What does this research mean for the field?

Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate independently predicts the long-term risk of developing heart failure, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors and interim myocardial infarction. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether systemic inflammation, measured by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), predicts the long-term development of heart failure in men free of baseline cardiovascular disease.

August 15, 2026Journal of the American College of CardiologyOpen Access

Inflammation, as Measured by the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Is an Independent Predictor for the Development of Heart Failure

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Heart failure (n=2314). Intervention: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) vs. Lowest quartile of ESR. Primary outcome: Development of heart failure (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06).

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Key result

Elevated ESR linked to ~46% greater risk of developing heart failure over 30 years.

HR 1.46
95% CI 1.04 to 2.06
n=2,314

Why the study?

Inflammation is implicated in heart failure pathophysiology and inflammatory markers predict future HF, but whether the inexpensive systemic inflammatory marker ESR predicts subsequent HF was unknown.

Does elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate predict the development of heart failure in middle-aged men free from baseline cardiovascular disease?

Key Points

To determine whether systemic inflammation, measured by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), predicts the long-term development of heart failure in men free of baseline cardiovascular disease.
Followed 2,314 middle-aged men free from heart failure, myocardial infarction, and valvular disease at baseline in a community-based prospective study over a median of 30 years.
Evaluated ESR using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for hematocrit, hypertension, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy, smoking, obesity, and serum cholesterol.
A total of 282 men developed heart failure during the 30-year follow-up period.
Men in the highest ESR quartile had a significantly increased risk of developing heart failure compared to the lowest quartile (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06), an association that remained significant after adjusting for interim myocardial infarction.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=2,314)

Structured PICO

Does elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate predict the development of heart failure in middle-aged men free from baseline cardiovascular disease?

Population

2,314 middle-aged men free from heart failure, myocardial infarction, and valvular disease at baseline, followed for a median of 30 years.

Exposure

Highest quartile of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Comparator

Lowest quartile of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Outcome

Development of heart failure (HF) over a median follow-up of 30 yearshard clinical

Main Result

Hazard Ratio: 1.46 (95% CI 1.04–2.06)

Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is an independent predictor of incident heart failure over a 30-year follow-up in middle-aged men, suggesting inflammation plays an early role in heart failure pathogenesis.

Discussion

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Implication

Inexpensive ESR may flag long-term HF risk without changing current practice; leaves open incremental utility versus modern biomarkers in women.

Cite This Study

Ingelsson et al. (2005) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=2,314). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) vs. Lowest quartile of ESR was evaluated on Development of heart failure (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06). Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (highest vs. lowest quartile) independently predicted the development of heart failure over 30 years (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.04-2.06).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7fdaa6fcbf2b1afafe78da https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2005.02.066

Topics

Heart failure HFrEF treatment

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Implication

Inexpensive ESR may flag long-term HF risk without changing current practice; leaves open incremental utility versus modern biomarkers in women.

Inflammation, as Measured by the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Is an Independent Predictor for the Development of Heart Failure

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Topics

Inflammation, as Measured by the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Is an Independent Predictor for the Development of Heart Failure

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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Topics

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