Backgrounds:
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently emerged as a measure of inflammation and as a prognosticating biomarker in various medical conditions ranging from infectious disease to cardiovascular disease. The prognostic significance of NLR in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is not established. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of NLR in ADHF patients, relating to reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF or HFpEF).
Methods and Results:
We studied 264 patients admitted with ADHF and discharged with survival (HFrEF(LVEF<50%); n=144, HFpEF(LVEF≥50%;n=120). There was no significant difference in NLR at the discharge between patients with HFrEF (2.1±1.1) and HFpEF (2.1±1.0). During a follow up period of 4.2±3.2 yrs, 87 pts died. NLR was significantly associated with mortality in patients with HFrEF (p<0.0001) and HFpEF (p=0.006) at univariate Cox analysis. All cause-death was significantly frequently observed in patients with the highest tertile of NLR (>2.2) than those with the middle or lowest tertile of NLR(<1.5) in patients with HFrEF (60% vs 36% vs 20%, p<0.0001, respectively) and HFpEF (43% vs 20% vs 14%, p=0.004, respectively). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, echocardiographical findings, and blood tests such as hemoglobin, sodium level and estimated glomerular filtration rate, NLR remained a significant independent predictor for mortality in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio: 1.23 [95%CI 1.04-1.54], p=0.017), while NLR tended to be a independent predictor in those with HFpEF (hazard ratio:1.29 [95%CI 0.98-1.71], p=0.07).
Conclusion:
NLR at the discharge provides a prognostic value for the prediction of total mortality in ADHF patients with HFrEF and HFpEF, although the prognostic significance of NLR in patients with HFpEF was weakened by adjustment for relevant covariates.
Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Pulmonary Function Test Abnormalities in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure With Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction
