The role of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes in causing renal vascular disease

The Jackson Heart Study will be an epidemiological study of African America ns in Jackson, Mississippi, to identify risk factors for development and pr ogression of cardiovascular disease. One of the potential risk factors to b e assessed in this study is renal vascular disease. Atherosclerotic renal v ascular disease is a disease of the elderly, is predominantly seen in white people, and is strongly associated with diffuse atherosclerotic disease an d high-grade hypertensive retinopathy. Patients with ischemic nephropathy m ay constitute up to 16% of new dialysis patients and die more quickly while on renal replacement therapy, Although often not present, hypertension is a commonly observed consequence (but probably not a cause) of renal vascula r disease, and the control of blood pressure may not halt the progression o f the disease. Approximately 20-25% of patients with moderate to severe ren al artery stenosis will be diabetic, Diabetic patients fair less well with intervention and have a higher progression to end-stage renal disease or de ath. Obesity is not commonly seen in patients with renal vascular disease. The Jackson Heart Study may be able to assess the true incidence of atheros clerotic renal vascular disease in African Americans and its impact of card iovascular morbidity and mortality.