Relation between C-reactive protein level and one-year mortality among elderly patients with heart failure.

Background: Data suggests that inflammatory processes may play a role in the development of heart failure and death after myocardial infarction independently of other conventional prognostic indicators. C- C-reactive protein (CRP) was found to be associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death, independently of age, sex, myocardial infarction severity, co-morbidity, previous myocardial infarction and recurrent ischemic events. Objectives: To assess the relation between CRP level and one-year mortality among elderly patients with heart failure. Methods: Serum CRP level was measured in 100 elderly patients with heart failure diagnosed by Criteria of the New York Heart Association (NYHA). Patients were followed by telephone for one year to assess the relation between CRP level and one-year mortality among elderly patients with heart failure. Results: A higher mortality percentage was found among patients with high levels of CRP with the mean CRP being higher among patients who died compared with living patients, but with no significant difference (P-value>0.05). The highest mean levels of CRP were found among patients with left ventricular systolic and diastolic failure, although no statistically significant relation could be detected (P-value>0.05). No significant relation was found between each age and Ejection Fraction (EF )and CRP. Conclusion: Patients who had high levels of CRP had a greater risk of mortality. Further studies with a larger number of patients and longer periods of follow-up are recommended. Still measuring CRP for patients with HF can be of great value and anti-inflammatory can be beneficial unless contraindicated.