DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED IL-6 LEVELS IN AMBULATORY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE.

IL-6 promotes T cell activation and production in acute inflammatory conditions, initiates B cell differentiation, regulates liver production of acute phase reactants, and stimulates hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system, which is important in acute inflammation. Nevertheless prolonged IL-6 exposition activates apoptosis. According to recent studies increased levels of IL-6 increase cardiovascular disease risks. The aim of the study was to explore IL-6 basic levels in chronic congestive heart failure patients, as in risk group in COVID-19, and various factors (demographic or clinical) in various groups of IL-6 basic levels. We used consecutive sampling approach to recruit 96 congestive heart failure patients and 34 persons without the condition as controls. Hematologic, biochemical and immunologic parameters were measured using conventional methods. We used descriptive statistics for demographic parameters. We compared mean values of hematologic and biochemical parameters in cases and controls using independent sample t test and explored differences within the congestive heart failure group (further separated in 3 groups according to IL-6 levels) using one way ANOVA test, with further post-hoc analysis. Levels of IL-6 are statistically significantly higher in CHF patients; groups differ in co-morbidity, also abdominal obesity is more prevalent in diseased group. Difference between groups is significant in a number of pro-inflammation, coagulation, hematology parameters. It is also important to note that the CHF group showed a number of differences in sub-groups according to IL-6 levels, risks of CHF and comorbidity deterioration risks therefore are suggested to be different.