Antigen carbohydrate 125 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with stable chronic heart failure

Sep 30, 2026

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Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is linked to higher mortality and readmission after acute heart failure, yet its prognostic role in chronic stable heart failure remains unclear. A prospective cohort study followed consecutive patients with stable HFrEF for clinical stability over a defined outpatient period, evaluating all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint and heart failure and cardiovascular admissions as secondary endpoints. Results assessed whether baseline plasma CA125 levels predicted mid-term morbidity and mortality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages13

Reading Time33 min

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Background

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Antigen carbohydrate 125 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with stable chronic heart failure Paula Guedes Ramallo1^, Marina Martínez Moreno2,3^, Andrea Romero Valero2,3^, Nuria Vicente Ibarra2,3^, Antonio García Honrubia2,3,4^, Manuel Jesús Gomez Martínez2,3^, Jesús Castillo Castillo2,3^, Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez5^, Julio Núñez Villota6,7,8^, Pedro Morillas Blasco2,3^ 1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Spain; 2Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Elche, Elche, Spain; 3Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), València, Spain; 4Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University Miguel Hernandez of Elche, Elche, Spain; 5Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition, and Food Sciences Department, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain; 6Department of Cardiology, Clinic of València University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of València (INCLIVA), València, Spain; 7School of Medicine, University of València, València, Spain; 8CIBER Cardiovascular, Madrid, Spain Contributions: (I) Conception and design: P Guedes Ramallo, P Morillas Blasco; (II) Administrative support: M Martínez Moreno; (III) Provision of study materials or patients: A Martínez-Rodríguez, MJ Gomez Martínez, A García Honrubia, J Castillo Castillo; (IV) Collection and assembly of data: P Guedes Ramallo, M Martínez Moreno; (V) Data analysis and interpretation: P Guedes Ramallo, J Núñez Villota, N Vicente Ibarra, PMorillas Blasco; (VI) Manuscript writing: All authors; (VII) Final approval of manuscript: All authors. Correspondence to: Marina Martínez Moreno, MD, PhD. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Elche, Camino Almazara S/N, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), Valencia, Spain. [Email: marinamm62@gmail.com](Email: marinamm62@gmail.com). Background: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) has been associated with a higher risk of mortality andreadmission after an acute heart failure (HF) episode. However, the utility of CA125 in evaluating prognosis in chronic and stable HF is not yet established. The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether thereis prognostic value of plasma CA125 in chronic HF population with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after a long period of clinical stability. Methods: Prospective cohort study that included consecutive patients with stable HFrEF who were followed in the outpatient HF clinic of the General University Hospital of Elche (Alicante, Spain) between July 2018 and January 2019. Stability was defined as the absence of hospital admissions due to HF symptoms or use of intravenous diuretics for at least six months before the inclusion date. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality related to CA125 . The secondary endpoints were HF admissions and total cardiovascular (CV) admissions. The association between CA125 and recurrent hospitalizations was evaluated by the Famoye bivariate Poisson regression model. Results: The study included 116 patients [69±12 years, 71.6% males, left ventricular ejection fraction 33.4%±7.1%; 52.6% in New York Heart Association class I (indicating long-term stability)] . The median CA125 value was 9.15 U/mL [interquartile range (IQR), 6.15–14.08 U/mL] . During a median follow-up of 18 months (IQR, 13–19 months), there were 13 deaths, 47 HF admissions, and 60 CV admissions. After multivariate adjustment, patients with CA125 >9.15 U/mL had higher rates of HF admissions [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–5.44; P=0 .02] and CV admissions (IRR 1. 88; 95% CI: 1.01–3.52; P=0.04) compared with those with lower levels. Higher CA125 values were also associated with an ^ ORCID: Paula Guedes Ramallo, 0000-0002-8389-2694; Marina Martínez Moreno, 0000-0003-2517-7227; Andrea Romero Valero, 0000- 0003-1339-2552; Nuria Vicente

FAQs

What question does the study address about CA125 in chronic stable heart failure?

It evaluates whether baseline plasma CA125 has prognostic value in a chronic HFrEF population during a long period of clinical stability.

How did the study define patient stability and endpoints?

Stability was defined by no hospital admissions for HF symptoms and no use of intravenous diuretics for at least six months before inclusion. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, with secondary endpoints including HF admissions and total cardiovascular admissions.

What outcome associations were reported for higher CA125 levels?

After multivariate adjustment, patients with CA125 above 9.15 U/mL had higher rates of HF admissions and cardiovascular admissions. Higher CA125 was also associated with an increased risk of mortality in a non-linear fashion.

Sep 30, 2026

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