Predictive Value of Eosinophil Indices for Major Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Acute Heart Failure

All consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with ADHF and reduced EF between January 2017 and December 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study. HFrEF was defined as having an LVEF of ≤40%. Demographic data were retrieved from patient charts and the institutional digital database. Patients with an LVEF >40%, NYHA Class I and II subjects, those with advanced liver, kidney diseases or malignancies, patients in whom life expectancy was extremely short and patients with autoimmune, allergic, or infectious diseases that affect the eosinophil indices were not included in the study. The study was approved by the local ethics committee.

Conventional guidelines had been followed for the in-hospital treatment of all patients with ADHF, including loop diuretics, vasodilators, inotropes/vasopressors [9]. Blood tests including complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, electrolytes, liver enzymes, and NT-pro BNP were ordered upon admission to the ICU. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography. LVEF was measured with 2-dimensional echocardiography via the modified Simpson method [10]. Data concerning 6-month all-cause mortality and MACE were retrieved from the institutional digital database. The definition of MACE was the composite of total death and re-hospitalization for HF within 6 months of initial hospitalization.

The primary outcome measure of this study was all-cause mortality within the first 6 months of index hospitalization and its relationship with eosinophil indices, including NER, LER, ELR and EMR. The secondary outcome measure of this study was the assessment of MACE within the first 6 months of index hospitalization and its association with eosinophil indices.