IL6 and Hypertension: Consequently, we have performed a new Cox analysis including the variable IL-6 > 50 pg/mL which resulted to be independently associated with mortality (HR 4.50, 95% CI 1.28–15.84; P = 0.02) without changing the other results significantly (blood sodium level > 145 mmol/L [HR 8.55, 95% CI 1.93–37.71; P = 0.005], lymphocyte count < 1000 cells/μL [HR 11.08, 95% CI 2.42–50.70; P = 0.002], CVD other than hypertension [HR 8.58, 95% CI 2.01–36.72; P = 0.004] or the good calibration of the model (P = 0.90).