Liver function abnormalities and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure: data from the Candesartan in Heart Failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity (CHARM) program

Allen, L. A., Felker, G. M., Pocock, S., McMurray, J. J.V. , Pfeffer, M. A., Swedberg, K., Wang, D., Yusuf, S., Michelson, E. L. and Granger, C. B. (2009) Liver function abnormalities and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure: data from the Candesartan in Heart Failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity (CHARM) program. European Journal of Heart Failure, 11(2), pp. 170-177. (doi: 10.1093/eurjhf/hfn031)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurjhf/hfn031

Abstract

Aims: The prevalence and importance of liver function test (LFT) abnormalities in a large contemporary cohort of heart failure patients have not been systematically evaluated. Methods and results: We characterized the LFTs of 2679 patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure from the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity program (CHARM). We used multivariable modelling to assess the relationships between baseline LFT values and long-term outcomes. Liver function test abnormalities were common in patients with chronic heart failure, ranging from alanine aminotransferase elevation in 3.1% of patients to low albumin in 18.3% of patients; total bilirubin was elevated in 13.0% of patients. In multivariable analysis, elevated total bilirubin was the strongest LFT predictor of adverse outcome for both the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.21 per 1 SD increase, P < 0.0001) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.19 per 1 SD increase, P < 0.0001). Even after adjustment for other variables, elevated total bilirubin was one of the strongest independent predictors of poor prognosis (by global chi-square). Conclusion: Bilirubin is independently associated with morbidity and mortality. Changes in total bilirubin may offer insight into the underlying pathophysiology of chronic heart failure.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McMurray, Professor John
Authors: Allen, L. A., Felker, G. M., Pocock, S., McMurray, J. J.V., Pfeffer, M. A., Swedberg, K., Wang, D., Yusuf, S., Michelson, E. L., and Granger, C. B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
Journal Name:European Journal of Heart Failure
ISSN:1388-9842

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