During the five-year follow-up, there was a significant increase in the risk of the composite endpoint (hazard ratio [HR] 1.38 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.12-1.70], P < 0.01) and cardiovascular death (HR 1.48 [95%CI 1.03-2.27], P = 0.03) after full adjustment as IL-34 levels increased.Higher IL-34 levels in the acute phase were associated with an increased risk of heart failure after MI and poor prognosis.
Moreover, serum IL-34 level was significantly positively correlated to NT-proBNP level (<i>r</i> = 0.223, <i>P</i> < 0.001), left ventricular end diastolic diameter and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, indicating that a higher IL-34 level reflects more severe heart failure (HF).
IL-34 is a significant predictor of cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, and all-cause mortality in chronic HF, especially when concomitant with renal dysfunction.