Galectin-3 is Associated with Heart Failure Incidence: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The global prevalence of heart failure is projected to increase rapidly in the coming decades, and significant attention has turned to improving biomarker-based risk prediction of incident HF. The aim of this paper was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the evidence associating levels of galectin-3 with risk of incident HF. Methods A review of PUBMED-indexed peer-reviewed literature was performed. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, and all nine had data eligible for conversion and pooling. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals from a minimally adjusted model, a further adjusted model, and from subgroups within the further-adjusted model. Results The minimally-adjusted model provided a HR of 1.97 (95% CI 1.74-2.23) when comparing the top quartile of log-gal-3 to the bottom quartile. The further-adjusted model provided a HR of 1.32 (95% CI 1.21-1.44) for the same comparison. The positive, significant association was conserved during sensitivity analysis. Conclusion There is a significant positive association between levels of circulating galectin-3 and risk of incident heart failure. Given the complex mechanistic relationship between galectin-3 and cardiovascular pathophysiology, further investigation is recommended for possible implementation of galectin-3 into clinical risk prediction models. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Since this was a meta-analysis of published data, all data was taken from previously published de-identified patient data (see Figure references 15, 18, 19, and 21-26 for original data which has already been published) I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data used in the study are already available from previously published studies and have been meta-analyzed in this study (see Figure references 15, 18, 19, and 21-26 for original data which has already been published)