Mean Platelet Volume: A Possible Predictor for Patients with Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure

Despite all medical efforts and discoveries, heart failure (HF) remains one of the most important and common public health problems, with high mortality and hospitalization rates, due to decompensation of HF. In the present study, we aimed to identify a predictive factor through which we can evaluate the risk of readmission and mortality in the first year, given the initial admission of a patient with decompensated heart failure.

The parameter we have investigated is the mean platelet volume (MPV). Studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between the value of MPV and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular (CV) death. In this study, we enrolled 130 patients hospitalized for decompensated chronic HF (NYHA class IV HF or acute pulmonary edema) and analyzed whether there is a relationship between the value of the MPV at admission and 6-month rehospitalization, and 1-year mortality, respectively.

The statistical analysis revealed significantly different values (p = 0.041) for MPV at admission between the group of patients without decompensated chronic HF compared to the group of patients with decompensated chronic HF (8.74 fl vs 9.08 fl). Also, the results of our study revealed that patients with decompensated chronic heart failure who were readmitted at 6 months and died at 1 year, respectively, had a higher MPV at admission (>9 fl), compared to those without the above-mentioned events, with a statistical significance.

A higher MPV at admission can be considered in our study as an independent predictor for rehospitalization and 1-year mortality of patients with decompensated chronic HF.