Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study sample

Age, years

69.5 ± 13.6

Male

53 % (106)

Race

 White

69 % (138)

 Black

24 % (48)

 Other

7 % (14)

Coexisting conditions

 Coronary artery disease

18 % (36)

 Lipid disorders

12 % (23)

 Congestive heart failure

18 % (35)

Cause of end-stage renal disease

 Diabetes^a

49 % (97)

 Hypertensive renal disease

38 % (75)

 Glomerulonephropathy

4 % (7)

Vascular access

 Fistula

24 % (47)

 Graft

13 % (25)

 Catheter

59 % (118)

Body Mass Index (kg/m²)

26.5 ± 7.6

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

144.4 ± 27.3

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

72.5 ± 18.6

Urea reduction ratio

68.6 ± 10.3

Laboratory data

N-terminal pro-BNP (ng/L)

8029 (3,757 – 21,404)

Troponin T (μg/L)

0.14 (0.04 – 0.13)

Total cholesterol (mg/dL)

162 (127 – 188)

LDL (mg/dL)

83 (63 – 103)

HDL (mg/dL)

41 (32 – 47)

Triglycerides (mg/dL)

157 (93 – 199)

Creatinine (mg/dL)

5.7 (4.0 – 7.0)

White blood cell (10⁹/L)

8.3 (6.2 – 9.8)

Hemoglobin (g/dL)

10.4 (9.5 – 11.2)

Albumin (g/dL)

3.5 (3.2 – 3.8)

Ferritin (ng/mL)

285.7 (81.5 – 346.0)

Transferrin saturation (%)

20.2 (13.0 – 24.0)

Phosphorus (mg/dL)

4.5 (3.4 – 5.4)

Parathyroid hormone (pg/mL)

268.6 (124.0 – 235.0)