However, little is currently known about the correlation between IL-6 and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether IL-6 could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for ADHF in Chinese patients without acute myocardial infarction.<h4>Patients and methods</h4>A total of 122 patients were included in our study [58 ADHF, 64 chronic HF (CHF)]. Here, IL6 is linked to acute myocardial infarction.