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Is low serum chloride level a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality?
D De Bacquer1, G De Backer, M De Buyzere
1Department of Public Health, University of Gent, Belgium. dirk.debacquer@rug.ac.be
Journal of Cardiovascular Risk
|April 14, 1999
Summary
Low serum chloride levels are strong predictors of mortality, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) death. This finding highlights chloride as a significant risk factor, comparable to established CVD risks.
Area of Science:
- Clinical chemistry and epidemiology.
- Biomarker discovery for mortality risk.
Background:
- Serum chloride is a routinely measured clinical parameter.
- Epidemiological data on serum chloride levels were previously lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological features of serum chloride levels.
- To determine the association between serum chloride and cause-specific mortality.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a random sample of 4793 men and 4313 women (aged 25-74).
- Serum chloride concentrations measured at baseline.
- 10-year follow-up for cause-specific mortality.
- Cox regression analysis to assess risk factors.
Main Results:
- Serum chloride level is a strong predictor of total, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and non-CVD mortality.
- Low serum chloride (< or =100 mmol/l) significantly increased CVD mortality risk in both men and women.
- A dose-response relationship observed between low serum chloride and increased mortality.
Conclusions:
- This population-based study is the first to link serum chloride levels to total, CVD, and non-CVD mortality.
- Low serum chloride is a significant mortality risk factor, comparable to established CVD risks.