--- title: "Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and…" description: "Higher cystatin C levels are linked to increased risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in adults with metabolic syndrome." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html" type: "study" study_key: "d38597157" journal: "J Clin Endocrinol Metab" year: 2024 pmid: "38597157" doi: "10.1210/clinem/dgae225" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults With Metabolic Syndrome [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d38597157 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | J Clin Endocrinol Metab | | Year | 2024 | | PMID | [38597157](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597157/) | | DOI | [10.1210/clinem/dgae225](https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae225) | | Study key | d38597157 | ## Takeaway Higher cystatin C levels are linked to increased risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in adults with metabolic syndrome. ## The question What is the relationship between cystatin C (CysC) levels and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality in US adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS)? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesized that higher cystatin C levels would be associated with increased mortality rates in MetS patients. ## Methods This prospective cohort study utilized data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 1980 MetS participants. Researchers used fitted curves, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Cox regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves to assess the relationship between CysC levels and mortality outcomes. ## Results During a mean follow-up of 15.3 years, 819 deaths occurred. Higher CysC levels were linked to increased all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality rates. After adjustment, CysC was associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.63), CVD mortality (HR 1.53), and cancer mortality (HR 1.53). Participants in the highest CysC tertile had higher risks for all-cause (HR 1.87), CVD (HR 1.97), and cancer mortality (HR 1.72) compared to the lowest tertile. CysC showed higher predictive efficacy for mortality outcomes than eGFR, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, and C-reactive protein. CysC alone had substantial predictive value for all-cause (AUC 0.773) and CVD mortality (AUC 0.726), which improved when combined with age (AUC 0.861 for all-cause, AUC 0.771 for CVD mortality). ## Conclusion Elevated cystatin C levels are associated with a higher risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer death in patients with metabolic syndrome. Cystatin C may serve as a predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in this population. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Patients with elevated cystatin C have a higher risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer death ## Hazard Ratios for Mortality by Cystatin C Tertile in MetS Patients | Measure | Hazard Ratio | | --- | --- | | All-cause mortality | 1.87 | | CVD mortality | 1.97 | | Cancer mortality | 1.72 | *Hazard ratios for all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality in the highest cystatin C tertile compared to the lowest tertile among metabolic syndrome patients.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Cystatin C / eGFR Kidney Test | Measurement tool | [Cystatin C / eGFR Kidney Test](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/157.md) | ## Reference 1. **Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults With Metabolic Syndrome** J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024 · [PMID 38597157](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597157/) · [DOI 10.1210/clinem/dgae225](https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae225) > Patients with elevated cystatin C have a higher risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer death ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html","name":"Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults With Metabolic…","description":"Higher cystatin C levels are linked to increased risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in adults with metabolic syndrome.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38597157.html#study","name":"Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults With Metabolic Syndrome","headline":"Cystatin C Is a Predictor for Long-Term, All-Cause, and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults With Metabolic…","datePublished":"2024","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},"identifier":"PMID:38597157","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597157/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae225","abstract":"Higher cystatin C levels are linked to increased risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in adults with metabolic syndrome."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Cystatin C / eGFR Kidney Test](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/157.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: Cystatin C-based eGFR](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s157.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).