Multiple biomarkers for risk prediction in chronic heart failure.

Circ Heart Fail. 2012 Mar 1;5(2):183-90

Authors: Ky B, French B, Levy WC, Sweitzer NK, Fang JC, Wu AH, Goldberg LR, Jessup M, Cappola TP

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior studies have suggested using a panel of biomarkers that measure diverse biological processes as a prognostic tool in chronic heart failure. Whether this approach improves risk prediction beyond clinical evaluation is unknown.
METHODS AND RESULTS: In a multicenter cohort of 1513 chronic systolic heart failure patients, we measured a contemporary biomarker panel consisting of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, B-type natriuretic peptide, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-1, troponin I, soluble toll-like receptor-2, creatinine, and uric acid. From this panel, we calculated a parsimonious multimarker score and assessed its performance in predicting risk of death, cardiac transplantation, or ventricular assist device placement in comparison to an established clinical risk score, the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM). During a median follow-up of 2.5 years, there were 317 outcomes: 187 patients died; 99 were transplanted; and 31 had a ventricular assist device placed. In unadjusted Cox models, patients in the highest tertile of the multimarker score had a 13.7-fold increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with the lowest tertile (95% confidence interval, 8.75-21.5). These effects were independent of the SHFM (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.80; 95% confidence interval, 4.18-11.1). Addition of the multimarker score to the SHFM led to a significantly improved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.803 versus 0.756 (P=0.003) and appropriately reclassified a significant number of patients who had the outcome into a higher risk category (net reclassification improvement, 25.2%; 95% confidence interval, 14.2-36.2%; P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: In ambulatory chronic heart failure patients, a score derived from multiple biomarkers integrating diverse biological pathways substantially improves prediction of adverse events beyond current metrics.

PMID: 22361079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Presence of atrial fibrillation is independently associated with adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure: an analysis of get with the guidelines-heart failure.

Circ Heart Fail. 2012 Mar 1;5(2):191-201

Authors: Mountantonakis SE, Grau-Sepulveda MV, Bhatt DL, Hernandez AF, Peterson ED, Fonarow GC

Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is unclear if the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on admission is associated with worse in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, management, length of stay, and mortality of HF patients with and without AF.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 99 810 patients from 255 sites admitted with HF enrolled in Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010. Patients with AF on admission were compared with patients in sinus rhythm. A total of 31 355 (31.4%) HF patients presented with AF, of which 6701 (21.3%) were newly diagnosed. Patients in AF were older (77±12 versus 70±15, P<0.001) and were more likely to have history of stroke and valvular heart disease. AF patients had higher B-type natriuretic peptide levels and ejection fraction (42±17% versus 39±17%, P<0.001). AF patients were more likely to be hospitalized >4 days (48.8% versus 41.5%, P<0.001), discharged to a facility other than home (28.5% versus 19.7%, P<0.001), and had higher hospital mortality rate (4.0% versus 2.6%, P<0.001). AF, particularly newly diagnosed, was independently associated with adverse outcomes (adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for mortality 1.17, 1.05-1.29, P=0.0029, and 1.29, 1.10-1.52, P=0.0023 for AF and newly diagnosed AF, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: In patients hospitalized with HF, AF is present in one-third and is independently associated with adverse hospital outcomes and longer length of stay. Whether prompt restoration of sinus rhythm would improve outcomes in patients hospitalized with HF and new-onset or paroxysmal AF is unclear and requires further study.

PMID: 22361078 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]