BAG3 concentrations and heart failure events among individuals undergoing coronary and peripheral angiography

To investigate the circulating BAG3 role as a biomarker across Universal Definition of Heart Failure (UDHF) stages, plasma samples from 1121 individuals undergoing coronary and/or peripheral angiography across UDHF stages were analyzed using a novel BAG3 assay. In the whole sample, higher BAG3 concentrations predicted CV death (HR = 1.18; p = 0.001) and the composite endpoint MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events) (HR = 1.12; p = 0.006). In patients in the asymptomatic A and B stages, higher BAG3 concentrations predicted the onset of the first symptomatic HF event and the total burden of subsequent HF events (HR = 1.13; p = 0.05). The prognostic value of circulating BAG3 since the HF asymptomatic phases suggests its potential functional role in the disease and the possible utility of its measurement for risk stratification and management of cardiovascular diseases.