Background:
Cardiohepatic interactions have been a focus of attention in heart failure(HF), and the model for end-stage liver disease excluding INR (MELD-XI) has been shown to be useful for prediction of poor outcome in patients (pts) with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Furthermore, it has been reported that liver stiffness predicts adverse prognosis in pts with HF. Liver fibrosis is assessed by non-invasive fibrosis markers such as Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) and aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI). Recently, a new group of HF pts with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) has been defined, separated from reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, there is little information available on the comparison of prognostic significance of MELD-XI and liver fibrosis scores in ADHF pts, relating to LVEF.
Methods:
We prospectively studied 466 consecutive ADHF pts (HFrEF (LVEF≦40%): n=164, HFmrEF (40<LVEF<50): n=104 and HFpEF (LVEF≧50%): n=198). At the discharge, we calculated MELD-XI, FIB4 index , NFS, and APRI. The endpoint was all cause death (ACD).
Results:
During a follow-up period of 2.8±1.5 years, 143 pts had ACD. At multivariate Cox analysis, MELD-XI and FIB4 index was independently associated with ACD irrespective of LVEF. The pts with both greater MELD-XI ([HFrEF]≥25.8, [HFmrEF]≥33.2, [HFpEF]≥30.1) and greater FIB4 index ([HFrEF]≥2.58, [HFmrEF]≥2.58, [HFpEF]≥2.22) had a significantly increased risk of ACD than those with either and none of them in all three groups.
Conclusions:
The combination of MELD-XI and FIB4 index might be useful for stratifying pts at risk for ACD in ADHF pts with irrespective of LVEF.
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) can predict outcomes in ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure who have been referred for cardiac transplantation evaluation