Association Between Increased Levels of Cystatin C and the Development of Cardiovascular Events or Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background: Cystatin C seems promising for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Objective: To evaluate the association between high levels of cystatin C and the development of cardiovascular events or mortality. Methods: The articles were selected in the Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scielo databases. The eligibility criteria were prospective cohort observational trials that assessed the association of high serum levels of cystatin C with the development of cardiovascular events or mortality in individuals with normal renal function. Only studies that evaluated the mortality outcome compared the fourth with the first quartile of cystatin C and performed multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis were included in the meta-analysis. A p value