The Prognostic Value of Serum Calcium Levels in Elderly Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients
Xinyi Li1,2, Wenfei He3, Qiqi Song1,2
1School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Insights
Serum calcium levels can predict prognosis in elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Lower calcium levels (≤8.62 mg/dL) are linked to increased mortality risk, suggesting calcium as a simple prognostic tool.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant health concern, particularly in elderly populations.
- The prognostic value of serum calcium levels on admission for DCM patients remains unclear.
- Investigating baseline serum calcium's association with clinical outcomes in elderly DCM is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prognostic significance of baseline serum calcium levels in elderly patients diagnosed with DCM.
- To evaluate serum calcium as a potential predictor of clinical outcomes, including mortality, in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,089 elderly patients (age ≥60) with DCM from January 2010 to December 2019.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to assess the association between serum calcium and clinical outcomes.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were utilized.
Main Results:
- Serum calcium demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for predicting in-hospital death (AUC = 0.732).
- Patients with serum calcium >8.62 mg/dL exhibited a better prognosis (log-rank χ² = 40.84, p < 0.001).
- Lower serum calcium (≤8.62 mg/dL) was independently associated with a higher risk of long-term mortality (HR = 1.449, p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Serum calcium level is a valuable and accessible tool for assessing prognosis in patients with DCM.
- Baseline serum calcium can aid clinicians in risk stratification and management decisions for elderly DCM patients.
Background:
It is unclear whether serum calcium on admission is associated with clinical outcomes in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this study, we conducted a retrospective study spanning a decade to investigate the prognostic value of baseline calcium in elderly patients with DCM.
Methods:
A total of 1,089 consecutive elderly patients (age ≥60 years) diagnosed with DCM were retrospectively enrolled from January 2010 to December 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association of serum calcium with their clinical outcomes.
Results:
In this study, the average age of the subjects was 68.36 ± 6.31 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that serum calcium level had a great sensitivity and specificity for predicting in-hospital death, with an AUC of 0.732. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with a serum calcium >8.62 mg/dL had a better prognosis than those with a serum calcium ≤8.62 mg/dL (log-rank χ2 40.84, p < 0.001). After adjusting for several common risk factors, a serum calcium ≤8.62 mg/dL was related to a higher risk of long-term mortality (HR: 1.449; 95% CI: 1.115~1.882; p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
Serum calcium level could be served as a simple and affordable tool to evaluate patients' prognosis in DCM.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...