Relationship of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Concentrations and Systolic Heart Failure

Excessive activated proinflammatory cytokines may promote extracellular matrix alterations which induce adverse left ventricular remodeling in systolic heart failure (SHF). We sought to identify whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were independently associated with SHF.

In our retrospective case-control study, 2236 subjects were included, and 260 patients had SHF. Blood sample collection, clinical laboratory tests, electrocardiogram and echocardiography examinations were performed. The questionnaires were completed by professional interviews.

In 2236 subjects, the prevalence rate of SHF were 1.7, 1.8, 8.4 and 32.6% between hsCRP concentrations (<1 mg/L, ≥1 to <3 mg/L, ≥3 to <10 mg/L and ≥10 mg/L, respectively) (p=0.000). hsCRP concentrations (<1 mg/L, ≥1 to <3 mg/L, ≥3 to <10 mg/L and ≥10 mg/L) were associated in a linear trend with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, p=0.000) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, p=0.000). hsCRP was also significantly related to NT-proBNP, LVEF and SHF (r=0.232, p=0.000; r=-0.358, p=0.000 and r=0.413, p=0.000, respectively). In logistic regression model, after adjusting for heart failure risk factors, compared with the low concentration of hsCRP (<1 mg/L), the high concentration of hsCRP (≥10 mg/L) was significantly independently associated with SHF (odds ratio = 10.78 [1.303 to 89.10], p=0.027).

Low to high concentration of hsCRP showed a linear trend association with SHF. A high concentration of hsCRP was independently associated with SHF.