AimsIt is unclear whether distinct pathophysiologic processes are present among patients with acute heart failure (AHF), with and without diabetes. Network analysis of biomarkers may identify correlative associations which reflect different pathophysiologic pathways.
Methods and resultsWe analyzed a panel of 48 circulating biomarkers measured within 24 hours of admission for AHF in a subset of patients enrolled in the PROTECT trial. In patients with and without diabetes, we performed a network analysis to identify correlations between measured biomarkers. Compared to patients without diabetes (n=1111), those with diabetes (n=922) had higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease and traditional coronary risk factors. Patients with and without diabetes, after multivariable adjustment, had significantly different levels of biomarkers across a spectrum of pathophysiologic domains including inflammation (TNF-1a, periostin), cardiomyocytes stretch (BNP), angiogenesis (VEGFR, angiogenin), and renal function (NGAL, KIM-1) (adjusted p-value <0.05). Among patients with diabetes, network analysis revealed that periostin strongly clustered with C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. Furthermore, renal markers (creatinine and NGAL) closely associated with potassium and glucose. These findings were not seen among patients without diabetes
ConclusionPatients with AHF and diabetes, compared to those without diabetes, have distinct biomarker profiles. Network analysis suggests that cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis are closely associated with each other in patients with diabetes; Furthermore, potassium levels may be sensitive to changes in renal function as reflected by the strong renal-potassiumglucose correlation. These findings were not seen among patients without diabetes and may suggest distinct pathophysiologic processes among patients with diabetes.