The impact of platelet indices on clinical outcome in heart failure: results from the MyoVasc study

Bianca Dahlen, Andreas Schulz, Sebastian Göbel, Sven-Oliver Tröbs, Sören Schwuchow-Thonke, Henri M Spronk, Jürgen H Prochaska, Natalie Arnold, Karl J Lackner, Tommaso Gori, Hugo Ten Cate, Thomas Münzel, Philipp S Wild, Marina Panova-Noeva*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

AIMS: Platelet indices have been associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to investigate the role of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet-to-leukocyte ratio, including platelet-to-monocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with cardiac function, heart failure (HF) phenotypes and clinical outcome, worsening of HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Univariate and multivariable linear and Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between platelet indices, cardiac function and worsening of HF in 3250 subjects enrolled in the MyoVasc study. Higher MPV, lower platelet count, lower platelet-to-leukocyte and platelet-to-monocyte ratios have been associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (beta estimate [β]MPV [fL] = -0.05 [-0.09; -0.02], βplatelet count (× 10 /L) 9 = 3.4 [1.2; 5.6], βplatelet-to-leukocyte ratio = 1.4 [1.1; 1.8], βplatelet-to-monocyte ratio = 28 [20; 36]) and increased E/E' ratio (β MPV [fL] = 0.04 [0.003; 0.07], βplatelet count (× 10 /L) 9 = -3.1 [-5.3; -0.92], βplatelet-to-leukocyte ratio = -0.83 [-1.2; -0.46], βplatelet-to-monocyte ratio = -20 [-28; -12]), independent of age and sex. Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk for worsening of HF in subjects with MPV > 75th percentile (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47 [1.16; 1.87]), platelet count < 25th percentile (HR = 1.36 [1.07; 1.74]), platelet-to-leukocyte < 25th percentile (HR = 1.53 [1.20; 1.95]), platelet-to-monocyte < 25th percentile (HR = 1.38 [1.08; 1.77]) and platelet-to-lymphocyte > 75th percentile (HR = 1.50 [1.17; 1.93]) ratios, independent of potential confounders. MPV > 75th percentile and platelet count < 25th percentile were strongly related to outcome in HFpEF vs. HFrEF (P for difference = 0.040). Platelet-to-leukocyte ratios were associated with worse outcome in both HF phenotypes, without a significant difference between HFpEF and HFrEF.

CONCLUSIONS: Platelet indices are linked with worse cardiac function and adverse clinical outcome, independent of subjects' underlying cardiovascular profile. This study emphasizes their important value to provide additional information on pathophysiology and risk stratification in HF syndrome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2991-3001
Number of pages11
JournalEsc heart failure
Volume8
Issue number4
Early online date3 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • HFpEF
  • HFrEF
  • Heart failure
  • Mean platelet volume
  • Platelet count
  • Worsening of heart failure

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