What is the association between cholesterol levels and mortality risk in patients with nonischemic systolic heart failure?
A study by Afsarmanesh et al. (2006) found that lower total cholesterol levels were associated with a marked increase in mortality in patients with nonischemic systolic heart failure. This association was independent of age, gender, and other characteristics. Furthermore, the authors concluded that lower cholesterol levels were associated with an increased risk of death in this population, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Other studies have also found an association between lower cholesterol levels and increased mortality in patients with heart failure, including Rauchhaus et al. (2003), Horwich et al. (2002), and Pekkanen et al. (1990). Taken together, these findings suggest that cholesterol levels may be an important predictor of mortality in patients with nonischemic systolic heart failure.  