High serum copper as a risk factor of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among US adults, NHANES 2011-2014

Several studies have shown that serum copper levels are related to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, the association of serum copper levels with all-cause, cause-specific [including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer] mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively examine the association of copper exposure with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality among US adults. The data for this analysis was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2014. Mortality from all-causes, CVD, and cancer mortality was linked to US National Death Index mortality data. Cox regression models were used to estimate the association between serum copper levels and all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. A total of 2,863 adults were included in the main study. During the mean follow-up time of 81.2 months, 236 deaths were documented, including 68 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 57 deaths from cancer. The weighted mean overall serum copper levels was 117.2 ug/L. After adjusting for all of the covariates, compared with participants with low (1st tertile, 0.05). This prospective study found that serum copper concentrations were linearly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality in US adults. High serum copper levels is a risk factor for all-cause and CVD mortality.