Identification of Candidate Inflammatory-Nutritional Blood Biomarkers for Cachexia and Muscle Depletion in Polish...

Cachexia is a complex syndrome often affecting chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, characterized by muscle wasting and systemic inflammation. Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This study evaluated candidate inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers, including a novel C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) modification adjusted for body mass index (CARB), in predicting cachexia and muscle depletion in CHF patients. By analyzing 154 newly diagnosed CHF patients, 25 candidate inflammatory-nutritional biomarkers were examined. Muscle depletion parameters (fat-free mass-FFM, fat-free mass index-FFMI, appendicular lean mass-ALM, appendicular skeletal muscle-ASM) were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. CARB was found to be the most significant predictor of cachexia (OR = 4.89) and muscle mass reduction (OR = 2.450 for FFMI; OR = 3.530 for ASMI). CARB demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.930) and is a promising candidate biomarker for predicting cachexia and muscle depletion in CHF.