LAUSR

ABSTRACT Inflammation, particularly elevated IL‐6 serum levels, has been associated with increased mortality risk, mostly in Caucasians. The influence of genetic ethno‐racial background on this association is unknown. We examined associations between baseline serum levels of Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and other cytokines (IL1‐2, TNF, IL‐10, and IL1&bgr;) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10) with 15‐year mortality in 1,191 admixed Brazilians aged 60 years and over. Elevated IL6 level (but not other biomarkers) was associated with increased risk of deaths with fully adjusted hazard ratios of 1.51 (95% CI = 1.15, 1.97), 1.54 (95% CI = 1.20, 1.96) and 1.79 (95% CI = 1.40, 2.29) for the 2nd, 3rd and the highest quartiles, respectively. Genomic African and Native American proportions did not modify the association (p > 0.05). The discriminatory ability to predict death of a model based on IL‐6 alone was similar as that of a comprehensive morbidity score (C statistics = 0.59 and 0.60, respectively). The abilities of IL‐6 and the morbidity score models to predict death remained stable for very long term after the baseline measurement. Our results indicate that genome‐based African and Native American ancestries have no impact on the prognostic value of IL‐6 for mortality. HighlightsA single measure of Interleukin‐6 has prognostic value for subsequent mortality in very long term.Genomic African and Native American ancestry levels did not modify the association between Interleukin‐6 level and mortality.The discriminatory ability of IL‐6 alone to predict deaths was moderate and similar as that of a morbidity score based on an array of age‐related chronic conditions and diseases.Three chemokines (CXCL8, CXCL9 and CCCL5) showed a weak association with subsequent mortality. Further researches are need to confirm those associations.