Background and objectives: The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study was established to examine risk factorsfor the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with CKD. We examined baseline demographic and clinical characteristics.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Seven clinical centers recruited adults who were aged 21 to 74 yr and had CKD using age-based estimated GFR (eGFR) inclusion criteria. At baseline, blood and urine specimens were collected and information regarding health behaviors, diet, quality of life, and functional status was obtained. GFR was measured using radiolabeled iothalamate in one third of participants.Results: A total of 3612 participants were enrolled with mean age ؎ SD of 58.2 ؎ 11.0 yr; 46% were women, and 47% had diabetes. Overall, 45% were non-Hispanic white, 46% were non-Hispanic black, and 5% were Hispanic. Eighty-six percent reported hypertension, 22% coronary disease, and 10% heart failure. Mean body mass index was 32.1 ؎ 7.9 kg/m 2 , and 47% had a BP >130/80 mmHg. Mean eGFR was 43.4 ؎ 13.5 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , and median (interquartile range) protein excretion was 0.17 g/24 h (0.07 to 0.81 g/24 h). Lower eGFR was associated with older age, lower socioeconomic and educational level, cigarette smoking, self-reported CVD, peripheral arterial disease, and elevated BP.Conclusions: Lower level of eGFR was associated with a greater burden of CVD as well as lower socioeconomic and educational status. Long-term follow-up of participants will provide critical insights into the epidemiology of CKD and its relationship to adverse outcomes.

Background-The epidemiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been mainly investigated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with limited data on less advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate cognitive impairment in older, ethnically diverse individuals with a broad range of kidney function, to evaluate a spectrum of cognitive domains, and to determine whether the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive function is independent of demographic and clinical factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred twenty-five adults aged 55 and older with CKD. MEASUREMENTS: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min per 1.73 m 2 ) was estimated using the fourvariable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Cognitive scores on six cognitive tests were compared across eGFR strata using linear regression; multivariable logistic regression was used to examine level of CKD and clinically significant cognitive impairment (score 1 standard deviations from the mean). RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 64.9, 50.4% were male, and 44.5% were black. After multivariable adjustment, participants with lower eGFR had lower cognitive scores on most cognitive domains (Po.05). In addition, participants with advanced CKD (eGFRo30) were more likely to have clinically significant cognitive impairment on global cognition (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.0, 95% CI 5 1.1-3.9), naming (AOR 5 1.9, 95% CI 5 1.0-3.3), attention (AOR 5 2.4, 95% CI 5 1.3-4.5), executive function (AOR 5 2.5, 95% CI 5 1.9-4.4), and delayed memory (AOR 5 1.5, 95% CI 5 0.9-2.6) but not on category fluency (AOR 5 1.1, 95% CI 5 0.6-2.0) than those with mild to moderate CKD (eGFR 45-59). CONCLUSION: In older adults with CKD, lower level of kidney function was associated with lower cognitive function on most domains. These results suggest that older patients with advanced CKD should be screened for cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc 58: 338-345, 2010.

Background-The purpose of this study was to test the discriminant validity of ISHLT PGD grades in terms of lung injury biomarker profiles and survival.

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