Prevalence and Prognostic Value of the Novel Consensus Definition of Metabolic Hyperferritinemia in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Across Different Glucose Metabolism States.

BACKGROUND

Metabolic hyperferritinemia (MHF) is associated with the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular disease. Our aim is to investigate the prevalence of MHF, as defined by the latest consensus, and validate its association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with different glucose metabolism conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective study included 7498 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, with a median follow-up duration of 2.5 years. MHF is defined as an elevation in serum ferritin accompanied by metabolic dysfunction, and is categorized into different grades based on ferritin levels. The outcome of the study is MACEs. Among the 7498 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (with an average age of 70.23±10.85 years; 52.68% male), nearly one third (29.7%) had MHF. The majority of these patients were classified as Grade 1 (21.7%), with Grade 2 accounting for 5.2% and Grade 3 for 2.9%. As the severity of MHF increased, the proportion of patients with abnormal glucose metabolism (prediabetes and diabetes) also increased. Cox regression analysis revealed that, even after full adjustment, MHF Grade 2/3 remained significantly associated with a higher risk of MACEs compared with non-MHF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43 [95% CI, 1.26-1.62]). The correlation between MHF and MACEs remained consistent across different glucose metabolism statuses.

CONCLUSIONS

In the population with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the baseline prevalence of MHF is notably high. Furthermore, patients who exhibit higher grades of MHF are at an increased risk of MACEs. Additionally, patients with elevated MHF grades also suffer from higher proportions of diabetes and prediabetes.