Heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in Europe, affecting millions of people and imposing a major burden on healthcare systems. Despite advances in pharmacological therapies that improve long-term outcomes in heart failure, symptoms related to fluid retention (i.e. congestion) remains the primary driver of hospital admissions and readmissions. Diuretics are the mainstay of symptomatic relief, but their use is largely empirical. Standard clinical examination poorly captures the complexity of fluid overload, which may result in suboptimal diuretic therapy. This gap in knowledges contributes to the commonly observed persistent congestion in a large proportion of patients which is associated with an increased risk of mortality and rehospitalization.
The BIOTOOL-CHF project addresses this critical need by developing a personalized approach to decongestive therapy, based on the assessment of circulating biomarkers. This project takes advantage of the data from two cohorts of discovery phase by identifying biomarkers in two large, well-characterized European cohorts: the BIOSTAT-CHF index and the Scottish BIOSTAT-CHF validation cohort. By integrating these biomarkers with clinical profiles and outcomes, we aimed to develop a multiparametric score to personalize diuretic therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.
This work is situated within a broader strategic effort to improve patient-centered, precision medicine in heart failure, aligning with EU health priorities on digital and data-driven innovation. The expected impact of BIOTOOL-CHF is the development of a clinically applicable diagnostic toolkit that can be used to improve therapeutic decisions, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance quality of life for patients with heart failure. By providing a foundation for smarter use of diuretics, this approach aims to shift current paradigms from one-size-fits-all therapy to tailored care.
