OBJECTIVE Higher levels of coronary artery calcification score (CACS) are associated not only with an increased risk for cardiovascular death, but also with lower glomerular filtration rates (GFRs). However, its role in renal disease progression in patients has not been elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the change of estimated GFR in 279 nondialytic outpatients, who had undergone computed tomographic coronary angiography and follow-up over a period of 3 months.

RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 57.7 ± 10.5 years, and the mean GFR was 88.2 ± 15.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Although there was no difference in baseline GFR between the CACS ≤ 200 AU group (n = 240) and the CACS > 200 AU group (n = 39), the latter group had a lower level of final GFR and higher annual reduction rate of GFR than the former group after an observation period of 13.1 ± 5.97 months. After adjusting for confounding variables, including age, gender, baseline GFR, albumin, and proteinuria, high levels of CACS showed an independent association with an annual reduction rate of GFR (r = -0.142, P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that CACS was related to an annual decrease in GFR and may predict the faster decline in GFR in patients with symptoms requiring computed tomographic coronary angiography.