The monocyte/high-density lipoprotein ratio predicts coronary artery disease in heart failure
Authors: Silva C.M , Ferrao D , Soares P.R , Nogueira F , Oliveira D.M , Ferreira A.I , Silva J.E , Lume M.J , Melo N , Pereira J , Araujo J.P , Lourenco P 
Published: October 2021

Background

The monocyte/high density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) is a combined inflammatory marker implicated in atherosclerosis. MHR predicts cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD); it correlates with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and has been shown to be a prognostic predictor in patients with myocardial infarction. The role of MHR in chronic heart failure (HF) is largely unknown.

Purpose

Assess the ability of MHR to predict CAD in patients with HF

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in ambulatory patients with HF with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) that were followed in our HF clinic from January/2012 to May/2018. We selected all the patients that had performed a diagnostic/therapeutic coronary angiography. Patients with missing data concerning monocyte counts or high-density lipoprotein levels were excluded. The endpoint under analysis was the presence of CAD on coronary angiography. A ROC curve was used to study the ability of MHR to predict CAD. The association of MHR with CAD was assessed by a logistic-regression analysis. A multivariate model was built accounting for age, sex, comorbidities [hypertension, diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), CVD, CKD and inflammatory/auto-immune disease], low-density lipoprotein value, haemoglobin, brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), severe LVSD and segmental contractility defects in the echocardiogram. MHR was analysed both as continuous and categorical variable; the cut-off of 16 was chosen based on the ROC curve.

Results

We studied 295 chronic HF patients with LSVD who underwent coronary angiography. Mean age was 67±12 years, 70.8% men and 55.9% with CAD. Patients with CAD were older (69 against 64 years), had significantly higher MHR (19±9 vs. 16±7), higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, PAD and CVD, and worse renal function. The area under the curve for the association between MHR and CAD was 0.68 (0.62–0.74), p&lt;0.001. The best MHR cut-off for CAD prediction was 16 - sensitivity: 66.7%, specificity: 65.4%, positive predictive value: 71.0% and negative predictive value: 60.8%. This association was independent of potential confounders. Patients with MHR≥16 had a multivariate-adjusted OR of having CAD of 5.41 (95% CI: 2.40–12.20), p&lt;0.001 when compared to those with lower MHR. When MHR was analysed as a continuous variable the association remained significant.

Conclusions

The MHR is an independent predictor of CAD in chronic HF. Patients with MHR ≥16 have a 71% probability of presenting CAD and a more than 5-fold higher risk compared with those with lower MHR. It is sometimes difficult to ascertain ischemic disease/aetiology in HF patients, particularly in the elderly, frail and/or with advanced CKD. This simple, inexpensive and harmless marker can help clinicians identify patients most likely to have CAD and decide treatment in accordance.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.