valves.

The CVC is a significant risk factor for mortality in chronic renal failure. The correction of risk factors would be a way to prevent these cardiovascular abnormalities in order to reduce morbidity and mortality and to ensure a better quality of life for hemodialysis.

Our study confirms the high prevalence of CVC in hemodialysis patients and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and proper management of cardiovascular risk factors including calcium phosphate disorders in this population.