This prospective study looked at blood samples from 58 patients with heart failure where the heart pumps normally, known as HFpEF, and 30 healthy controls. The team measured levels of four specific proteins: NT-proBNP, DLK-1, PSP-D, and PCSK-9. They wanted to know if mixing these markers could help doctors diagnose the condition more reliably than current methods.
The results showed that levels of DLK-1, PSP-D, and PCSK-9 were higher in patients with HFpEF compared to healthy people. When all four markers were combined, the test achieved an accuracy score of 0.794, which was higher than using any single marker by itself. For example, NT-proBNP alone had an accuracy of 0.778, while DLK-1 alone was lower at 0.578.
The researchers also found that NT-proBNP, uric acid, and PCSK-9 were associated with higher risk for this type of heart failure. No safety issues were reported because no treatment was given, only blood tests. While the authors suggest this combination could improve diagnosis, readers should remember this is a small study. More research is needed to prove these findings work in diverse populations before doctors routinely order these extra tests.