Risk calculator of multimorbid risk of rehospitalization and death from heart failure: including the contribution of the gut microbiome.

aimsThe elucidation of the contributory role of multimorbidity to heart failure (HF) including the gut-heart axis has added a new dimension to our understanding of HF pathophysiology that is not reflected in currently available risk scores. The present investigation aimed to develop and validate a novel risk score model of multimorbidity for HF risk stratification. METHODS AND

resultsA risk model was developed based on the contribution of markers associated with HF multimorbidities on outcomes of mortality and/or rehospitalization due to HF (death/HF) at one year. Two independent HF cohorts were combined and randomly split 70:30 using a split-sample validation approach for training and validation cohorts that were not significantly different for investigated variables. Backward logistic regression was used to develop the risk model with a further scoring system to create a simple risk calculator. A final 11-variable risk model (age, previous HF hospitalization, NYHA group III/IV, NT-proBNP, diastolic blood pressure, loop diuretic use, beta-blocker non-use, creatinine, COPD, diabetes, and combined gut metabolites) showed a diagnostic performance of 0.71 in the training cohort (C-statistic validation cohort, 0.70, P < 0.001). A risk score/calculator was further developed based on this model with categorization into three (low-, mid-, and high-) and two (low- and high-) risk groups, with both approaches demonstrating increased incidence of death/HF in patients at the highest risk (P < 0.001).

conclusionA novel risk model and score were derived that showed the contribution of comorbidities including the added value of the gut-heart axis on risk stratification of HF patients on rehospitalization and death. LAY SUMMARY: The contributory role of multimorbidity is not well understood in heart failure (HF), including the more recent addition of the gut microbiome (gut-heart axis). However, in current HF risk scores, the contributory role of multimorbidity is seldom considered. In this study, we developed an 11-variable risk model and a simple risk score calculator for clinical use that considers the contribution of HF multimorbidity, including the gut microbiome. The clinical risk score was developed and validated in a clinical cohort from two combined independent European studies from inpatient heart failure subjects. The outcomes were death due to HF and/or rehospitalization at 1 year. The final model showed diagnostic performance comparable to current HF risk scores. Furthermore, the risk score calculator, developed for clinical use, is able to stratify patients into low-, mid-, and high-risk groups, with worsening outcomes seen with increasing risk group. The importance and novelty of this risk model over current HF risk scores are the contribution of comorbidities including the added value of the gut-heart axis on HF risk stratification.