Aim: The study focused on biomarkers of kidney injury as predictors of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in a long-term follow-up (median 104 months). Methods/results: KIM-1, NAG and NGAL were assessed from urine, NT-proBNP from blood samples. 149 patients (age 62 ± 12 years) with CHF (mean EF 30% [IQR 24-40%]) were enrolled. 79 (53%) patients died. Cox regression analysis revealed Log2NAG (HR: 1.46, CI: 1.12-1.89), Log2KIM-1 (HR: 1.23, CI: 1.02-1.49) and Log2NT-proBNP (HR: 1.50, CI: 1.32-1.72) as significant predictors of all-cause mortality as opposed to Log2NGAL (HR: 1.04, CI: 0.90-1.20). Log2NAG remained a significant predictor of all-cause mortality in a multivariate Cox regression model but lost its predictive value in combination with Log2NT-proBNP. Conclusion: The 10-year follow-up suggests NAG as a predictive tubular marker in CHF patients.
Keywords: KIM-1; NAG; NGAL; cardiorenal syndrome; chronic heart failure.