Mean platelet volume and its relationship with echocardiographic and biological markers: a potential tool for screening heart failure patients with poor outcomes

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome associated with high morbidity, mortality and high hospitalisation rates due to decompensation. Certain echocardiographic parameters, such as low left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), pulmonary hypertension (PH), dilated left atrium (LA), dilated left ventricle (LV), and biological parameters such as high NT pro BNP, high creatinine (Cr) or low haemoglobin (Hb), are associated with a negative prognosis in HF patients. Knowing a single biomarker, such as mean platelet volume (MPV), that could be correlated with the mentioned echocardiographic and biological parameters, could represent a beneficial solution for screening HF patients who could have a poor outcome in the future. Purpose Through the present study, we aimed to identify if there is a possible correlation between the value of MPV and certain echocardiographic parameters (LA diameter, LV diameter, LVEF, PH) and biological parameters (Hb, Cr, NT pro BNP). Material and methods The study was conducted on 260 patients with HF, and the biomarker of interest was MPV. The inclusion criteria were patients with HF, whether decompensated HF or stable chronic HF. The statistical results were obtained by applying logistic and linear regression models, and the estimation of the regression models was done using the statsmodels 0.15.5 library. Results By applying regression models, our study showed interesting results. We were able to estimate the probability that a patient with HF will have PH based on the MPV value, the results of our study showing that there is a tendency for HF patients with increased values of MPV (over 9 fL) to have PH. Regarding the relationship between the MPV value and the dimensions of the LA and the LV, the results of our study showed that there is a tendency for the dimensions of the LA and LV to increase as the MPV value increases. Also, our study showed a linear relationship between the MPV value and the LVEF value in patients with HF, highlighting that as the MPV value increases, the LVEF value decreases (Figure 1).Regarding the relationship between MPV and the NT-pro BNP value in HF patients, our study showed that a higher MPV value is associated with a higher NT-pro BNP value, and thus a linear correlation between them(Figure 2).Regarding the relationship between MPV and the Hb value in patients with HF, we did not find a clear relationship between these two variables. Nor regarding the relationship between MPV and the Cr value in HF patients in the study conducted, we did not find a clear relationship. Conclusions Our study revealed a correlation between an increased value of MPV and low LVEF, dilated LA, dilated LV, PH, and increased NT pro BNP. Since the aforementioned echocardiographic and biological markers are associated in medical literature with a poor prognosis, and since we identified a relationship between them and MPV, we can presume that MPV could predict HF patients with poor prognosis.Relationship between MPV and LVEFFor image description, please refer to the figure legend and surrounding text. Relationship between MPV and NTproBNPFor image description, please refer to the figure legend and surrounding text.