Cor Vasa 2006, 48(10):340-344 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2006.111

Serum cystatin C as a long-term predictor of overall mortality.

David Stejskal^1,2,*, Bořek Lačňák², Pavlína Solichová², Libor Jedelský², František Všianský³, Božena Hausnerová¹, Michal Karpíšek⁴

¹ Interní oddělení

² Oddělení laboratorní medicíny, Nemocnice Šternberk p. o., Šternberk

³ Ústav klinické biochemie, Fakultní nemocnice Ostrava-Poruba, Ostrava

⁴ Veterinární a farmakologická fakulta, Brno, Česká republika

Background:
Renal disorders with impaired renal functions are considered a significant risk factor for increased mortality.

Methods:
In a cross-sectional retrospective study, a total of 974 individuals (506 men, 468 women) were examined and their serum creatinine and cystatin C levels were analyzed in 1997. Follow-up was 8 years with death as the end point.

Results:
Serum cystatin C values did not differ between men and women (medians 1.28 vs. 1.27 mg/l; p = 0.9). Serum cystatin C values correlated with age (r = 0.37; p < 0.01). Two hundred and sixty subjects died during follow-up. The median
cystatin C level was significantly higher in the deceased (1.54 vs. 1.21; p < 0.01). The relative risk of death of individuals in the lowest cystatin C quartile was 12% while that of individuals in the highest cystatin C quartile was 48%. The odds ratio between the lowest and highest quartiles (1 vs. 4) was 6.9. Even when adjusted for age, cystatin C levels were significantly higher in the deceased (medians: 0.0114 vs. 0.0089; p < 0.01).

Conclusion:
Individuals with increased serum cystatin C levels have been at increased risk of death over 8-year follow-up.

Keywords: Cystatin C; Mortality; Creatinine

Published: October 1, 2006  Show citation