Objectives: To investigate whether the serum fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 levels can be used to predict the future development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).
Methods: 253 patients at baseline received subsequent follow-up, 234 of whom finished the data collection. Independent predictors of MACEs were identified using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The prognostic value of FGF-21 levels for MACEs was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results: Of 229 patients finally enrolled in the analysis, 27 of 60 without coronary artery disease (CAD) at baseline experienced a MACE, and 132 of 169 patients with CAD at baseline experienced a MACE. Among patients with CAD at baseline, serum FGF-21 levels were significantly higher in patients with MACEs (P<0.05) than in patients without MACEs. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly lower event-free survival (P=0.001) among patients with a higher serum FGF-21 level than in those with a lower serum FGF-21 level. Further Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, including the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, showed that serum FGF-21 was one of the independent predictors of the occurrence of MACEs.
Conclusions: In patients with CAD at baseline, an elevated serum FGF-21 level was associated with the development of a MACE in the future.
Y. Bao: None. Y. Shen: None. X. Zhang: None. Y. Xu: None. Q. Xiong: None. Z. Lu: None. X. Ma: None.