The role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel parameter for cardiovascular research area. The higher values of NLR have been found to be associated with worse clinical outcomes in atherosclerotic heart disease, heart failure, heart valve disease and other various cardiovascular disorders. Although the relationship between NLR and almost all cardiovascular disorders have been investigated, the association between NLR and diastolic dysfunction remains unclear. We herein evaluated the association between NLR and diastolic dysfunction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 41 hypertensive patients with any grade of diastolic dysfunction and 41 hypertensive patients without diastolic dysfunction determined by echocardiographic evaluation constituted the control group.

RESULTS: Mean NLR value was found to be 2.07 +/- 0.82 in the diastolic dysfunction group while the control group had a mean value of 1.69 +/- 0.60 (p = 0.020). The patients with diastolic dysfunction had significantly higher values of NLR. When grades of diastolic dysfunction were evaluated, NLR was 1.80 +/- 0.82, 2.32 +/- 0.73 and 2.75 +/- 0.45 in patients with grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 diastolic dysfunction, respectively. The patients with higher grade of diastolic dysfunction had higher values of NLR (p = 0.001). None of the other hematologic parameters differed significantly in patients with diastolic dysfunction when compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diastolic dysfunction had higher values of NLR compared to subjects without diastolic dysfunction. Furthermore higher grades of diastolic dysfunction were associated with higher levels of NLR. Further studies are needed to search the possible use of NLR as a marker for prognostic stratification in diastolic dysfunction which is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes.