Usefulness of Antibodies to Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins as Predictors of Morbidity and Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients Aged ≥65 Years

Abstract

Elevated level of antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoproteins (OxLDL-Ab) was shown to reliably predict morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Two hundred and eleven patients aged ≥65years treated at the Heart Failure Unit, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, were included in this retrospective study. The end points were time to the first hospitalization (morbidity), all-cause mortality, and a combination of the two (composite outcome). HF duration ranged from 8 to 10.5years. Mean follow-up was 5.2 ± 1.9years. The mean number of clinical visits was 18.3 ± 2.4. Participants were divided according to OxLDL-Ab level. Group 1 had Ox LDL-Ab level <200 arbitrary U/ml. Group 2had OxLDL-Ab level ≥200 arbitrary U/ml. The mean time to the first hospitalization was 25.8 ± 17.0months. The mortality rate was 44.1%. Combined mortality and hospitalization rate was 58.8%. Adjusted hazard ratios of OxLDL-Ab for hospitalization were 3.16, p<0.001, 95% confidence interval 1.740 to 5.736 and for composite outcome 2.67, p <0.001, 95% confidence interval 1.580 to 4.518. In conclusion, OxLDL-Ab level was the best predictor for both hospitalization and composite outcome. It may, thus, serve as a useful clue for early and more accurate detection of poorly controlled HF and as a marker for imminent exacerbations of thereof.