Hemoglobin-to-Red Cell Distribution Width Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Decompensated Heart Failure Patients: A...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Medicine
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Decompensated heart failure (HF) poses significant mortality and rehospitalization risks.
• Identifying reliable prognostic markers for HF is crucial for patient management.
• The hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio (HRR) is a potential, easily accessible biomarker.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic value of the baseline hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio (HRR) in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure (HF).
• To determine if HRR independently predicts a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality or HF rehospitalization within 12 months.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 278 patients with decompensated heart failure.
• Primary endpoint: composite of all-cause mortality or HF rehospitalization at 12 months.
• Multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, NT-proBNP, LVEF, and eGFR.

Main Results:

• The median HRR was 0.89; 60.1% of patients experienced the primary endpoint.
• Unadjusted analysis indicated lower HRR was associated with reduced event-free survival (log-rank p = 0.027).
• After multivariable adjustment, the association between HRR and the primary endpoint was not statistically significant (p = 0.240). Older age and male sex remained independent predictors.

Conclusions:

• A lower baseline HRR correlates with increased risk in decompensated HF patients.
• HRR does not maintain independent prognostic value after adjusting for significant confounders.
• HRR may serve as an initial risk indicator rather than an independent predictor in this population.