A Comparative Study on Cardiac Profile among Patients of Acute and Chronic Renal Failure in a Tertiary Hospital of Orissa

Cardiac changes are very commonly seen in both acute & chronic renal failure. The occurrence of cardiac failure or myocardial infarction prior to starting dialysis is an important prognostic factor. Therefore early detection of these factors are important so that the fatal outcomes of the cardiovascular diseases can be prevented.

1. To study the various cardiac changes among the patients with acute & chronic renal failure. 2. To compare the findings among them.

Around 100 patients of acute renal failure & 100 patients of Chronic Renal Failure who were admitted in the hospital during September 2008 to September 2009 were examined, investigated & interviewed with the help of a pretested proforma. The cardiac changes in both groups were studied.

Cardiac related complaints & symptoms like puffiness of face, oedema of feet, chest pain, tachycardia, pericarditis, left ventricular hypertrophy etc were seen more among the chronic renal failure than the acute cases, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.001).Many non specific cardiac changes occur in Acute renal failure whereas hypertension & left ventricular failure are more seen in chronic renal failure which can have fatal outcomes.

Cardiac changes in renal failure are very common leading to increased fatality among the patients & can be diagnosed early by electrocardiac & echocardigraphic examination. All patients with renal failure should undergo detailed cardiac evaluation as routine procedure to detect & prevent the dreaded cardiac complications.