Cystatin C and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality risk in the general population: A meta-analysis

• Association between cystatin C level and mortality risk in general population remains conflicting.
• Individuals with elevated serum cystatin C level have a 72% excessive risk of all-cause mortality.
• Elevated serum cystatin C level was associated with 1.74-fold risk of cardiovascular mortality.
• Serum cystatin C independently predicts cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in old persons.

BackgroundElevated cystatin C level was associated with excessive risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in the highly cardiovascular risk populations. We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C level and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality risk in the general population.MethodsWe searched for all relevant studies published through May 2015 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Prospective studies that assessed the relationship between serum cystatin C level and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality risk in the general population were selected. Pooled adjust hazard risk (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for continuous and category of cystatin C level.ResultsNine studies composed of 38,854 participants were analyzed. Elevated serum cystatin C level was associated with excessive risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.37–2.16) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.74; 95% CI 2.04–3.68) comparing the highest to lowest category of cystatin C. Each standard deviation increment in serum cystatin C level increased 32% all-cause (HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.12–1.55) and 57% cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.31–1.88) risk.ConclusionsElevated serum cystatin C level is independently associated with excessive cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk in elderly persons.