Abstract

Objective: To assess whether circulating levels of intact parathyroid hormone (intact PTH) in outpatients predict hospitalization for heart failure (HF).

Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive outpatients with HF were enrolled in the present study. The independent association between intact PTH and hospitalization for HF was assessed using Cox regression analysis.

Results: Serum intact PTH levels significantly increased as New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes increased [I: 40 (21), II: 55 (24), III: 76 (46), IV: 131 (45) pg/ml, mean (SD)]. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated intact PTH levels ≥ 47 pg/ml to be the optimal cut-off points for hospitalization for HF with sensitivity 87 %, specificity 71 %, and area under the ROC curve: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72 to 0.91). After adjustment for variables accepted to be predictors for hospitalization due to HF (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, B-type natriuretic peptide, estimated glomerular filtration rate and cardiac medication), intact PTH levels ≥ 47 pg/ml were associated with a hazard ratio of 7.13 for hospitalization for HF (95% CI: 1.79 to 28.4).

Conclusion: Serum intact PTH levels obtained in outpatients with HF was shown to be an independent predictor of hospitalization for HF.