Correlation of triglyceride total cholesterol body weight index(TCBI)with 6-month readmission rate in patients with heart failure:A cohort study

Background The prevalence of heart failure(HF)appears to be 1%-2%in adults and increases with age,ranging from approximately 1%in those younger than 50 years to 10%in those older than 70 years.Malnutrition is associated with increased mortality and readmission in patients with cardiovascular disease.Triglyceride total cholesterol body weight index(TCBI),which is a new nutritional index,can be used as a useful prognostic index for patients with coronary artery disease or heart failure.The incidence of readmission due to heart failure remains high in patients with heart failure.The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between the TCBI and readmission rate to facilitate the identification of patients with heart failure at high risk of readmission.Methods This study was a retrospective study that included patients with heart failure who were hospitalized at the Zigong Fourth People.s Hospital from December 2016 to June 2019.TCBI=Serum level of triglyceride(TG,mg/dL)×total cholesterol(TC,mg/dL)×body weight(BW,kg)/1000.The 1685 patients were enrolled and divided into three groups as follows according to the tertiles of TCBI:Low TCBI group(TCBI<460,n=562),medium TCBI group(460≤TCBI<806,n=561)and High TCBI group(TCBI≥806,n=562).The endpoint event was the patient.s readmission in 6 months.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between TCBI levels and 6-month readmission rate.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw a time-to-event curve.The Log-rank test was used to determine the difference in event rate among the three TCBI groups.Results During 6-month follow-up,a total of 619 patients(36.7%)applied for readmission,and the low TCBI group had the highest 6-month readmission rate(40.9%vs.35.1%vs.34.2%,P=0.039).Kaplan-Meier curves showed the highest readmission rate for patients with low TCBI during the 6-month follow-up(Log-rank test:P=0.044).In the extended multivariate Cox model,the 6-month readmission hazard ratio(HR)for the low TCBI group was stable in all four models(HRs range:1.24-1.26,P<0.05 for all).After adjusted for variables,a 25%higher of 6-month readmission rate could be observed in patients with low TCBI(HR:1.25,95%CI:1.00-1.56,P=0.046).Conclusions TCBI can be used as an objective indicator to assess the nutritional status of patients.In patients with heart failure,there is a correlation between TCBI levels and the 6-month readmission rate.Lower TCBI level is associated with higher 6-month readmission rate.