Resistance to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents Is Associated with Arterial Microcalcification in Early Hemodialysis Patients

Table 1

Comparison of clinical parameters according to arterial microcalcification.

Clinical parameters	All patients (𝑛=82); number (%)	AMiC-negative (𝑛=49); number (%)	AMiC-positive (𝑛=33); number (%)	𝑃
Age (years)^1
Mean ± SD	58.9±14.6	54.8±15.9	64.8±10.1	0.002
Sex
Men	43 (52.4)	25 (51.0)	18 (54.5)	0.754
Women	39 (47.6)	24 (49.0)	15 (45.5)
BMI (kg/m^2)^2
Mean ± SD	23.5±3.3	23.4±3.4	23.5±3.3	0.863
Chronic kidney disease
Diabetes	44 (53.7)	16 (32.7)	28 (84.8)	0.001
Nondiabetes	38 (46.3)	33 (67.3)	5 (15.2)
Dialysis prior to vascular access creation	67 (81.7)	39 (79.6)	28 (84.8)	0.546
HD duration before Op^1
Mean ± SD (months)	2.5±7.8	1.7±5.1	3.5±10.6	0.304
Kt/V^2	1.42±0.25	1.41±0.22	1.43±0.28	0.770
Residual renal function^1 (mL/min)	4.92±4.62	4.25±4.05	5.90±5.30	0.114
Phosphate binder
Calcium	57 (69.5)	32 (65.3)	25 (75.8)	0.313
Noncalcium	14 (17.1)	8 (16.3)	6 (18.2)	0.827
Vitamin D	19 (23.2)	14 (28.6)	5 (15.2)	0.158
Lipid-lowering agents	27 (32.9)	14 (28.6)	13 (39.3)	0.306

AMiC: arterial microcalcification; BMI: body mass index; HD: hemodialysis; Op: operation for vascular access.
1These parameters were compared using Mann-Whitney 𝑈 test and ²these parameters were compared using Student’s 𝑡-test.