Key result
Higher admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio linked to ~20% lower 6-month readmission risk per SD.
Why the study?
The prognostic value of the combined hemoglobin-creatinine ratio (HBCR) for six-month all-cause readmission risk in patients with heart failure required further exploration.
Is a higher admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio associated with a reduced risk of six-month all-cause readmission in Chinese patients hospitalized for heart failure?
Cohort (n=1,833)
Is a higher admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio associated with a reduced risk of six-month all-cause readmission in Chinese patients hospitalized for heart failure?
Hazard Ratio: 0.8 (95% CI 0.71–0.9)
p-value: p=<0.001
A higher admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio is independently associated with a lower risk of six-month all-cause readmission in patients hospitalized for heart failure, suggesting its potential utility as a prognostic biomarker.
HBCR may aid HF readmission risk stratification at admission; leaves open its added value over standard models in prospective validation.
BACKGROUND: Globally, heart failure (HF) readmission presents a significant challenge. Although anemia (reflected by hemoglobin [Hb]) and renal dysfunction (reflected by creatinine [Cr]) are established independent risk factors for poor HF outcomes, the value of their combined ratio called hemoglobin-creatinine ratio (HBCR), specifically for six-month all-cause readmission risk in patients with HF, requires further exploration. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between admission HBCR and six-month all-cause readmission after HF hospitalization. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1,833 adults who survived an initial HF admission. HBCR was calculated by dividing the admission Hb (g/L) by the admission Cr (µmol/L). The primary outcome was six-month all-cause readmission. Multivariable analysis adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and key labs assessed the independent association. RESULTS: Within six months, 689 patients (37.6%) were readmitted. Lower admission HBCR significantly correlated with a higher readmission hazard. After full adjustment, each one standard deviation (SD) increase in HBCR was independently associated with a 20% lower readmission hazard (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.90, p <0.001). This association showed a graded inverse relationship across tertiles: versus the lowest, the highest tertile had a 41% reduced risk (aHR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.48-0.73, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Admission HBCR is independently associated with six‑month all‑cause readmission in Chinese patients hospitalized for HF and may help identify patients at higher risk before discharge. Prospective interventional studies and external validation are required to determine whether HBCR‑guided management reduces HF readmissions.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Li et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Heart Failure (n=1,833). Admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio (HBCR) vs. Lower HBCR was evaluated on Six-month all-cause readmission (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71-0.90, p=<0.001). Each one standard deviation increase in admission hemoglobin-creatinine ratio was independently associated with a 20% lower hazard of six-month all-cause readmission (aHR 0.80; 95% CI 0.71-0.90; p<0.001).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: