AIM   AIM To investigate the relationship between serum Zn levels and prognosis, cardiac functions and exercise stress in heart failure (HF) patients.

  METHODS   Clinic data of chronic HF patients from January 2015 to December 2016 in our hospital were collected and Zn levels, cardiac functions and exercise stress of these patients were measured. The patients were followed up for 1 year and their death was recorded.

  RESULTS   337 HF patients were included in the study and the patients were divided to three groups by serum Zn levels: 72 μg/dl, n=112; 60≤Zn≤71 μg/dl, n=112; ≤60 μg/dl, n=113). Age, morbidity of anemia and chronic kidney failure, diuretic therapy, calcium, iron, LDL, CRP, BNP AND troponin in the three groups were statistically different (P<0.05). Exercise stress in different groups were different and exercise stress was better in patients with higher level of Zn. One-year follow-up revealed that the risk of cardiac death and mortality increased with decreasing Zn levels. Cox proportional hazard model showed that Zn could be used as an independent factor for cardiac mortality in HF patients.

  CONCLUSION   Decreasing Zn levels in HF patients mean higher risk of death and lower exercise stress.