A Clinical Tool to Predict Low Serum Selenium in Patients with Worsening Heart Failure

Abstract

Selenium is an essential micronutrient, and a low selenium concentration (80% of patients with low selenium (sensitivity of 44%, specificity of 80%). Given that selenium and iron overlap in their physiological roles, we evaluated the shared determinants and prognostic associates. Both deficiencies shared similar clinical characteristics, including the model risk factors and, in addition, a low protein intake and high levels of C-reactive protein. Low selenium was associated with a similar or worse prognosis compared to iron deficiency. In conclusion, although it is difficult to exclude low selenium based on clinical characteristics alone, we provide a prediction tool which identifies heart failure patients at higher risk of having a low selenium status.

Keywords

• selenium
• malnutrition
• heart failure
• albumin
• iron deficiency