Blood protein score improves heart failure prediction

The researchers identified a 19-protein score that predicted future heart failure better than clinical risk factors alone. Combining both improved prediction further. The score performed less well in every risk-factor subgroup examined. Genetic and other analyses suggested that most predictive proteins were linked to heart failure through pathways involving risk factors, rather than representing direct drug targets. One protein, called LRRN1, appeared to predict heart failure independently of these risk factors.