Elements contributing to the risk of stroke in individuals on maintenance hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE Both stroke and CKD have high morbidity and mortality rates, these two disease pose a serious threat to patient’s lives. To investigate the risk factors for stroke in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), aiming to propose targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies. Additionally, our study seeks to explore the mechanisms underlying stroke in MHD patients. RESULTS The study included 70 patients in the MHD group who had experienced a stroke, with 48 males and 22 females, and an average age of 59.34 ± 11.56 years. In the non-stroke MHD group, 69 patients were included, with 45 males and 24 females, and an average age of 59.01 ± 8.42 years. Univariate logistic analysis showed that a history of hypertension, hemoglobin, albumin, and blood calcium levels were significantly associated with the occurrence of stroke in MHD patients. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the stroke and non-stroke groups in terms of history of diabetes mellitus, the presence of atrial fibrillation, serum levels of parathyroid hormone, blood phosphorus, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Further multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that higher blood calcium levels [0.187, (0.040, 0.864), p = 0.032] was a protective factor against stroke. CONCLUSION History of hypertension, anemia, albumin and serum calcium levels were identified as risk factors for stroke in MHD patients compared to non-stroke MHD patients, and further multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher calcium levels [0.187, (0.040, 0.864), p = 0.032] were protective factor for stroke.