Elevated exhaled acetone concentration in stage C heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Breath acetone is a noninvasive biomarker of heart failure; however, its significance in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus has yet to be clarified. The objective of this study is to investigate whether exhaled acetone concentration is a noninvasive biomarker in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study prospectively included 35 diabetic patients with stage C heart failure and 20 diabetic patients with or at risk of heart failure (stage A or B). Exhaled breath was collected after an overnight fast. RESULTS: The stage C group had significantly higher brain natriuretic peptide levels, larger left ventricular diameter, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and more frequent use of β-blocker, compared with the stage A or B group. The stage C group had higher exhaled acetone concentrations than the stage A or B group (p = 0.013). Exhaled acetone concentration was correlated with total ketone bodies (r = 0.588, p < 0.001) and brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.415, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Stage C heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus have elevated exhaled acetone concentrations. Exhaled acetone concentration could be a noninvasive biomarker in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus.