Creatinine is a chemical compound left over from energy-producing processes in muscles. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine exits from human body as a waste product in urine.
High levels of it in the blood indicate that the kidney is unable to cleanse it from the body. A normal result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL (61.9 to 114.9 µmol/L) for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL (53 to 97.2 µmol/L) for women.
Women often have a lower creatinine level than men. This is because women often have less muscle mass than men. Creatinine level varies based on a person's size and muscle mass.
The study showed that creatinine levels were more reliable in predicting death among hypertension patients than such factors as an elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, smoking or a history of heart trouble.
According to Journal of Cardiac Failure, the researchers believe the more likely explanation is that increased creatinine levels during hospitalization are a marker of poor cardiac output, leading to diminished renal blood flow and reduced ability to tolerate inpatient heart failure treatment. (Journal of Cardiac Failure Vol. 9 No. 1 2003)
Creatinine and heart failure
