Low-cost non-invasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis are needed to identify patients at risk of HBV-related mortality who therefore require antiviral treatment.We evaluated the performance of the biomarkers APRI (AST to platelet ratio index), FIB-4 and GPR (GGT to platelet ratio) in an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis.Method: We included data from HEPSANET, a network comprised of 12 cohorts of HBsAg-positive individuals in 8 sub-Saharan African countries.We used transient elastography as a reference test for cirrhosis (≥12.2 kPa) and significant fibrosis (≥7.9 kPa).We excluded patients who were pregnant, had hepatitis C, D, or HIV co-infection, were on hepatitis B therapy or had acute hepatitis.Upper limits of normal were 40 U/L for AST/AST and 61 U/L for GGT.We fitted a bivariate Bayesian IPD model with patient-level covariates and studylevel random effects.Results: We included 3549 patients.Median age was 33 years (IQR 28-41) and 60% were male.The prevalence of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis among included cohorts was 18% and 7% respectively.APRI and GPR had the best discriminant performance (area under curve 0.81 and 0.82) relative to FIB-4 (0.77) or ALT alone (0.70) for cirrhosis.The World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of APRI>2.0 was associated with sensitivity of 16.5% (95% credible interval 12.5-20.5)and specificity of 99.5% (99.2-99.7)for cirrhosis.At rule-in thresholds for cirrhosis APRI (cut-off 0.65) had sensitivity of 56.2% and specificity of 90.0%; GPR (cut-off 0.47) had sensitivity of 58.6% and specificity 90.9%.At rule out-thresholds for cirrhosis APRI (0.33) had sensitivity and specificity of 80.6% and 64.3%; GPR (0.23) had sensitivity 80.6% and specificity of 66.7% (Figure).The subset of asymptomatic patients who were diagnosed with HBV through routine screening had a mean cirrhosis prevalence of 2.5%, and APRI (cut-off 0.65) had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 13.2% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.8%.Among patients diagnosed with HBV due to suspected liver disease, cirrhosis prevalence was 27%; with APRI cut-off 0.65, PPV was 59.6% and NPV 84.5%.Conclusion: APRI at the WHO-recommended threshold of 2.0 has a poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in sub-Saharan Africa; WHO guidelines should be revised for the WHO African region to reflect these findings.APRI and GPR had equivalent diagnostic performance and performed best at ruling out cirrhosis but were less good at correctly identifying cases.Programs need to be aware of the significant trade-offs between under-and over-diagnosis of liver cirrhosis when implementing low-cost fibrosis markers in hepatitis B programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background & Aims: Functional liver imaging score (FLIS) - derived from gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI - correlates with liver function and independently predicts liver-related mortality in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), while splenic cra-niocaudal diameter (SCCD) is a marker of portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of a com-bination of FLIS and SCCD for predicting hepatic decompensa-tion, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and mortality in patients with advanced CLD (ACLD). Methods: We included 397 patients with CLD who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI. The FLIS was calculated by summing the points (0-2) of 3 hepatobiliary-phase features: hepatic enhancement, biliary excretion, and portal vein signal intensity. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to liver fibrosis severity and presence/history of hepatic decompensa-tion: non-ACLD, compensated ACLD (cACLD), and decom-pensated ACLD (dACLD).Results: SCCD showed excellent intra-and inter-reader agree-ment. Importantly, SCCD was an independent risk factor for hepatic decompensation in patients with cACLD (per cm; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.23; p = 0.004). Patients with cACLD and a FLIS of 0-3 points and/or a SCCD of >13 cm were at increased risk of hepatic decompensation (aHR 3.07; 95% CI 1.43-6.59; p = 0.004). In patients with dACLD, a FLIS of 0-3 was independently associated with an increased risk of ACLF (aHR 2.81; 95% CI 1.16-6.84; p = 0.02), even after adjusting for other prognostic factors. Finally, a FLIS and SCCD-based al-gorithm was independently predictive of transplant-free mor-tality and stratified the probability of transplant-free survival (TFS) in ACLD (p <0.001): FLIS 4-6 and SCCD <-13 cm (5-year TFS of 84%) vs. FLIS 4-6 and SCCD >13 cm (5-year TFS of 70%) vs. FLIS 0-3 (5-year TFS of 24%).Conclusion: The FLIS and SCCD are simple imaging markers that provide complementary information for risk stratification in patients with compensated and decompensated ACLD.Lay summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess the state of the liver. Previously the functional liver im-aging score, which is based on MRI criteria, was developed as a measure of liver function and to predict the risk of liver-related complications or death. By combining this score with a mea-surement of spleen diameter, also using MRI, we generated an algorithm that could predict the risk of adverse liver-related outcomes in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Euro-pean Association for the Study of the Liver. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/).

Early diagnosis or rule‐out of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a key competence of emergency medicine. Changes in the NSTE‐ACS guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2015 and 2020 both warranted a henceforth more conservative approach regarding high‐sensitivity troponin t (hsTnt) testing.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) severity and peripheral artery disease (PAD). We hypothesize an association of PAD severity and suPAR in patients without advanced CKD and further risk stratification according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. For study purposes, suPAR was measured in 334 PAD patients (34% women, age 69 (62-78) years, eGFR 68 ± 20 mL/min/1.72 m2) by commercial ELISA. Patients were followed for 10 years to assess long-term all-cause survival by Cox regression. Higher suPAR levels were associated with lower ankle-brachial index (R = -0.215, p = 0.001) in patients with PAD without media-sclerosis (n = 236). suPAR levels inversely correlated with decreased glomerular filtration rate (R = -0.476, p < 0.001) and directly correlated with urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (R = 0.207, p < 0.001). Furthermore, higher suPAR levels associated with a higher KDIGO risk score (p < 0.001). Baseline suPAR was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.40 (95% CI 1.16-1.68), p < 0.001) over 10 years. suPAR remained associated with mortality (HR 1.29 (1.03-1.61), p = 0.026) after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and eGFR. Future research may define a standard role for suPAR assessment in PAD's work-up and treatment, especially in patients with CKD.

Background Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention became an option for pacemaker lead-associated tricuspid regurgitation. This study investigated the progression of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with or without pre-existing right ventricular dilatation (RVD) undergoing pacemaker implantation. Methods Patients were included if they had implantation of transtricuspid pacemaker lead and completed echocardiography before and after implantation. The cohort was divided in patients with and without RVD (cut-off basal RV diameter ≥ 42 mm). TR was graded in none/mild, moderate, and severe. Worsening of one grade was defined as progression. Survival analyses were plotted for 10 years. Results In total, 990 patients were analyzed (24.5% with RVD). Progression of TR occurred in 46.1% of patients with RVD and in 25.6% of patients without RVD ( P < 0.001). Predictors for TR progression were RV dilatation (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.27–3.29; P = 0.003), pre-existing TR (OR 4.30; 95% CI 2.51–7.38; P < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.16–2.43; P = 0.006), single RV lead (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.09–2.56; P = 0.018), mitral regurgitation (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.42–3.05; P < 0.001), and enlarged left atrium (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.07–3.67; P = 0.03). Survival-predictors were pacemaker lead-associated TR (HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.04–1.84; P = 0.028), mitral regurgitation (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.02–1.77; P = 0.034), heart failure (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.31–2.33; P < 0.001), kidney disease (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.25–2.11; P < 0.001), and age ≥ 80 years (HR 2.84; 95% CI 2.17–3.71; P < 0.001). Conclusions Patients with RVD receiving pacemaker suffered from increased TR progression, leading to decreased survival. Graphic abstract

Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) leads of permanent pacemakers (PM) contribute or cause tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in up to 45% of implantations, which is associated with poor outcome. While primary lead-induced TR has its origin in direct interaction of the lead and the valve, secondary lead-induced TR has its origin in RV dilatation (RVD). Hypothesis: We hypothesize differences in lead-induced TR and its associated mortality comparing patients with vs. without RVD. Methods: Patients with first implantation of a cardiac PM with at least one transtricuspid RV-lead between May 2000 and April 2015 were retrospectively included. Echo was performed before and after PM implantation. Results: In total, 990 patients were enrolled (Table 1). Patients with RVD had progression of TR of at least one grade in 50.2%, compared to 35.9% in patients without RVD (p<0.001). In a multivariate regression model, independent predictors for lead-induced progression of TR were RVD (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.01-2.12, p=0.045), and moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (OR 1.51, 95%CI 1.12-2.02, p=0.006). Independent predictors for 10-year-mortality were lead-induced progression of TR (HR 1.36, 95%CI 1.04-1.78, p=0.023), age > 80 years (HR 2.78, 95%CI 2.14-3.61, p<0.001), PM with single RV-lead (HR 1.35, 95%CI 1.03-1.77, p=0.032), heart failure (HR 1.75, 95%CI 1.32-2.32, p<0.001), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.24-2.09, p<0.001), moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (HR 1.31, 95%CI 1.03-1.74, p=0.031), and LVEDD > 25mm/m2 (HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.06-1.77, p=0.015). Conclusions: RVD is associated with lead-induced progression of TR, which is associated with decreased survival. Patients with RVD and indication for a PM, leadless pacing could be an alternative. If lead-induced TR occurs, transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention is a possibility, especially in patients with RVD.

Context A substantial number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are prescribed psychopharmacological medication. However, the impact of concomitant psychopharmacological medication on the frequency of relevant vitamin deficiencies in postoperative follow-up is not known. Methods Five hundred twenty-four patients with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery (January 2004 to September 2018) with follow-up of at least 12 months, were included in retrospective analysis. Postoperative follow-up visits between January 2015 and September 2019 were analyzed. Anthropometric and laboratory data were analyzed at the first documented follow-up visit after on average 39.5 ± 37.3 months and at every following visit during the observation period. Patients with prescribed psychopharmacological drugs (PD) were compared with patients without (control group, CON). Results Psychopharmacological medication was documented in 25% (132) of patients. In 59 patients documented prescription of more than one psychiatric drug was found, whereas psychopharmacological monotherapy was found in 73 patients. Frequencies of vitamin deficiencies were comparable between PD and CON (vitamin A: p = 0.852; vitamin D: p = 0.622; vitamin E: p = 0.901; folic acid: p = 0.941). Prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency was rare (6% CON, 1% PD) but was significantly higher in CON ( p = 0.023). A comparison of CON and POLY also showed no significant differences between the groups concerning prevalence of vitamin deficiencies. Conclusions Intake of psychopharmacological medication is highly prevalent in patients after bariatric surgery. Patients with psychopharmacological medication, who participate in structured follow-up care after bariatric surgery, are not at higher risk for vitamin deficiencies compared with controls.

Objective: To investigate a possible beneficial effect of strict glycaemic control on all-cause mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A total of 367 mainly older peripheral arterial disease patients [age: 69 (62–78) years, 34% women, Fontaine stage I–II] were categorized according to glycaemic control, that is, (a) no type 2 diabetes mellitus, (b) strict glucose control (HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol) and (c) lenient glucose control (HbA1c ⩾ 53 mmol/mol) at inclusion and by mean HbA1c over the first study year. Mortality was analysed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox-regression analyses after 7 years. Results: The combination of type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease reduced survival from 78.8% to 68.9% in comparison to patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.023). Patients with strict glucose control (75%) were associated with increased survival in comparison to patients with lenient glucose control (58.9%) stratified by mean HbA1c ( p = 0.042). Baseline cardiovascular risk factors were similar in those type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this peripheral arterial disease cohort HbA1c (hazard ratio: 1.3, 1.04–1.63), age (hazard ratio: 1.7, 1.3–2.3) and C-reactive protein (hazard ratio: 1.5, 1.2–2.0) remained independent associates for mortality adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes duration. Conclusion: Older patients with peripheral arterial disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus still benefit from strict glucose control in a cohort of patients with similar distribution of cardiovascular risk factors.

Introduction: Evidence of sex-related differences in patients with pacemakers regarding comorbidities is insufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of cardiovascular comorbidities and sex category with properties of pacemaker implantation, pacemaker follow-up, and long-term survival. Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort study consisted of 6,362 pacemaker-patients (39.7% female) enrolled between May 2000 and April 2015. Functional pacemaker parameters were registered at regular pacemaker controls. Survival status and cause of death were analyzed in relation to comorbidities, implanted pacing devices, and echocardiography. Survival analyses were plotted for a 10-year follow-up. Results: Patients with hypertension or hyperlipidemia had higher rates of implantations due to sick sinus syndrome (28.6 vs. 25.5% without hypertension, P < 0.001; 30.7 vs. 25.7% without hyperlipidemia, P < 0.001), while endocarditis was associated with higher rates of implantations due to AV block (46.7 vs. 33.4%, P < 0.001). Patients with valvular heart disease had higher rates of pacemaker implantation due to bradycardic atrial fibrillation (24.9 vs. 21.0% without valvular heart disease, P < 0.001). Ventricular pacing threshold increased in both sexes during the follow-up and was higher in women in the final follow-up (0.94 vs. 0.91 V in men, P = 0.002). During the 10-years follow-up, 6.1% of women and 8.6% of men underwent lead replacement (P = 0.054). Device and lead replacement rates were increased if the comorbidities coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, valvular heart disease, previous stroke/TIA, atrial arrhythmias, chronic kidney disease, or endocarditis were present. Diabetes and previous CABG increase the rates of device replacement, but not the rate of lead replacement. Severe tricuspid regurgitation after implantation of pacemaker was present in more men than women (14.4 vs. 6.1%, P < 0.001). In a multivariate COX regression, the following variables were associated with independent decrease of 10-year survival: hypertension (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09-1.64), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53-2.19), tricuspid regurgitation after pacemaker implantation (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.26-1.74). Survival was independently increased in female sex (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99) and hyperlipidemia (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.97). Conclusions: Cardiovascular comorbidities influenced significantly pacemaker implantations and long-term outcome.

The safety and efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in posttransplantation diabetes mellitus is unknown. We converted stable kidney transplant patients to 10 mg empagliflozin, aiming at replacing their insulin therapy (<40 IU/d). N = 14 participants (the required sample size) completed the study visits through 4 weeks and N = 8 through 12 months. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-derived 2-hour glucose (primary end point) increased from 232 ± 82 mg/dL (baseline) to 273 ± 116 mg/dL (4 weeks, P = .06) and to 251 ± 71 mg/dL (12 months, P = .41). Self-monitored blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c were also clinically inferior with empagliflozin monotherapy, such that insulin was reinstituted in 3 of 8 remaining participants. Five participants (2 of them dropouts) vs nine of 24 matched reference patients developed bacterial urinary tract infections (P = .81). In empagliflozin-treated participants, oral glucose insulin sensitivity decreased and beta-cell glucose sensitivity increased at the 4-week and 12-month OGTTs. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and bioimpedance spectroscopy-derived extracellular and total body fluid volumes decreased by 4 weeks, but recovered. All participants lost body weight. No participant developed ketoacidosis; 1 patient developed balanitis. In conclusion, although limited by sample size and therefore preliminary, these results suggest that empagliflozin can safely be used as add-on therapy, if posttransplant diabetes patients are monitored closely (NCT03113110).

Background: Fusobacterium necrophorum is a rare pathogen, mostly affecting young adults, causing infections of the head and neck, typically described as the Lemierre's syndrome. Today this symptom complex has become increasingly rare and has almost turned to a 'forgotten disease'. Methods: We performed a retrospective, descriptive study to identify the clinical features of patients with positive culture of F. necrophorum. Additionally, the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the pathogens was analysed. Results: During a period of 22 years 36 patients with at least one isolate of F. necrophorum were identified. Mostly tonsillar and peritonsillar abscesses were found, 10 patients were identified with bacteraemia, but only 4 patients presented with symptoms like sore throat, fever and swollen cervical lymph nodes, which may suggest Lemierre's. Most of the isolates (33/35) showed sensitivity to all tested antibiotics. Conclusion: Appropriate techniques are needed to detect F. necropho rum, especially from throat swabs, in the microbiological laboratory. Current clinical and microbiological practice may lead to under-diagnosis of infections caused by F. necrophorum. Further research is needed to define the colonization rate and to optimize methods for detection as well as identification of virulence.

OBJECTIVES:There is limited published data concerning the recent epidemiology of urinary tract infections (UTI) in HIV-patients, thus we analysed independent risk factors for UTI in HIV positive individuals and antimicrobial resistance rates of E. coli to antimicrobial agents commonly used in UTI. To determine the prevalence of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI) in HIV-patients, we performed a retrospective case-control study.METHODS:We included 313 HIV-patients, 101 with UTI and 212 age and gendermatched controls, attending the HIV outpatient clinic at the Vienna University Hospital (VUH) over a period from January 2011 to September 2016. The patients' specific data was gathered from the electronic database of the VUH. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Software Version 20.0.RESULTS:HIV infected individuals with CD4 count >200 cells/mm3 were less likely than HIV infected individuals with CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 to experience UTI (OR 0.811, 95% CI 0.712-0.923 vs. OR 2.555, 95% CI 1.553 - 4.205, respectively). The in vitro resistance rate of E. coli to antimicrobial agents was as follows: ciprofloxacin (41%), mecillinam (20.5%), trimethoprim (61%), ampicillin (67%), ampicillin/ clavulanic acid (23%), cefuroxime (17%), nitrofurantoin (2%), amikacin (0%) and gentamicin (9.5%).CONCLUSION:Immunological status (CD4 count) is an important parameter for risk assessment of UTIs in HIV-patients. The increased resistance rate of E. coli to commonly used antimicrobial agents needs to be considered when it comes to the management of UTI, additionally, surveillance strategies should be implemented in HIV-patients.

BACKGROUND:Modern CT scanners provide automatic dose adjustment systems, which are promising options for reducing radiation dose in pediatric CT scans. Their impact on patient dose, however, has not been investigated sufficiently thus far.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate automated tube voltage selection (ATVS) in combination with automated tube current modulation (ATCM) in non-contrast pediatric chest CT, with regard to the diagnostic image quality.MATERIALS AND METHODS:There were 160 non-contrast pediatric chest CT scans (8.7±5.4 years) analyzed retrospectively without and with ATVS. Correlations of volume CT Dose Index (CTDIvol) and effective diameter, with and without ATVS, were compared using Fisher's z-transformation. Image quality was assessed by mean signal-difference-to-noise ratios (SDNR) in the aorta and in the left main bronchus using the independent samples t-test. Two pediatric radiologists and a general radiologist rated overall subjective Image quality. Readers' agreement was assessed using weighted kappa coefficients. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS:CTDIvol correlation with the effective diameter was r = 0.62 without and r = 0.80 with ATVS (CI: -0.04 to -0.60; p = 0.025). Mean SDNR was 10.88 without and 10.03 with ATVS (p = 0.0089). Readers' agreement improved with ATVS (weighted kappa between pediatric radiologists from 0.1 (0.03-0.16) to 0.27 (0.09-0.45) with ATVS; between general and each pediatric radiologist from 0.1 (0.06-0.14) to 0.12 (0.05-0.20), and from 0.22 (0.11-0.34) to 0.36 (0.24-0.49)).CONCLUSION:ATVS, combined with ATCM, results in a radiation dose reduction for pediatric non-contrast chest CT without a loss of diagnostic image quality and prevents errors in manual tube voltage setting, and thus protecting larger children against an unnecessarily high radiation exposure.

Survival of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients increased over the last decade due to increased use of secondary preventive medication and rapid revascularization of PAD patients. Angiogenetic markers such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and its receptor Tie-2 might be useful markers to assess the residual risk for mortality in PAD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate angiogenetic markers for the prediction of mortality in a PAD cohort. For this purpose, 366 patients (mean age: 69 +/- 10 years) with PAD Fontaine stage I or II were included and followed up over a 5-year study period. Serum Ang-2, Tie-2 and VEGF levels were measured by bead-based multiplex assay. All-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events (MACE) including all-cause death, non-fatal stroke and non-fatal myocardial infarction were analysed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses after 5 years. Ang-2 was associated with Tie-2 ( R =0.151, p =0.006) and VEGF levels ( R =0.160, p =0.002). However, only Ang-2 was linked to all all-cause mortality in PAD patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.55 [1.23-2.15], p =0.008) even after adjustment for age and gender, haemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate (HR: 1.44 [1.03-2.00], p =0.032). Furthermore, an association of Ang-2 and MACE in PAD patients (HR: 1.36 (1.03-1.78), p =0.028) was found. This result implies that Ang-2 might be used as an additional marker to stratify PAD patients to predict poor mid-term life expectancy.

Background and aims: YKL-40 is an inflammatory marker secreted by macrophages and is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. YKL-40 increases in coronary artery disease (CAD) with poor coronary collateral vessel development. Higher levels are linked to reduced survival in CAD patients. Studies evaluating YKL40 in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are scarce. This study aims to elucidate a possible link between YKL-40 and PAD severity as well as cardiovascular long-term mortality. Methods: YKL-40 was measured at baseline in 365 elderly PAD patients (age 69 +/- 10.4, 33.7% women, Fontaine stage I-II) by bead-based multiplex assay. Patients were followed for seven years to assess long-term cardiovascular and all-cause survival by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. Results: YKL-40 levels were associated with declining ankle-brachial index (ABI) in PAD patients without Moenckeberg's mediasclerosis (R = -0.189, p = 0.002). PAD patients with mediasclerosis exhibited higher YKL-40 levels (p = 0.002). Baseline YKL-40 levels were significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.52 (1.21-1.91), p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.45 (1.20-1.75), p < 0.001) over a seven-year observation period. After multivariable adjustment for gender, patient age, known carotid artery disease, known coronary artery disease, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate, aspartate aminotransferase, and Creactive protein, YKL-40 remained significantly associated with cardiovascular (HR 1.34 (1.02-1.75), p = 0.033) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.25 (1.01-1.55), p = 0.039). Conclusions: Increased YKL-40 levels are independently associated with poor long-term cardiovascular survival in peripheral arterial disease patients. Furthermore, YKL-40 correlates with patients' ABI in PAD in the absence of mediasclerosis. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.