Baseline characteristics of the study population stratified by the median concentration of sCD146
| Variables | Total, n=437 | sCD146 below the median, n=218 | sCD146 above the median, n=219 | P value |
| Demographics | ||||
| Age, years | 70 (61–78) | 68 (60–77) | 72 (62–79) | 0.037 |
| ≥65 years | 281 (64.3) | 129 (59.2) | 152 (69.4) | 0.028 |
| Male | 270 (61.8) | 135 (61.9) | 135 (61.6) | 1 |
| Adjudicated diagnosis | ||||
| AHF | 281 (64.3) | 112 (51.4) | 169 (77.2) | <0.001 |
| COPD/asthma | 18 (4.1) | 15 (6.9) | 3 (1.4) | 0.004 |
| Pulmonary embolism | 37 (8.5) | 27 (12.4) | 10 (4.6) | 0.003 |
| Infection | 18 (4.1) | 12 (5.5) | 6 (2.7) | 0.158 |
| ACS | 42 (9.6) | 26 (11.9) | 16 (7.3) | 0.107 |
| Other | 25 (5.7) | 18 (8.3) | 7 (3.2) | 0.024 |
| Examination | ||||
| Heart rate, BPM | 88 (74–102) | 86 (74–101) | 90 (72–103) | 0.675 |
| SBP, mm Hg | 135 (120–152) | 137 (120–152) | 135 (116–152) | 0.256 |
| DBP, mm Hg | 80 (70–90) | 80 (70–90) | 80 (70–90) | 0.503 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29.4 (25.7–34.2) | 29.4 (25.8–34.5) | 29.5 (25.7–43.1) | 0.887 |
| Pulmonary rales | 217 (58.4) | 95 (48.2) | 122 (58.9) | 0.036 |
| Peripheral oedema | 94 (53.7) | 37 (51.4) | 57 (64.0) | 0.111 |
| Respiratory rate, breaths/minute | 20 (17–24) | 20 (17–24) | 20 (17–24) | 0.372 |
| Axillary temperature, °C | 36.7±0.5 | 36.7±0.5 | 36.8±0.5 | 0.015 |
| Oxygen saturation, % | 93 (90–96) | 94 (89–96) | 93 (90–96) | 0.686 |
| Medical history | ||||
| CHF | 301 (69.2) | 131 (60.6) | 170 (77.6) | <0.001 |
| Hypertension | 340 (78.2) | 170 (78.7) | 170 (77.6) | 0.817 |
| CAD | 183 (42.1) | 84 (38.9) | 99 (45.2) | 0.207 |
| Severe VHD/previous valvular surgery | 94 (21.6) | 33 (15.3) | 61 (27.9) | 0.002 |
| Atrial fibrillation/flutter | 200 (46.0) | 76 (35.2) | 124 (56.6) | <0.001 |
| Pacemaker | 48 (11.0) | 21 (9.7) | 27 (12.3) | 0.445 |
| Stroke | 36 (8.3) | 16 (7.4) | 20 (9.1) | 0.603 |
| Diabetes | 98 (22.5) | 44 (20.4) | 54 (24.7) | 0.303 |
| Dyslipidaemia | 128 (29.4) | 70 (32.4) | 58 (26.5) | 0.207 |
| Active/recent cancer | 48 (11.0) | 29 (13.4) | 19 (8.7) | 0.127 |
| Asthma/COPD | 72 (16.6) | 39 (18.1) | 33 (15.1) | 0.377 |
| Anaemia | 120 (27.5) | 50 (23.1) | 70 (32.0) | 0.042 |
| Medication before admission | ||||
| ACE inhibitors or ARB | 191 (43.9) | 95 (44.0) | 96 (43.8) | 0.976 |
| Beta-blocker | 216 (49.7) | 100 (46.3) | 116 (53.0) | 0.18 |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 83 (19.1) | 37 (17.1) | 46 (21.0) | 0.33 |
| Loop diuretic | 209 (47.8) | 93 (43.1) | 116 (53.0) | 0.044 |
| Statin | 54 (12.4) | 31 (14.4) | 23 (10.5) | 0.246 |
| Antiplatelet | 109 (24.9) | 55 (25.5) | 54 (24.7) | 0.912 |
| Anticoagulant | 116 (26.7) | 38 (17.6) | 78 (35.6) | <0.001 |
| CCB | 70 (16.1) | 42 (19.4) | 28 (12.8) | 0.068 |
| None of the above | 89 (20.5) | 53 (24.5) | 36 (16.4) | 0.043 |
| Biomarkers | ||||
| NT-proBNP (ng/L) | 2547 (737–6669) | 1361 (381–3898) | 4558 (1596–9817) | <0.001 |
| Troponin T (ng/L) | 30 (20–60) | 24 (13–40) | 40 (20–70) | <0.001 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 9.1 (3.5–27.7) | 9.2 (3.5–30.0) | 9.0 (3.5–23.8) | 0.975 |
| Hb (g/L) | 132 (117–144) | 134 (118–146) | 130 (116–144) | 0.122 |
| K (mmol/L) | 4.3 (4.0–4.7) | 4.3 (3.9–4.6) | 4.4 (4.0–4.8) | 0.013 |
| Na (mmol/L) | 139 (136–141) | 139 (136–141) | 139 (137–142) | 0.248 |
| Creatinine (μmol/L) | 95 (77–127) | 87 (72–116) | 103 (83–135) | <0.001 |
Values are expressed as n, median (IQR), mean±SD or n (%), unless otherwise stated.
Significant p values (<0.05) are presented in bold.
ACS, acute coronary syndrome; AHF, acute heart failure; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; BPM, beats per minute; CAD, coronary artery disease; CCB, calcium-channel blocker; CHF, chronic heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP, C reactive protein; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; Hb, haemoglobin; K, potassium; n, number of subjects with available data; Na, sodium; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; SBP, systolic blood pressure; sCD146, soluble cluster of differentiation 146; VHD, valvular heart disease.