@article {816, title = {Cystatin-C and mortality in elderly persons with heart failure.}, journal = {J Am Coll Cardiol}, volume = {45}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Jan 18}, pages = {268-71}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate cystatin-C, a novel measure of renal function, as a predictor of mortality in elderly persons with heart failure (HF) and to compare it with creatinine.

BACKGROUND: Renal function is an important prognostic factor in patients with HF, but creatinine levels, which partly reflect muscle mass, may be insensitive for detecting renal insufficiency.

METHODS: A total of 279 Cardiovascular Health Study participants with prevalent HF and measures of serum cystatin-C and creatinine were followed for mortality outcomes over a median of 6.5 years.

RESULTS: Median creatinine and cystatin-C levels were 1.05 mg/dl and 1.26 mg/l. Each standard deviation increase in cystatin-C (0.35 mg/l) was associated with a 31\% greater adjusted mortality risk (95\% confidence interval [CI] 20\% to 43\%, p < 0.001), whereas each standard deviation increase in creatinine (0.39 mg/dl) was associated with a 17\% greater adjusted mortality risk (95\% CI 1\% to 36\%, p = 0.04). When both measures were combined in a single adjusted model, cystatin-C remained associated with elevated mortality risk (hazard ratio 1.60, 95\% CI 1.32 to 1.94), whereas creatinine levels appeared associated with lower risk (hazard ratio 0.73, 95\% CI 0.57 to 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin-C is a stronger predictor of mortality than creatinine in elderly persons with HF. If confirmed in future studies, this new marker of renal function could improve risk stratification in patients with HF.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Creatinine, Cystatin C, Cystatins, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Heart Failure, Humans, Male, Pilot Projects, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Assessment, Survival Analysis}, issn = {0735-1097}, doi = {10.1016/j.jacc.2004.09.061}, author = {Shlipak, Michael G and Katz, Ronit and Fried, Linda F and Jenny, Nancy Swords and Stehman-Breen, Catherine O and Newman, Anne B and Siscovick, David and Psaty, Bruce M and Sarnak, Mark J} }