Application of low cost biomarkers score in prognosis analysis of patients with chronic heart failure

Purpose. To demonstrate that score based on low cost laboratory markers can determine prognosis of ambulatory patients with heart failure (HF). Introduction. HF is a disease known for her evolving with high mortality. Biomarkers are emerging as an important aid in the standard clinical evaluation of a variety of cardiovascular disorders, including HF. Methods. This study consists on a prospective cohort of outpatients with HF, the markers selected were: sodium, high density lipoprotein (HDL), creatinine, creatinine clearance, uric acid and hemoglobin. One point for changes in each marker was given and defined as low risk: 0-2 points, moderate risk: 3-4 points, and high risk: 5-6 points. The primary outcome was death from cardiovascular causes and secondary deaths from cardiovascular causes associated with hospitalizations for cardiovascular causes. The statistical methods used were chi-square, Student t test, Cox regression and it was used the Kaplan Meier curve analysis of events. Results. We studied 146 patients with mean age 58 +/- 13.04, 44 male patients (30.2%) and 102 female ones (69.8%). The primary outcomes were: 15 (10.2%) deaths and secondary: 54 (37%) compound events. The number of individuals according to the stage of risk: low: 68, intermediate: 63 and higher: 15. The rate of events in low, intermediate and high risk were eight (11.7%), 34 (54%) and 12 (80%), respectively. According to the risk stratification, the hazard ratio for low risk (HR=0.14, p=0.0001), moderate (HR=1.69, p=0.01) and high (HR=2.46, p=0.001). Conclusion. The multi-markers score based on markers of low cost admits prognostic stratification of patients, allowing predicting deaths and hospital admissions, and also creating a therapeutic strategy for follow-up of patients according to risk stratification.