Is Galectin 3 more Accurate than Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Diagnosing Chronic Heart Failure? A Systematic Review

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome in which the pumping action of the heart is impaired. Globally, more than 23 million people are affected by HF1,2. Also, about 160,000 people across the United Kingdom and 5.8 million people suffer from HF in the United States of America and contribute to 50,000 deaths annually in the United States of America. The main cause of HF has been attributed to left ventricular failure3,4. It has been estimated that about 58% of the population affected by HF following myocardial infarction is often asymptomatic5. Therefore, often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in primary care6. Hence, asymptomatic AMI can lead to symptomatic HF that may masquerade as COPD. This is important as a good biomarker will help identify the problem more accurately before individual suffering from HF deteriorates.