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Galectin-3 is Associated with Heart Failure Incidence: A Meta-Analysis
Basil M Baccouche1,2, Mattia A Mahmoud2,3, Corrine Nief1
1Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Current Cardiology Reviews
|November 18, 2022
Summary
Elevated galectin-3 levels are linked to a higher risk of developing heart failure (HF). This finding suggests galectin-3 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting incident HF in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarker Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) poses a significant global health burden, with increasing prevalence projected.
- Improved risk prediction for incident HF is crucial, with a focus on biomarkers.
- Galectin-3 is being investigated for its role in cardiovascular pathophysiology and HF risk.
Approach:
- A systematic literature review of PUBMED-indexed studies was conducted.
- Nine studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and quantitative evaluation.
- A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using hazard ratios (HR) and confidence intervals (CI).
Key Points:
- A minimally-adjusted model showed an HR of 1.97 (95% CI 1.74-2.23) for top vs. bottom galectin-3 quartiles.
- A further-adjusted model indicated an HR of 1.32 (95% CI 1.21-1.44), confirming a significant association.
- Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the positive association between galectin-3 and incident HF risk.
Conclusions:
- Circulating galectin-3 levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of incident heart failure.
- Further research is warranted to explore the implementation of galectin-3 in clinical risk prediction models for HF.
- Understanding the mechanistic link between galectin-3 and cardiovascular disease may enhance HF management strategies.
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