Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) associated with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are independent markers of adverse events in outpatients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods:

Patients older than 65 years of age with HFrEF who were followed-up on an outpatient basis were prospectively included. Baseline BNP, IL-6 and hsCRP levels were assessed. Patients with HF after recent myocardial infarction (<6 months), and recent hospitalization (<3 months) due to a condition that could increase inflammatory markers were excluded from the analysis. The composite endpoint was all-cause mortality and hospitalization for decompensated heart failure (DHF).

Results:

A total of 130 patients aged 75 ± 5 years and with EF of 33 ± 11% were included in the study. The composite endpoint was observed in 31.5% (n=41) of patients during a follow-up period of 450 ± 210 days. In the multivariate analysis, elevated BNP (>442 pg/ml) and elevated IL-6 (>7.2 pg/ml) were independent predictors of the primary endpoint [HR 2.60 (95% CI 1.14-5.9), p=0.02 and HR 2.49 (95% CI 1.08-5.7), p=0.03, respectively], but not hsCRP >6.9 mg/l, p=0.2. IL-6 presented an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.70, BNP 0.73 and hsPCR 0.63, without significant differences between them.

Conclusions:

BNP and IL-6 were independent markers of the composite endpoint, but not CRP. The discrimination ability of IL-6 and BNP was moderate.

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