Systemic Inflammation Contributes to Heart Failure Pathophysiology

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have detailed new data in Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Conditions - Obesity and Diabetes, highlighting the role of systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of heart failure. The study aimed to characterize the prevalence and correlates of systemic inflammation across the spectrum of heart failure, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The research found that elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were observed in 52.5% of patients with HFpEF/HFmrEF and 49.4% of patients with HFrEF.

Key Takeaways:

• Systemic inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of heart failure, with inflammation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) linked to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic conditions.
• Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were observed in 52.5% of patients with HFpEF/HFmrEF and 49.4% of patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
• Patients with higher hsCRP levels were more likely to be female and have obesity, diabetes, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher albuminuria, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Clinical characteristics associated with elevated hsCRP levels were examined across the HF spectrum, with significant relationships found to be common to HFrEF.
• The study used data from 3 large outcome trials: SELECT, SOUL, and FLOW, with a total of 3,204 patients with HFpEF, 1,246 patients with HFmrEF, and 1,018 patients with HFrEF.

Statistics:

• Elevated hsCRP levels were observed in 52.5% of patients with HFpEF/HFmrEF and 49.4% of patients with HFrEF.
• Patients with higher hsCRP levels were more likely to have a female sex (63.1% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.0003).
• Patients with higher hsCRP levels were more likely to have obesity (49.5% vs. 36.7%, p < 0.0001).

Sources:

• Prevalence and Associations of Systemic Inflammation in Heart Failure Across the Spectrum of Ejection Fraction. JACC, 2025:102712. JACC can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, 125 London Wall, London, England.
• NewsRx. Studies from Mayo Clinic Describe New Findings in Obesity and Diabetes (Prevalence and Associations of Systemic Inflammation in Heart Failure Across the Spectrum of Ejection Fraction). Obesity & Diabetes Week. October 27, 2025; p 158.