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Abnormal calcium levels can cause death in kidney disease patients

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 18, 2010

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Abnormally high or low serum calcium levels are linked to an increased chance of premature death in nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients, said a study published online Jan. 7 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

Researchers examined death rates associated with various blood calcium levels in 1,243 male U.S. veterans with moderate-to-advanced CKD who did not require dialysis therapy.

Compared with patients with normal calcium levels, patients with abnormally high levels had a 31% increased risk of dying during the study period. According to the study, "a total of 698 patients died (mortality rate: 123 per 1,000 patient-years) and 778 patients reached the composite outcome during a median follow-up of 3.2 years."

Low calcium levels also were linked to higher death rates (21% increased risk) but after much shorter periods of exposure to such levels (link).

Researchers said clinical trials are needed to determine whether maintaining normal serum calcium can improve outcomes in these patients.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/01/18/prbf0118.htm.

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