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Serum heart-type fatty acid binding protein predicts cardiac events in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Takeshi Niizeki1, Yasuchika Takeishi, Takanori Arimoto

  • 1The First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata. takeishi@med.id.yamagata-u.ac.jp

Journal of Cardiology
|August 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) effectively predicts cardiac events in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. This finding establishes H-FABP as a reliable prognostic marker for this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Severe chronic heart failure is a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly.
  • Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is released from damaged heart muscle.
  • Prognostic value of H-FABP in elderly chronic heart failure patients is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic value of H-FABP in elderly patients (> or = 70 years) with chronic heart failure.
  • To determine if H-FABP can predict cardiac events in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Serum H-FABP levels were measured in 90 elderly patients (mean age 77 years) with chronic heart failure.
  • Patients were followed for an average of 421 days.
  • Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • 38.9% of patients experienced cardiac events (death or rehospitalization).
  • H-FABP was the sole independent predictor of cardiac events (p=0.0100).
  • Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed H-FABP's ability to risk-stratify patients.

Conclusions:

  • H-FABP is a reliable prognostic marker in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.
  • This biomarker aids in identifying high-risk individuals for cardiac events.
Abstract

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