The difference in core–surface temperature indicates the prognosis of heart failure patients

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the difference between core temperature and surface temperature (ΔT) as an index for the prognosis of heart failure (HF). Patients & methods: Core temperature and surface temperature were measured in 253 patients with HF. The association of ΔT with prognostic indicators of HF was analyzed. Results: Patients with ΔT ≥2°C were more likely to have lower left ventricular ejection fraction and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher levels of troponin T, brain natriuretic peptide and procalcitonin, and high blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio. The risk of death increased by 32% for a 1°C increase in ΔT and was 4.36-times higher in the ΔT ≥2°C group than in the ΔT <2°C group. Conclusion: ΔT may be used to predict the prognosis of patients with HF.

Summary points

• We calculated ΔT (the difference between core temperature and surface temperature) in patients with heart failure (HF).

• We analyzed the association of ΔT with the prognosis of HF.

• The risk of the composite end point of cardiovascular death or rehospitalization increased by 16% for a 1°C increase in ΔT.

• The risk of the composite end point of cardiovascular death or rehospitalization was 1.83-times higher in the ΔT ≥2°C group than in the ΔT <2°C group.

• The risk of death increased by 32% for a 1°C increase in ΔT.

• The risk of death was 4.36-times higher in the ΔT ≥2°C group than in the ΔT <2°C group.

• ΔT reflects the severity of heat dissipation function impairment in patients with HF.

• ΔT may be used to predict the prognosis of patients with HF.

Keywords: :

• core temperature
• heart failure
• mortality
• prognosis
• surface temperature

Author contributions

B Jie, L Chen, and M Yang collected and analyzed the data; L Han designed and supervised the study. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Financial disclosure

This study was supported by the young scientific and technological talent training project of Xicheng District Health and Family Planning Commission of Beijing (no. xwkx2016) and the scientific research and cultivation fund of Capital Medical University (no. pyz2018104). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval Hospital (approval no. 2015-KY07, date 28 February 2015) and/or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.

In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the young scientific and technological talent training project of Xicheng District Health and Family Planning Commission of Beijing (no. xwkx2016) and the scientific research and cultivation fund of Capital Medical University (no. pyz2018104).