In a new study, researchers have discovered several new biomarkers that are associated with heart failure.
They found several inflammatory biomarkers and cell energy metabolites were linked to an increased risk of incident heart failure.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital.
The study used a selection of 10,106 men participating in the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) study, who at baseline did not have a diagnosis of incident heart failure.
The team found increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers and several biomarkers associated with heart metabolism, were linked to the development of incident heart failure in a follow-up that lasted for 8.8 years.
These new biomarkers included adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, the chronic inflammation biomarker GlycA, the amino acids alanine and phenylalanine, as well as glycerol and pyruvate, which the heart muscle uses for energy.
After adjustment for age, BMI, diabetes and statin medication, adiponectin, pyruvate and urinary albumin excretion rate were linked to the development of incident heart failure.
In this study, the most common heart diseases underlying incident heart failure were elevated blood pressure, coronary artery disease and especially previous heart attacks.
More rarely, incident heart failure was caused by cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease.
Diabetes, systolic blood pressure, age, overweight, high insulin levels, declining kidney function, and microalbuminuria, which are well-established risk factors for heart failure, were also linked to the development of incident heart failure.
The team says incident heart failure is typically associated with changes in heart metabolism as well as with low-grade, chronic inflammation.
Based on this study, these changes are present even years before any sign of heart failure.
Further research is needed to analyze whether drugs targeting inflammatory and metabolic pathways could be used to prevent the development of incident heart failure.
One author of the study is Professor Johanna Kuusisto from the University of Eastern Finland.
The study is published in ESC Heart Failure.
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