Diagnostic value and risk correlation of serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in chronic heart failure

Background: To analyse the value of H-FABP and OPG in determining the severity of heart function in those suffering from long-term heart failure. Methods: A total of 196 patients with persistent heart failure who were admitted to our hospital between June 2023 and October 2024 were chosen. A comparison of the three groups of chronic heart failure patients' general clinical information and H-FABP and OPG levels was performed. The associations between OPG and H-FABP and various clinical forms of chronic heart failure, heart failure severity, and measurement markers related to echocardiography were examined. To assess the diagnostic utility of NT-proBNP, H-FABP, and OPG detection alone and in combination for HFrEF and HFpEF patients. All patients were monitored for three to six months following their discharge. Results: There was a positive correlation (r=0.61) between H-FABP and the NYHA classification, LA (r=0.46), LV (r=0.51), HS-TnT (r=0.31), NT-proBNP (r=0.58), SUA (r=0.38), etc., and negatively correlated with the LVEF (r=-0.76), NT-proBNP (r=0.49), etc., and negatively correlated with the LVEF (r=-0.60) (P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis of NT-proBNP, H-FABP, and OPG levels and endpoint events revealed that NT-proBNP had a high value in predicting endpoint events. The readmission rate and mortality rate of patients with chronic heart failure increased with increasing NT-proBNP concentration. Serum H-FABP and OPG all have high diagnostic value for HFrEF. Compared with the traditional biomarker NT-proBNP, H-FABP had greater sensitivity (94.9%) and specificity (83.1%) in the diagnosis of HFrEF, whereas OPG had greater sensitivity (92.3%) and lower specificity (57.7%). H-FABP and OPG can significantly improve the sensitivity (86.44%) and specificity (89.74%) in the diagnosis of patients with HFrEF. Serum NT-proBNP, H-FABP and OPG all have high diagnostic value for HFpEF. Compared with the traditional biomarker NT-proBNP, H-FABP has greater sensitivity (91.7%) and specificity (82.0%) in the diagnosis of HFpEF, whereas OPG has greater specificity (82.0%) and lower sensitivity (58.3%). Conclusions: The combined detection of H-FABP, OPG, and NT-proBNP can be used as an essential strategy for the early detection of decreased cardiac function in heart failure patients.