Cardiovascular risk factors in progressive renal disease.

the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the western world. Epidemiological studies have identified important physiological and lifestyle risk factors for CVD (Table 1)1. More encouragingly, evidence from a number of randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses has now demonstrated that this disease may largely be prevented (at least in the general population) by lifestyle modification and drug treatment of risk factors2. However, cardiovascular risk management remains suboptimal, particularly in populations with certain chronic metabolic disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF).