Review
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World J Nephrol. Nov 6, 2014; 3(4): 143-155
Published online Nov 6, 2014. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v3.i4.143
Why do young people with chronic kidney disease die early?
Shankar Kumar, Richard Bogle, Debasish Banerjee
Shankar Kumar, Medical School, St George’s, University of London, SW17 0RE London, United Kingdom
Richard Bogle, Department of Cardiology, St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, SW17 0QT London, United Kingdom
Richard Bogle, Department of Cardiology, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, NHS Trust, SW17 0QT London, United Kingdom
Debasish Banerjee, Renal and Transplantation Unit, St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, SW17 0QT London, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Debasish Banerjee, MD, FRCP, FASN, Consultant Nephrologist and Reader, Renal and Transplantation Unit, St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, Blackshaw Rd, SW17 0QT London, United Kingdom. debasish.banerjee@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44-2087-253204
Received: June 29, 2014
Revised: September 19, 2014
Accepted: October 14, 2014
Published online: November 6, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: In this review, we set out to summarise current opinion based on extensive scientific research that might explain the reasons for the disproportionately high death rate in chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients. The cardiovascular “phenotype” that poses increased risk to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) changes with progression of kidney dysfunction. Macrovascular disease is more important in early CKD whereas microvascular processes play an increasing role with worsening kidney disease.