Elevated Non-Fasting Remnant Cholesterol Predicts All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

INTRODUCTION Remnant cholesterol (RC) has been proposed as a mortality indicator in various populations; however, it remains unknown whether non-fasting RC can predict prognosis in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 203 patients who underwent regular HD between May 2023 and May 2026. Patients were divided into four groups according to quartiles of non-fasting RC.

Results

Cox proportional hazards models revealed that RC was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-4.62). In a joint analysis using upper quartile cut-offs of RC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the high RC/high LDL-C group had a significantly higher mortality risk (HR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.51-4.76) compared with the reference group. Isolated elevation of either RC or LDL-C was not associated with an increased mortality risk.

Conclusions

RC may be a useful predictor of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing HD.