P5292The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio - A valuable competitor for NT-proBNP in predicting long-term all-cause mortality in heart failure

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of negative prognosis in patients with infection or malignancy. Given the involvement of chronic inflammation in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) and the impact of inflammation on different leucocyte subpopulations, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were related to mortality in these patients. Purpose: Our aim was to determine, for the first time, the utility of NLR in predicting long-term all-cause mortality in HF patients. Methods: Patients with heart failure admitted to our clinic from January 2011 to January 2014 were included in this study, after excluding acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolisms, and in hospital mortality, as well as readmissions of the same patient or incomplete laboratory data. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters were recorded for all patients on admission. Survival status was assessed in January 2017. Results: Our sample consisted of 805 HF patients, 441 (54.78%) female, with a mean age of 70.92±11.20 years. Median (interquartile range) NLR was 2.67 (1.90; 3.83).