Small Increases in Phosphorus Mean Higher Risk of Heart Disease

EurekAlert! -- Higher levels of phosphorus in the blood are linked to increased calcification of the coronary arteries— a key marker of heart disease risk, according to a study in an upcoming issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). “This may help to explain why even early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk that is not otherwise explained by traditional risk factors,” comments Katherine R. Tuttle, MD (Providence Medical Research Center, Spokane, WA).