Table 1.
Baseline characteristics across CA125 quartiles.
| Variables | CA125 Q1 (N = 592) | CA125 Q2 (N = 592) | CA125 Q3 (N = 593) | CA125 Q4 (N = 592) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics and medical history | |||||
| Age, years | 76.9 ± 9.3 | 77.1 ± 9.2 | 76.9 ± 9.3 | 75.7 ± 10.3 | 0.071 |
| Gender (male), n (%) | 223 (37.7) | 235 (39.7) | 220 (37.1) | 248 (41.9) | 0.317 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 522 (88.2) | 507 (85.6) | 484 (81.6) | 463 (78.2) | < 0.001 |
| Diabetes Mellitus, n (%) | 233 (39.4) | 266 (44.9) | 244 (41.1) | 247 (41.7) | 0.268 |
| Dyslipidemia, n (%) | 306 (51.7) | 321 (54.2) | 299 (50.4) | 280 (47.3) | 0.117 |
| Smoker, n (%) | 36 (6.1) | 40 (6.8) | 37 (6.2) | 53 (8.9) | 0.186 |
| Prior smoker, n (%) | 123 (20.8) | 130 (22.0) | 117 (19.7) | 135 (22.8) | 0.592 |
| IHD, n (%) | 164 (27.7) | 160 (27.0) | 147 (24.8) | 131 (22.1) | 0.114 |
| Valve heart disease, n (%) | 183 (30.9) | 202 (34.1) | 227 (38.3) | 253 (42.7) | < 0.001 |
| Prior history of HF, n (%) | 214 (36.1) | 221 (37.3) | 235 (39.6) | 210 (35.5) | 0.469 |
| Prior AHF admission, n (%) | 196 (33.1) | 201 (33.9) | 190 (32.0) | 161 (27.2) | 0.057 |
| Charlson index, points | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 0.563 |
| Pleural effusion, n (%) | 150 (25.3) | 243 (41.0) | 322 (54.3) | 416 (70.3) | < 0.001 |
| Peripheral edema, n (%) | 310 (52.4) | 363 (61.3) | 402 (67.8) | 439 (74.2) | < 0.001 |
| NYHA III-IV prior to admission, % | 94 (15.9) | 92 (15.5) | 107 (18.0) | 118 (19.9) | 0.158 |
| Vital signs | |||||
| Heart rate, bpm | 92 ± 28 | 93 ± 29 | 95 ± 29 | 96 ± 30 | 0.487 |
| SBP, mmHg | 150 ± 32 | 147 ± 31 | 150 ± 31 | 143 ± 30 | 0.200 |
| DBP, mmHg | 80 ± 19 | 78 ± 19 | 78 ± 18 | 77 ± 17 | 0.058 |
| Electrocardiogram | |||||
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 288 (48.6) | 289 (48.8) | 336 (56.7) | 372 (62.8) | < 0.001 |
| BBB, n (%) | 155 (26.2) | 144 (24.3) | 132 (22.3) | 123 (20.8) | 0.136 |
| Echocardiography | |||||
| LVEF, % | 62.2 ± 7.1 | 62.0 ± 7.1 | 61.8 ± 7.4 | 61.2 ± 7.5 | 0.317 |
| LAD, mm | 43.2 ± 7.5 | 43.5 ± 7.6 | 44.2 ± 7.4 | 45.1 ± 7.7 | 0.784 |
| TAPSE, mm | 20.4 ± 3.0 | 19.8 ± 3.5 | 19.4 ± 3.6 | 18.6 ± 3.2 | < 0.001 |
| Laboratory data | |||||
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 12.5 ± 1.9 | 12.1 ± 1.9 | 11.8 ± 1.8 | 12.0 ± 1.9 | 0.625 |
| eGFR (MDRD formula), mL/min/1.73m2 | 63.8 ± 25.9 | 62.3 ± 32.0 | 60.3 ± 26.6 | 63.0 ± 33.4 | < 0.001 |
| Serum sodium, mEq/L | 139 ± 4 | 138 ± 4 | 138 ± 5 | 138 ± 5 | < 0.001 |
| Serum potassium, mEq/L | 4.2 ± 0.5 | 4.3 ± 0.5 | 4.3 ± 0.5 | 4.3 ± 0.5 | 0.022 |
| NT-proBNP, pg/mL* | 2210 (1170–3726) | 2682 (1561–4998) | 3397 (1932–6200) | 3454 (1910–6368) | < 0.001 |
| CA125, U/mL* | 12.0 (8.3–15.5) | 26.8 (22.5–32.0) | 57.1 (47.0–72.0) | 153.1 (115–227.4) | < 0.001 |
| Medical treatment at discharge | |||||
| Beta-blockers, n (%) | 368 (62.2) | 378 (63.8) | 409 (69.0) | 384 (64.9) | 0.088 |
| ACEI or ARB or ARNI, n (%) | 287 (63.2) | 278 (61.2) | 274 (57.2) | 310 (57.9) | 0.195 |
| MRA, n (%) | 52 (17.7) | 38 (14.7) | 43 (15.7) | 69 (22.9) | 0.048 |
| Oral anticoagulation, n (%) | 285 (48.4) | 296 (50.3) | 299 (51.2) | 353 (60.1) | < 0.001 |
| Outcomes | |||||
| Death, rates per 100 P-Y | 12.1 | 15.0 | 17.7 | 19.5 | < 0.001 |
| Total HF-readmissions, rates per 100 P-Y | 30.7 | 42.7 | 41.3 | 46.2 | 0.004 |
AHF: acute heart failure; BBB: bundle branch block; CA125: carbohydrate antigen 125; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; ID: iron deficiency; IHD: ischemic heart disease; LAD: left atrial diameter; MDRD: Modification of Diet in Renal Disease; MRA: mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists; NT-proBNP: amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA: New York Heart Association; PASP: pulmonary artery systolic pressure; P-Y: person-years; SBP: systolic blood pressure; TAPSE: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion; TSAT: transferrin saturation; WHO: World Heart Organization.
Values for continuous variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.
*Values expressed as mean (interquartile range).
CA125 quartiles: Q1 = 1.4–19 U/mL; Q2 = 19–38.26 U/mL; Q3 = 38.3–90 U/mL; Q4 = 90–1500 U/mL.