Meta-Analysis of Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 and Prognosis in Acute Heart Failure

Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of currently available data regarding the prognostic significance of soluble suppression of tumorigenecity-2 (sST2) concentration in acute heart failure (AHF).

Background: Concentration of sST2 may have prognostic value in AHF. A comprehensive assessment of all available studies regarding sST2 in AHF is lacking.

Methods: Three databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) were searched. Inclusion criteria were follow-up studies, papers published in English, enrollment of patients with AHF, and availability of median hazard ratios for all-cause death and other outcome measures, when available.

Results: Ten studies were included, with a global population of 4,835 patients and a median follow-up duration of 13.5 months. The following global hazard ratios calculated for log₂(sST2) were admission sST2 and all-cause death, 2.46 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.80 to 3.37; p < 0.001); discharge sST2 and all-cause death, 2.06 (95% CI: 1.37 to 3.11; p < 0.001); admission sST2 and cardiovascular death, 2.29 (95% CI: 1.41 to 3.73; p < 0.001); discharge sST2 and cardiovascular death, 2.20 (95% CI: 1.48 to 3.25; p < 0.001); admission sST2 and heart failure (HF) hospitalization, 1.21 (95% CI: 0.96 to 1.52; p = 0.060); discharge sST2 and HF hospitalization, 1.54 (95% CI: 1.03 to 2.32; p = 0.007); admission sST2 and all-cause death or HF hospitalization, 1.74 (95% CI: 1.24 to 2.45; p < 0.001); and discharge sST2 and all-cause death or HF hospitalization, 1.63 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.33; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Plasma sST2 has prognostic value with respect to all-cause and cardiovascular death as well as the composite outcome of all-cause death or HF hospitalization, with both admission and discharge values having prognostic efficacy. Discharge sST2, but not admission sST2, is predictive of HF rehospitalization during follow-up.