Serum level of fibroblast growth factor 21 predicts long-term prognosis in patients with both diabetes mellitus and coronary artery calcification.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum level of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and long-term prognosis in patients with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery calcification (CAC).
Methods: The study included 1,132 patients with DM and CAC according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on the baseline serum level of FGF-21, patients were divided into four groups (283 in each group): low-FGF-21 group (LFG), lower-medium-FGF-21 group (LMFG), higher-medium-FGF-21 group (HMFG), and high-FGF-21 group (HFG). Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including coronary revascularization, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF), malignant arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death (SCD), were recorded. Renal function, serum level of NT-proBNP, and left ventricular function were watched and observed during follow-up.
Results: All patients were followed up for 1.5-5.1 (2.7±2.2) years. The range of baseline serum level of FGF-21 was 67.5-314.7 pg/mL. The serum level of FGF-21 was ≤103.8 pg/mL in LFG, 108.6-184.9 pg/mL in LMFG, 199.3-271.2 pg/mL in LHFG, and >276.1 pg/mL in HFG. The baseline CAC score (CACS) was 83.2-524.9 and the mean CACS was 124.6±37.5, 186.8±51.9, 271.3±62.7, and 349.2±80.6, respectively. During follow-up, 481 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with 71, 107, 141, and 162 in subgroups, respectively. Malignant arrhythmia occurred in 89 patients, HF in 127, and SCD in 9. At the end of the 1-year follow-up, the average eGFR, NT-proBNP, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) differed significantly among groups.
Conclusions: Lower baseline serum level of FGF-21 is a prediction for a better long-term prognosis.