What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Heart failure (acute decompensated and chronic) (n=1085). Intervention: Elevated liver stiffness vs. Lower liver stiffness (per 1 kPa increase). Primary outcome: Composite of readmission for heart failure, death, worsening heart failure, or major adverse events (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.13, p=0.0002).

November 12, 2025BMC Cardiovascular DisordersOpen Access

Elevated liver stiffness was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in both acute decompensated heart failure (HR 1.04) and chronic heart failure (HR 1.09).

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

The prognostic value of noninvasive liver stiffness measurements and the implications for cutoff values in patients with heart failure remained uncertain.

Does elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography predict adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure?

Comparison

Elevated vs non-elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Key result

Elevated liver stiffness was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in both acute decompensated heart failure (HR 1.04) and chronic heart failure (HR 1.09).

Authors

ISIrina-Maria Stoleru MMMihaela Mocan CCCamil-Horea-Eusebiu Crișan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

LS may aid HF risk stratification; leaves open optimal cutoffs and prospective validation.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=1,085)

Structured PICO

Does elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography predict adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure?

Population

1,085 patients with acute decompensated or chronic heart failure across 11 studies included in a quantitative meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of liver stiffness.

Exposure

Liver stiffness measurement using an elastographic technique (transient elastography and/or shear-wave elastography) to assess liver congestion.

Outcome

Occurrence of readmission for heart failure, death, worsening heart failure, or a composite outcome (heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device, right ventricular assist device, major adverse events such as postoperative bleeding, cerebrovascular event and infection).composite

Main Result

Hazard Ratio: 1.09 (95% CI 1.04–1.13)

p-value: p=0.0002

Elevated liver stiffness measured by noninvasive elastography is a significant independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with both acute decompensated and chronic heart failure.

Limitations

Limited number of eligible studies and small sample sizes
Substantial heterogeneity observed, particularly in the chronic heart failure subgroup
Different elastographic techniques and devices used across studies
Variations in patient selection, baseline comorbidities, and NYHA class distributions
Non-uniform definition of endpoints across studies
Potential publication bias in the acute decompensated heart failure group
Exclusion of studies using pSWE or SWD due to incompatible measurement units
Observational nature of included studies with potential for residual confounding
Moderate to high heterogeneity across included studies (I² = 61% for ADHF and 81% for CHF)
Evidence of publication bias in the acute decompensated heart failure meta-analysis
Lack of sample size justification in some included studies
Failure to fully account for confounding variables in some studies
Exclusion of large studies utilizing alternative elastography techniques (pSWE and SWD) to avoid heterogeneity

Cite This Study

Stoleru et al. (2025) conducted a meta-analysis in Heart failure (acute decompensated and chronic) (n=1,085). Elevated liver stiffness vs. Lower liver stiffness (per 1 kPa increase) was evaluated on Composite of readmission for heart failure, death, worsening heart failure, or major adverse events (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.13, p=0.0002). Elevated liver stiffness was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in both acute decompensated heart failure (HR 1.04) and chronic heart failure (HR 1.09).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a882e8ff9cabcdfeb4a6706 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05289-0

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

November 12, 2025BMC Cardiovascular DisordersOpen Access

Elevated liver stiffness was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in both acute decompensated heart failure (HR 1.04) and chronic heart failure (HR 1.09).

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

The prognostic value of noninvasive liver stiffness measurements and the implications for cutoff values in patients with heart failure remained uncertain.

Does elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography predict adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure?

Comparison

Elevated vs non-elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Key result

Elevated liver stiffness was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in both acute decompensated heart failure (HR 1.04) and chronic heart failure (HR 1.09).

Authors

ISIrina-Maria Stoleru MMMihaela Mocan CCCamil-Horea-Eusebiu Crișan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

LS may aid HF risk stratification; leaves open optimal cutoffs and prospective validation.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=1,085)

Structured PICO

Does elevated liver stiffness measured by elastography predict adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure?

Population

1,085 patients with acute decompensated or chronic heart failure across 11 studies included in a quantitative meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of liver stiffness.

Exposure

Liver stiffness measurement using an elastographic technique (transient elastography and/or shear-wave elastography) to assess liver congestion.

Outcome

Main Result

Hazard Ratio: 1.09 (95% CI 1.04–1.13)

p-value: p=0.0002

Limitations

Limited number of eligible studies and small sample sizes
Substantial heterogeneity observed, particularly in the chronic heart failure subgroup
Different elastographic techniques and devices used across studies
Variations in patient selection, baseline comorbidities, and NYHA class distributions
Non-uniform definition of endpoints across studies
Potential publication bias in the acute decompensated heart failure group
Exclusion of studies using pSWE or SWD due to incompatible measurement units
Observational nature of included studies with potential for residual confounding
Moderate to high heterogeneity across included studies (I² = 61% for ADHF and 81% for CHF)
Evidence of publication bias in the acute decompensated heart failure meta-analysis
Lack of sample size justification in some included studies
Failure to fully account for confounding variables in some studies
Exclusion of large studies utilizing alternative elastography techniques (pSWE and SWD) to avoid heterogeneity

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a882e8ff9cabcdfeb4a6706 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05289-0

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark