Liver stiffness assessed by Fibrosis-4 index predicts mortality in patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVE: /L) × square root of alanine aminotransferase (IU/L)) is expected to be useful for evaluating liver stiffness in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We aimed to investigate the impact of the FIB4 index on HF prognosis, with consideration for liver fibrosis markers and underlying cardiac function. METHODS: Consecutive 1058 patients with HF who were admitted to our hospital were divided into three groups based on their FIB4 index: first (FIB4 index <1.72, n=353), second (1.72≤FIB4 index <3.01, n=353) and third tertiles (3.01≤FIB4 index, n=352). We prospectively followed for all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (mean 1047 days), 246 deaths occurred. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, all-cause mortality progressively increased from the first to third groups (12.2%, 21.0% and 36.6%, p<0.01). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, FIB4 index was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with HF (p<0.05). In comparisons of laboratory and echocardiographic findings, the third tertile had higher levels of type IV collagen 7S, procollagen type III peptide, hyaluronic acid, left atrial volume, mitral valve E/e', inferior vena cava diameter and right atrial end systolic area (p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The FIB4 index, a marker of liver stiffness, is associated with higher all-cause mortality in patients with HF.