What is the major cause of death in patients with chronic renal failure?
The major causes of death in patients with chronic renal failure are myocardial infarction and cardiovascular accidents (CVAs), secondary to atherosclerosis and aeriosclerosis. Uremia itself can be controlled by dialysis or renal transplantation. Hypeension is usually controllable by individualized antihypeensive therapy. Arrhythmias, although they do occur in these patients, are not the major cause of death. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, as a subset of a CVA, does occur but is less common as a cause of death than myocardial infarction. Ref: Obrador G.T. (2009). Chapter 17. Chronic Renal Failure & the Uremic Syndrome. In E.V. Lerma, J.S. Berns, A.R. Nissenson (Eds), CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Nephrology & Hypeension.
Uremia
Malignant hypeension
Hyperkalemia-induced arrhythmias
Myocardial infarction