Preoperative Proteinuria Independently Predicts Mortality After Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) has become mainstay in treating complex aortic aneurysms, though baseline patient factors predicting long-term outcomes remain poorly understood. Proteinuria is an early marker for chronic kidney disease and associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but its utility in aneurysm patients is unknown. We aimed to determine whether preoperative proteinuria impacts long-term survival after FEVAR. A single-institution retrospective review of all elective FEVAR was performed. Preoperative proteinuria was assessed by urinalysis: negative (0-29 mg/dL), 1+ (30-100 mg/dL), 2+ (101-299 mg/dL), and 3+ (>300 mg/dL). The cohort was stratified by patients with proteinuria (≥30 mg/dL) vs those without (<30 mg/dL). Baseline, perioperative, and long-term outcomes were compared. The primary outcome, all-cause mortality, was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and independent predictors with Cox proportional hazards modeling. Among 181 patients undergoing standard FEVAR from 2012-2022 (mean follow-up, 33 months), any proteinuria was noted in 30 patients (17%). Those with proteinuria were more likely to be Black (10% vs 1%) with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (53 mL/min/1.73 m2vs 68 mL/min/1.73 m2), higher Society for Vascular Surgery comorbidity score (11 vs 8) and calcium channel blocker therapy (50% vs 29%), and larger maximal aneurysm diameter (67 mm vs 60 mm) (all P < .05). Thirty-day mortality was higher in the proteinuria group (10% vs 1%; P = .03). Overall survival at 1 and 5 years was significantly lower for those with proteinuria (72% vs 92% and 30% vs 68%; P < .0001; Figure). On multivariable analysis, preoperative proteinuria was independently associated with over three-fold higher hazard of mortality (hazard ratio [HR]; 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-6.2; P = .0005), while preoperative eGFR was not predictive (Table). Additional significant predictors included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 2.0), older age (HR, 1.1), and larger maximal aneurysm diameter (HR, 1.0; all P < .05). In our 10-year experience with FEVAR, preoperative proteinuria was observed in 17% of patients and was significantly associated with worse survival. Proteinuria is more sensitive than eGFR for predicting mortality, and urinalysis provides an additional simple metric for risk stratifying patients prior to FEVAR.TableMultivariable Cox proportional hazards model for all-cause mortalityVariableHR95% CIP valueAge, per year1.051.01-1.10.01Male sex1.390.67-2.85.38Black race0.800.17-3.76.78Proteinuria (≥30 mg/dL)3.211.66-6.20.0005eGFR, per mL/min/1.73 m20.990.98-1.01.28Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease2.041.16-3.61.01Aneurysm max diameter, per mm1.031.00-1.05.02CI, Confidence interval; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HR, hazard ratio.Boldface entries indicate statistical significance. Open table in a new tab