Aims Platelet indices have been associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to investigate the role of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet-to-leukocyte ratio, including platelet-to-monocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with cardiac function, heart failure (HF) phenotypes and clinical outcome, worsening of HF. Methods and results Univariate and multivariable linear and Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between platelet indices, cardiac function and worsening of HF in 3250 subjects enrolled in the MyoVasc study. Higher MPV, lower platelet count, lower platelet-to-leukocyte and platelet-to-monocyte ratios have been associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (beta estimate [β] MPV [fL] = À0.05 [À0.09; À0.02], β platelet count (× 10/L) 9 = 3.4 [1.2; 5.6], β platelet-to-leukocyte ratio = 1.4 [1.1; 1.8], β platelet-to-monocyte ratio = 28 [20; 36]) and increased E/E' ratio (β MPV [fL] = 0.04 [0.003; 0.07], β platelet count (× 10/L) 9 = À3.1 [À5.3; À0.92], β platelet-to-leukocyte ratio = À0.83 [À1.2; À0.46], β platelet-to-monocyte ratio = À20 [À28; À12]), independent of age and sex. Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk for worsening of HF in subjects with MPV > 75th percentile (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47 [1.16; 1.87]), platelet count < 25th percentile (HR = 1.36 [1.07; 1.74]), platelet-to-leukocyte < 25th percentile (HR = 1.53 [1.20; 1.95]), platelet-to-monocyte < 25th percentile (HR = 1.38 [1.08; 1.77]) and platelet-to-lymphocyte > 75th percentile (HR = 1.50 [1.17; 1.93]) ratios, independent of potential confounders. MPV > 75th percentile and platelet count < 25th percentile were strongly related to outcome in HFpEF vs. HFrEF (P for difference = 0.040). Platelet-to-leukocyte ratios were associated with worse outcome in both HF phenotypes, without a significant difference between HFpEF and HFrEF. Conclusions Platelet indices are linked with worse cardiac function and adverse clinical outcome, independent of subjects' underlying cardiovascular profile. This study emphasizes their important value to provide additional information on pathophysiology and risk stratification in HF syndrome.

IMPORTANCEGlobal longitudinal strain (GLS) is an emerging echocardiographic biomarker of cardiac function in heart failure (HF). Evidence from large-scale studies comprehensively investigating GLS for its association with clinical phenotypes and mortality in asymptomatic and symptomatic chronic HF is limited.OBJECTIVE To assess the factors associated with GLS and its prognostic value in patients with chronic HF.

Background: This study sought to investigate the prevalence and clinical outcome of left ventricular (LV) geometry in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the impact of glucose metabolism on the incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods: 15,010 subjects (35–74 years) of the population-based Gutenberg Health Study were categorized into euglycemia, prediabetes, and T2DM according to clinical and metabolic (HbA1c) information. Clinical outcome was assessed via structured follow-up. Results: The study comprised 12,121 individuals with euglycemia (81.6%), 1415 with prediabetes (9.5%), and 1316 with T2DM (8.9%). Prevalence of LVH increased from euglycemia (10.2%) over prediabetes (17.8%) to T2DM (23.8%). Prediabetes and T2DM were associated with increased LV mass index (prediabetes: β1.3 (95% CI 0.78–1.81), p < 0.0001; T2DM: β2.37 (95% CI 1.81; 2.92), p < 0.0001) independent of age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). The frequency of LVH was related to the presence of T2DM (prevalence ratio (PR)T2DM 1.2 (95% CI 1.06–1.35), p = 0.0038). T2DM was related to mortality independent of age, sex, and CVRF regardless of LVH (hazard ratio (HR)T2DM-LVH 2.67 (95% CI 1.94–3.66), p < 0.0001; HRT2DM-noLVH 1.59 (95% CI 1.29–1.96), p < 0.0001), prediabetes was only associated with outcome in individuals with LVH independent of age and sex (HRprediabetes-LVH 1.51 (95% CI 1.01–2.25), p = 0.045). Neither T2DM nor prediabetes were predictors of incident LVH after adjustment for clinical covariates. Conclusions: Prediabetes and T2DM promote alterations of cardiac geometry. T2DM and particularly the coprevalence of T2DM with LVH substantially reduce life expectancy. These findings highlight the need for new therapeutic and screening approaches to prevent and detect cardiometabolic diseases at an early stage.