Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Death: Findings From the German CKD Cohort Study

Abstract

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a biomarker that has been shown to provide long-term prognostic information in patients with coronary artery disease independently of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TNT). We examined the independent associations of H-FABP with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Prospective cohort study. 4,951 patients enrolled in the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or overt proteinuria (urinary albumin-creatinine ratio > 300 mg/g or equivalent). Serum levels of H-FABP and hs-TNT were measured at study entry. Noncardiovascular (non-CV) death, CV death, combined major adverse CV events (MACE), and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF). Hazard ratios (HRs) for associations of H-FABP and hs-TNT with outcomes were estimated using Cox regression analyses adjusted for established risk factors. During a maximum follow-up of 6.5 years, 579 non-CV deaths, 190 CV deaths, 522 MACE, and 381 CHF hospitalizations were observed. In Cox regression analyses adjusted for established risk factors, H-FABP was associated with all 4 outcomes, albeit with lower HRs than those found for hs-TNT. After further adjustment for hs-TNT levels, H-FABP was found to be associated with non-CV death (HR, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.14-2.18]) and MACE (HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.02-1.92]) but with neither CV death (HR, 1.64 [95% CI, 0.90-2.99]) nor CHF hospitalizations (HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.70-1.49]). Single-point measurements of H-FABP and hs-TNT. Uncertain generalizability to non-European populations. In this large cohort of patients with CKD, H-FABP was associated with non-CV death and MACE, even after adjustment for hs-TNT. Whether measurement of H-FABP improves cardiovascular disease risk prediction in these patients warrants further studies.