LOSS of kidney function increases the risk of heart problems for elderly people.

Professor Ian Ford and Professor Naveed Sattar, of the University of Glasgow, say their finding suggests more should be done to help patients improve their lifestyles by stopping smoking and eating more healthily.

They found that patients with kidney and health problems such as high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure were also at risk of cardiovascular disease Professor Sattar, an expert in cardiovascular and metabolic medicine, called for more studies "to help us better understand mechanisms linking poor kidney function to greater heart disease risks.

"Such studies may lead to new ways to lessen heart disease risk in the future."