Prognostic Value of Biomarkers in Heart Failure

Abstract
Background— Mortality among patients with heart failure is high. Though individual biomarkers have been investigated to determine their value in mortality risk prediction, the role of a multimarker strategy requires further evaluation. Methods and Results— Olmsted County residents presenting with heart failure from July 2004 to September 2007 were recruited to undergo biomarker measurement. We investigated whether addition of C-reactive protein, B-type natriuretic peptide, and troponin T to a model including established risk indicators improved 1-year mortality risk prediction using the c statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, and net reclassification improvement. Among 593 participants, the mean age was 76.4 years, and 48% were men. After 1 year of follow-up, 122 (20.6%) participants had died. Patients with C-reactive protein (c statistic from 0.757 to 0.810 ( P P P P =0.065). Conclusions— Biomarkers improved 1-year mortality risk prediction beyond established indicators. The use of a 2-biomarker combination was superior to a single biomarker in risk prediction, though addition of a third biomarker conferred no added benefit.