RESULTS OF USING THE MAGGIC HEART FAILURE RISK SCORE AND GALECTIN-3 LEVELS IN ASSESSING MORTALITY RISK IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background. Chronic autoimmune inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis has a negative impact on the progression of atherosclerosis, morphofunctional parameters of the myocardium, blood pressure, and the risk of mortality in such patients. The aim of the study. To perform a comparative analysis of the MAGGIC (Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure) score coefficients and galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic heart failure with and without rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods. We examined 216 patients with heart failure. Two comparable groups were identified: the study group consisted of 100 patients with chronic heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis, the comparison group – of 116 patients with chronic heart failure without rheumatoid arthritis. The analysis of key laboratory and instrumental data and galectin-3 levels was performed. A regression analysis of the associations between the concentration of galectin-3 and the parameters determined using the MAGGIC heart failure risk score was carried out. Results. The study showed significant statistical differences in the level of galectin-3: in the group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis – 17.4 ± 4.2 ng/ml, in patients without rheumatoid arthritis – 14.3 ± 3.1 ng/ml (p = 0.005). The average MAGGIG heart failure risk score in the group of patients with chronic heart failure and rheumatoid arthri-tis was 14 ± 2.1, without rheumatoid arthritis – 12 ± 1.4 (p = 0.01). The risk of mortality during the first year was 7.0 and 4.8 % (p = 0.02), within 3 years – 17.5 and 12.2 % (p = 0.04), respectively. Using regression analysis of interrela-tions of galectin-3 levels with mortality risk identified using the MAGGIC score, a statistically significant association was found (β = –0.04; SD = 10 ± 2.5; r = 0.46; r2 = 0.37; p = 0.002). Conclusion. Patients with chronic heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis have higher levels of galectin-3 in their blood compared to people without rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, they have an increased risk of death according to the MAGGIC score. A statistically significant association of galectin-3 with the parameters of the MAGGIC heart failure risk score has been revealed.