Abstract

Background: Leukocyte level in the blood is a traditional biomarker for systemic inflammation. Recent studies have reported leukocytosis and elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers can be correlated to the increased incidence of heart failure development and hospitalization. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for leukocytosis and its association with heart failure among hospitalized patients in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in King Khalid Hospital, Hail, Saudi Arabia between April 2015 and October 2015. The study 91 patient records which included demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory and radiological investigations. Main outcome measures included the correlation between different variables and the occurrence of leukocytosis in heart failure patients.

Results: Renal failure was the most common comorbidity with leukocytosis (93.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (82.4%). Diabetic patients with heart failure had leukocytosis higher than those without diabetes where the difference was statistically significant (p=0.042). Mean levels of the end-stage renal disease were 63.28±36.05 and total white blood cell count was 11.64±5.15 indicating that the patients were undergoing an inflammatory process. Most of the patients discharged from the hospital were improved while mortality was recorded to be 9.9% for the total group.

Conclusion: Elevation in inflammatory markers is associated with a higher incidence of leukocytosis in heart failure diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. Further prospective studies are needed.

Key words: Leukocytosis, heart failure, c reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Saudi Arabia.