Lower serum total calcium linked to postdischarge outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

by Elana Gotkine

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Gaby Clark

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Chief Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

reputable news agency

proofread

The GIST Add to Preferred Sources

For hospitalized patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), low serum total calcium is associated with a reduced risk for heart failure readmission, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular events after discharge, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in Biomedicines.

Na Li, from The Central Hospital of Xiangtan in China, and colleagues examined the impact of low serum total calcium on the prognosis of hospitalized patients with HFpEF. The study included 9,322 patients with HFpEF, of whom 3,408 had low serum total calcium. A 1,000-day clinical follow-up was completed through telephone interviews, clinical follow-up, or community follow-up after discharge.

The researchers found that low serum calcium was independently associated with a reduced risk of heart failure readmission, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular events, with hazard ratios of 0.69, 0.85, and 0.65, respectively.

"For clinicians, these results suggest that baseline serum calcium monitoring may aid in comprehensive risk stratification," the authors write. "However, given the observational design and potential unmeasured confounders, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence to alter standard clinical practices regarding calcium homeostasis or electrolyte correction."

More information

Na Li et al., Low Serum Total Calcium: Influencing Factors of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Biomedicines (2026). DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines14102194

Key medical concepts

Heart failure with preserved ejection fractioncardiovascular eventAll-Cause Mortality

Clinical categories

Cardiology Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

© 2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: Lower serum total calcium linked to postdischarge outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (2026, October 29) retrieved 30 October 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-serum-total-calcium-linked-postdischarge.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.