Interaction effect between blood selenium levels and stroke history on all-cause mortality: a retrospective cohort study of NHANES

Abstract

Aim:

The study aimed to investigate the interaction effect between blood selenium levels and stroke history on all-cause mortality.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, participant data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018. The covariates were screened via the backward selection method in weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were conducted to investigate the association of blood selenium and stroke history with all-cause mortality. The results were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The synergy index (SI) was used to assess the assistive interaction. The association was further explored in different gender groups.

Results:

Totally, 8,989 participants were included, of whom 861 (9.57%) died. Participants with blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L were associated with lower odds of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58–0.84), whereas those with a stroke history were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.15–2.16). Compared to participants with blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L and non-stroke history, participants with both blood selenium < 192.96 ug/L and stroke history had a higher all–cause mortality risk (HR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.62–3.29; SI = 0.713, 95% CI: 0.533–0.952). All participants with blood selenium < 192.96 ug/L and stroke history were related to higher all–cause mortality risk (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.21–2.13). In males, the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all–cause mortality (HR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.50–3.46; SI = 0.651, 95% CI: 0.430–0.986) increased twice.

Conclusion:

Blood selenium and stroke history have an interaction effect on all-cause mortality. Increasing selenium-rich food or supplement intake, especially for individuals with a stroke history, may improve poor prognosis.

Introduction

Stroke, a neurological emergency, is the second leading cause of death and a major contributor to disability worldwide (1). Stroke affects 13.7 million people and causes 5.5 million deaths (2). Stroke is also responsible for about 140,000 deaths in the U.S. every year, which is about one out of every 20 deaths in the country (3). Stroke history is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in ischemic stroke patients (4). Oxidative stress and inflammation play significant roles in the pathogenesis of stroke (5–7).

Selenium, an essential trace element, plays a critical role in various physiologic processes, including oxidative stress, thyroid hormone metabolism, and immune function (8, 9). Lower circulating selenium levels have been linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, increased risk of ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality (10). In patients with heart failure, blood selenium was independently associated with a 50% higher mortality rate (11). A lower concentration of selenium could increase the risk of ischemic stroke (12). And Wang et al. reported that plasma selenium was inversely associated with the risk of a first ischemic stroke (13). Zhao et al. (14) also found a negative relationship between blood selenium levels and stroke. In addition, the modifying effect of selenium was observed in metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and neurologic symptoms (15–17). We hypothesize that blood selenium level and stroke history may have an interaction with the long-term prognosis of participants.

Thus, this study aimed to investigate the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke on all-cause mortality. The findings of this study will contribute to existing knowledge on the role of blood selenium in stroke prognosis and provide guidelines for the development of targeted interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with stroke histories.

Methods

Study design and population

The data for this retrospective cohort study were extracted from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2018. NHANES is a comprehensive survey that provides valuable data on the health and nutritional status of individuals in the U.S. These secondary survey data are usually selected through a complex sampling design to collect information through interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. The protocols of NHANES have been reviewed and approved by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Ethics Review Board. All participants signed written informed consent. Our study was exempted from screening by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Boai Hospital. Individuals aged ≥ 45 years were included in the database. Participants were excluded if they met any of the following criteria: (1) missing information about stroke, (2) missing data about blood selenium, (3) missing survival data, and (4) missing important co-variables.

Blood selenium assessment

Whole blood samples were collected in vacuum containers and transported to the National Center for Environmental Health under appropriate frozen conditions (−20°C). After the dilution treatment, blood selenium levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry. Two groups were divided based on the median blood selenium level.

Definition of a stroke

Stroke was defined as the question “Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke?” Participants with a response of “yes” were considered to have a stroke history (18).

Covariate

The following covariates were included: age, gender, race, poverty income ratio (PIR), smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), anticoagulants, and cardiovascular agents. Information on age, gender, race, PIR, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and medication use was collected from family interviews and mobile examination centers using standardized questionnaires. PIR, calculated by the family income ratio to the federal poverty threshold, was used to assess the socioeconomic status of participants (19). Smoking was defined as the answer “yes” to the question “Smoked at least 100 cigarettes in life” (20). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73m² or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g (21). Cardiovascular agents include agents of antiadrenergic, antianginal, antiarrhythmic, inotropic, miscellaneous cardiovascular, vasodilators, vasopressors, angiotensin II inhibitors, aldosterone receptor antagonists, renin inhibitors, neprilysin inhibitors, and antihypertensives.

Outcomes

The study's outcome was all-cause mortality. Mortality status, cause of death, and follow-up time were determined based on the National Death Index (NDI), which can be downloaded from the NCHS website at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/index.htm. Included participants were followed up until 31 December 2019. The International Classification of Diseases was utilized to ascertain the cause of death.

Statistical analysis

Appropriate weighting (SDMVPSU¹ SDMVSTRA² WTMEC2YR³) was carried out in the statistical analysis. Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard error (SE), and differences among groups were analyzed by a weighted t-test. Categorical variables were presented as numbers and percentages, and differences among groups were analyzed by the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. The potential covariates were selected through weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Weighted univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were conducted to investigate the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke on all-cause mortality with a Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Model 1 was a crude model. Model 2 was adjusted for age, gender, race, PIR, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, CKD, anticoagulants, and cardiovascular agents. The synergy index (SI) was used to assess the additive interaction. When the CI of Selenium contained 1, there was no additive interaction effect—SI=(HR11-1)/[(HR01-1) (HR10-1)]. HR01 and HR10 indicate that only exposure a occurs or only exposure b occurs, and HR 11 indicates that two exposures occur simultaneously. To further explore the association, subgroup analyses stratified by gender were performed. As no criteria for the division of serum selenium levels were available, we applied the median (192.96 ug/L) to divide the whole blood selenium level. Sensitivity analyses were also performed to detect the availability of the median as a cut-off value, the results are shown in the Supplementary material. All statistical analyses were conducted using R⁴, version 4.2.3 and SAS⁵ version 9.4. Results were considered statistically significant with a two-sided P < 0.05.

Results

Characteristics of participants

Figure 1 shows the screening process for participants. A total of 13,173 participants aged ≥ 45 years were extracted from the database in 2011–2018. Then, participants were excluded with missing information on stroke history (n = 20), blood selenium level (n = 4,119), and survival data (n = 27). Individuals who missed important covariates (n = 18) were also excluded. Finally, 8,989 participants were included in the final analysis.

Figure 1

The characteristics of the included individuals are shown in Table 1. Totally, 6.52% (n = 586) of the participants had a stroke history. During a median follow-up of 52 months, 861 individuals died. Statistical differences were observed in age, gender, race, educational level, PIR, heavy alcohol drinking, energy intake, heart disease, dyslipidemia, CKD, height, weight, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, albumin, creatinine, uric acid, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, stroke, and all-cause mortality between the blood selenium < 192.96 ug/L and the blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L groups (all P < 0.05).

Associations of blood selenium and stroke history with all-cause mortality

The associations between blood selenium, stroke, and all-cause mortality are shown in Table 2. In model 2, covariates were adjusted for age, gender, race, PIR, smoking, physical activity, CKD, anticoagulants, and cardiovascular agents. Compared to those who had blood selenium < 192.26 ug/L, those who had blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L were associated with lower odds of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58–0.84). Participants with a stroke history were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those without a stroke history (HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.15–2.16).

The interaction effect between blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality

The additive interaction effects of blood selenium and stroke were established, including blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L and no stroke, blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L and stroke, blood selenium < 192.26 ug/L and no stroke, and blood selenium < 192.26 ug/L and stroke. Table 3 and Figure 2 show more detail on interaction effect terms. Compared to participants with blood selenium ≥192.96 ug/L and non-stroke history, participants with blood selenium < 192.26 ug/L and stroke history were associated with a higher all-cause mortality risk (HR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.62–3.29). The SI was 0.713 (95% CI: 0.533–0.952), indicating an interaction effect was observed between blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality. We further investigated the association between stroke history and all-cause mortality at different blood selenium levels. Stroke history remained associated with a higher all-cause mortality risk in participants with blood selenium < 192.96 ug/L (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.21–2.13) (Table 4).

Figure 2

Interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality in participants with different gender groups

As summarized in Table 5 and Figure 3, further analysis was performed to investigate the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality in populations of different genders. Participants with a stroke history and blood selenium < 192.26 ug/L were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.50–3.46). In addition, the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality existed in males (SI = 0.651, 95% CI: 0.430–0.986).

Figure 3

Discussion

The study aimed to investigate the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality. Individuals with both low blood selenium and stroke histories have a higher all-cause mortality risk compared to those with neither condition. An interaction effect was found between blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality. Furthermore, the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history on all-cause mortality was also observed in males.

Selenium is an essential nutrient for normal human physiological processes. Xing et al. (22) reported that blood selenium was associated with a lower risk of CVD mortality in heart failure. A meta-analysis also found that high blood selenium levels in the body were associated with a decreased risk of CVD incidence and mortality (23). Similarly, Zhao et al. (24) found higher selenium concentrations were related to lower all-cause mortality. Stroke is an important cause of death in the U.S (25). Stroke history was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in ischemic stroke patients (4). A Japanese study found that older adults who have experienced a stroke could have a lower life expectancy (26). Our study found higher odds of all-cause mortality in individuals with low blood selenium and stroke histories which stresses the potential synergistic influence of these two conditions on health outcomes. Our findings were in concordance with previous studies that have reported an individual association between low selenium levels and increased mortality risk, as well as an association between stroke history and a higher incidence of mortality (10, 27, 28). However, the novelty of our study lies in showing the interactive effect, emphasizing the importance of assessing these conditions concurrently.

In addition, the findings in subgroups suggested that the interaction effect of blood selenium and stroke history also existed in males. Li et al. (29) found a relationship between serum selenium and all-cause mortality in both genders, and higher mortality in women with ischemic stroke (30). The difference may be related to the limited sample size and lower blood selenium levels in males.

To comprehend the underlying mechanisms contributing to the higher odds of all-cause mortality in individuals with low blood selenium and stroke histories, it is imperative to explore the biological pathways implicated. Selenium, as an essential immune nutrient, also plays a pivotal role in anti-oxidative mechanisms and thyroid hormone metabolism (31). In participants with stroke histories, the oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades that ensure this may be exacerbated in individuals with suboptimal selenium levels (32). The compromised antioxidant capacity, coupled with an impaired ability to modulate inflammation, may synergistically contribute to an augmented susceptibility to adverse outcomes in the presence of a stroke history. Moreover, the observed interaction effect may also be rooted in selenium's influence on cardiovascular health. Selenium has been implicated in endothelial function, blood clotting, and vascular integrity, all of which are critical in the aftermath of a stroke event (33). In individuals with low blood selenium levels, compromised vascular resilience may synergize with the deleterious effects of stroke, leading to an enhanced risk of mortality (34).

And selenium-regulated cardiomyocyte apoptosis (35). Unraveling these intricate pathways is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the observed interaction effects.

Healthcare providers should monitor blood selenium levels in stroke patients, considering it a potential modifiable factor to improve long-term outcomes. Incorporating selenium-rich foods or supplements in at-risk populations, especially those with stroke, may serve as a mitigating factor against poor prognosis. Brazil nuts are one of the most abundant sources of selenium, with one nut providing nearly 100% selenium of the recommended daily intake (36). Other nuts, such as walnuts and almonds also contain selenium, albeit in smaller amounts (37). Seafood, particularly tuna, shrimp, and sardines, is another excellent source of selenium (38). For those who prefer plant-based options, whole grains like wheat and rice, as well as legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, can contribute to selenium intake (39). Incorporating these foods into daily meals can help individuals achieve desired blood selenium levels. It is essential to note that while selenium is crucial for health, excessive intake can lead to toxicity. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare provider or nutritionist before significantly altering selenium intake, especially through supplements.

We were unable to differentiate hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke and their duration from the secondary data used, which limited our ability to investigate and compare stroke subtypes and blood selenium with all-cause mortality. Given the retrospective nature of this study, some important information that could have been beneficial to this study might not have been provided. Finally, since information on stroke was self-reported by participants, this may lead to some gaps in the recall of information.

Conclusion

Our study suggested an interaction effect between blood selenium and stroke on all-cause mortality. The complex interplay of these factors necessitates further research to delineate the underlying mechanisms and inform targeted interventions, ultimately contributing to more effective strategies for reducing mortality risk in individuals with low blood selenium levels and stroke.

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