Recommendations on pre-hospital & early hospital management of acute heart failure: a consensus paper from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the European Society of Emergency Medicine and the Society of Academic Emergenc

Which method is best for an early accurate diagnosis of acute heart failure? Comparison between lung ultrasound, chest X-ray and NT pro-BNP performance: a prospective study

Acute heart failure is a common condition among adults presenting with dyspnea in the Emergency Department (ED), still the diagnosis is challenging as objective standardized criteria are lacking. First line work-up, other then clinical findings, is nowadays made with lung ultrasound imaging study, chest X-ray study and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level determination; however, it is not clear which is the best diagnostic test to be used and whether there is any real benefit for clinical judgement. We set up this study to compare the performances of these three diagnostic tools; furthermore, we combined them to find the best possible approach to dyspneic patients. This is a prospective observational study based in the ED. We enrolled adults presenting with dyspnea not trauma-related, they underwent lung ultrasound, and chest X-ray studies, and NT pro-BNP level determination. Then we compared the results with the diagnosis of acute heart failure established by an independent panel of experts. 236 patients were enrolled in the study. We find sensitivity and specificity for lung ultrasound of 57.73 and 87.97 %, for chest X-ray 74.49 and 86.26 %, for NT pro-BNP 97.59 and 27.56 %, respectively. Combining together the chest X-ray and lung ultrasound, we find the best overall performance with 84.69 % sensitivity, 77.69 % specificity and 87.07 % negative predictive value. From our results, we could not identify the "best test" to diagnose acute heart failure in an emergency setting, although we could suggest that a stepwise workup combining chest X-ray and lung ultrasound at first, then for those negative, a determination of NT pro-BNP assay would be a reasonable approach to the dyspneic patient.

Heart failure oral therapies at discharge are associated with better outcome in acute heart failure: a propensity-score matched study

AIMS

Heart failure oral therapies (HFOTs), including beta-blockers (BB), renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, administered before hospital discharge after acute heart failure (AHF) might improve outcome. However, concerns have been raised because early administration of HFOTs may worsen patient's condition. We hypothesized that HFOTs at hospital discharge might be associated with better post-discharge survival.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study population was composed of 19 980 AHF patients from the GREAT registry. The primary and secondary outcomes were 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality, respectively. Survival was estimated with univariate and covariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models for the whole population and after propensity-score matching. HFOTs at discharge were consistently associated with no excess mortality in the unadjusted and adjusted analyses of the whole and matched cohorts. In the matched cohort, BB and RASi at discharge were associated with lower 90-day mortality risks compared to the respective untreated groups [hazard ratio (HR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.69; and HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.42-0.66, respectively]. The favourable associations of BB and RASi at discharge with 90-day mortality were present in many subgroups including patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and persisted up to 1 year after discharge. The combination of RASi and BB was associated with an even lower risk of death than RASi or BB alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of HFOTs at hospital discharge is associated with better survival of AHF patients.

Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department: A Multicenter Registry Study with 1-year Follow-up in a Chinese Cohort in Beijing

BACKGROUND

The emergency department (ED) has a pivotal influence on the management of acute heart failure (AHF), but data concerning current ED management are scarce. This Beijing AHF Registry Study investigated the characteristics, ED management, and short- and long-term clinical outcomes of AHF.

METHODS

This prospective, multicenter, observational study consecutively enrolled 3335 AHF patients who visited 14 EDs in Beijing from January 1, 2011, to September 23, 2012. Baseline data on characteristics and management were collected in the EDs. Follow-up data on death and readmissions were collected until November 31, 2013, with a response rate of 92.80%. The data were reported as median (interquartile range) for the continuous variables, or as number (percentage) for the categorical variables.

RESULTS

The median age of the enrolled patients was 71 (58-79) years, and 46.84% were women. In patients with AHF, coronary heart disease (43.27%) was the most common etiology, and myocardium ischemia (30.22%) was the main precipitant. Most of the patients in the ED received intravenous treatments, including diuretics (79.28%) and vasodilators (74.90%). Fewer patients in the ED received neurohormonal antagonists, and 25.94%, 31.12%, and 33.73% of patients received angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and spironolactone, respectively. The proportions of patients who were admitted, discharged, left against medical advice, and died were 55.53%, 33.58%, 7.08%, and 3.81%, respectively. All-cause mortalities at 30 days and 1 year were 15.30% and 32.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial details on characteristics and ED management of AHF were investigated. The clinical outcomes of AHF patients were dismal. Thus, further investigations of ED-based therapeutic approaches for AHF are needed.

Inotropes and cardiorenal syndrome in acute heart failure - A retrospective comparative analysis

INTRODUCTION

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is common in acute heart failure (AHF), and is associated with dire prognosis. Levosimendan, a positive inotrope that also has diuretic effects, may improve patients' renal profile. Published results are conflicting.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the incidence of CRS in AHF patients according to the inotrope used and to determine its predictors in order to identify patients who could benefit from the most renoprotective inotrope.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, 108 consecutive patients with AHF who required inotropes were divided into two groups according to the inotrope used (levosimendan vs. dobutamine). The primary endpoint was CRS incidence. Follow-up for mortality and readmission for AHF was conducted.

RESULTS

Seventy-one percent of the study population were treated with levosimendan and the remainder with dobutamine. No differences were found in heart failure etiology or chronic kidney disease. At admission, the dobutamine group had lower blood pressure; there were no differences in estimated glomerular filtration rate or cystatin C levels. The levosimendan group had lower left ventricular ejection fraction. CRS incidence was higher in the dobutamine group, and they more often had incomplete recovery of renal function at discharge. In multivariate analysis, cystatin C levels predicted CRS. The dobutamine group had higher in-hospital mortality, of which CRS and the inotrope used were predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Levosimendan appears to have some renoprotective effect, as it was associated with a lower incidence of CRS and better recovery of renal function at discharge. Identification of patients at increased risk of renal dysfunction by assessing cystatin C may enable more tailored therapy, minimizing the incidence of CRS and its negative impact on outcome in AHF.

Time-to-Furosemide Treatment and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening disease requiring urgent treatment, including a recommendation for immediate initiation of loop diuretics.

OBJECTIVES

The authors prospectively evaluated the association between time-to-diuretic treatment and clinical outcome.

METHODS

REALITY-AHF (Registry Focused on Very Early Presentation and Treatment in Emergency Department of Acute Heart Failure) was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study that primarily aimed to assess the association between time to loop diuretic treatment and clinical outcome in patients with AHF admitted through the emergency department (ED). Door-to-furosemide (D2F) time was defined as the time from patient arrival at the ED to the first intravenous furosemide injection. Patients with a D2F time <60 min were pre-defined as the early treatment group. Primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Among 1,291 AHF patients treated with intravenous furosemide within 24 h of ED arrival, the median D2F time was 90 min (IQR: 36 to 186 min), and 481 patients (37.3%) were categorized as the early treatment group. These patients were more likely to arrive by ambulance and had more signs of congestion compared with the nonearly treatment group. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the early treatment group (2.3% vs. 6.0% in the nonearly treatment group; p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, earlier treatment remained significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.20 to 0.76; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective multicenter, observational cohort study of patients presenting at the ED for AHF, early treatment with intravenous loop diuretics was associated with lower in-hospital mortality. (Registry focused on very early presentation and treatment in emergency department of acute heart failure syndrome; UMIN000014105).

Trimetazidine therapy for diabetic mouse hearts subjected to ex vivo acute heart failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) is the most common primary diagnosis for hospitalized heart diseases in Africa. As increased fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) during heart failure triggers detrimental effects on the myocardium, we hypothesized that trimetazidine (TMZ) (partial FAO inhibitor) offers cardioprotection under normal and obese-related diabetic conditions. Hearts were isolated from 12-14-week-old obese male and female diabetic (db/db) mice versus lean non-diabetic littermates (db/+) controls. The Langendorff retrograde isolated heart perfusion system was employed to establish an ex vivo AHF model: a) Stabilization phase-Krebs Henseleit buffer (10 mM glucose) at 100 mmHg (25 min); b) Critical Acute Heart Failure (CAHF) phase-(1.2 mM palmitic acid, 2.5 mM glucose) at 20 mmHg (25 min); and c) Recovery Acute Heart Failure phase (RAHF)-(1.2 mM palmitic acid, 10 mM glucose) at 100 mmHg (25 min). Treated groups received 5 μM TMZ in the perfusate during either the CAHF or RAHF stage for the full duration of each respective phase. Both lean and obese males benefited from TMZ treatment administered during the RAHF phase. Sex differences were observed only in lean groups where the phases of the estrous cycle influenced therapy; only the lean follicular female group responded to TMZ treatment during the CAHF phase. Lean luteal females rather displayed an inherent cardioprotection (without treatments) that was lost with obesity. However, TMZ treatment initiated during RAHF was beneficial for obese luteal females. TMZ treatment triggered significant recovery for male and obese female hearts when administered during RAHF. There were no differences between lean and obese male hearts, while lean females displayed a functional recovery advantage over lean males. Thus TMZ emerges as a worthy therapeutic target to consider for AHF treatment in normal and obese-diabetic individuals (for both sexes), but only when administered during the recovery phase and not during the very acute stages.

Organ dysfunction, injury and failure in acute heart failure: from pathophysiology to diagnosis and management. A review on behalf of the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Organ injury and impairment are commonly observed in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), and congestion is an essential pathophysiological mechanism of impaired organ function. Congestion is the predominant clinical profile in most patients with AHF; a smaller proportion presents with peripheral hypoperfusion or cardiogenic shock. Hypoperfusion further deteriorates organ function. The injury and dysfunction of target organs (i.e. heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestine, brain) in the setting of AHF are associated with increased risk for mortality. Improvement in organ function after decongestive therapies has been associated with a lower risk for post-discharge mortality. Thus, the prevention and correction of organ dysfunction represent a therapeutic target of interest in AHF and should be evaluated in clinical trials. Treatment strategies that specifically prevent, reduce or reverse organ dysfunction remain to be identified and evaluated to determine if such interventions impact mortality, morbidity and patient-centred outcomes. This paper reflects current understanding among experts of the presentation and management of organ impairment in AHF and suggests priorities for future research to advance the field.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel organic nitrate NDHP: Role of xanthine oxidoreductase-mediated nitric oxide formation

In this report, we describe the synthesis and characterization of 1,3-bis(hexyloxy)propan-2-yl nitrate (NDHP), a novel organic mono nitrate. Using purified xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), chemiluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, we found that XOR catalyzes nitric oxide (NO) generation from NDHP under anaerobic conditions, and that thiols are not involved or required in this process. Further mechanistic studies revealed that NDHP could be reduced to NO at both the FAD and the molybdenum sites of XOR, but that the FAD site required an unoccupied molybdenum site. Conversely, the molybdenum site was able to reduce NDHP independently of an active FAD site. Moreover, using isolated vessels in a myograph, we demonstrate that NDHP dilates pre-constricted mesenteric arteries from rats and mice. These effects were diminished when XOR was blocked using the selective inhibitor febuxostat. Finally, we demonstrate that NDHP, in contrast to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), is not subject to development of tolerance in isolated mesenteric arteries.

Expert consensus document: Echocardiography and lung ultrasonography for the assessment and management of acute heart failure

Echocardiography is increasingly recommended for the diagnosis and assessment of patients with severe cardiac disease, including acute heart failure. Although previously considered to be within the realm of cardiologists, the development of ultrasonography technology has led to the adoption of echocardiography by acute care clinicians across a range of specialties. Data from echocardiography and lung ultrasonography can be used to improve diagnostic accuracy, guide and monitor the response to interventions, and communicate important prognostic information in patients with acute heart failure. However, without the appropriate skills and a good understanding of ultrasonography, its wider application to the most acutely unwell patients can have substantial pitfalls. This Consensus Statement, prepared by the Acute Heart Failure Study Group of the ESC Acute Cardiovascular Care Association, reviews the existing and potential roles of echocardiography and lung ultrasonography in the assessment and management of patients with acute heart failure, highlighting the differences from established practice where relevant.

Morphine Use in the ED and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Heart Failure: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis Based on the EAHFE Registry

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine the relationship between short-term mortality and intravenous morphine use in ED patients who received a diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with AHF presenting to 34 Spanish EDs from 2011 to 2014 were eligible for inclusion. The subjects were divided into those with (M) or without IV morphine treatment (WOM) groups during ED stay. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were mortality at different intermediate time points, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay. We generated a propensity score to match the M and WOM groups that were 1:1 according to 46 different epidemiological, baseline, clinical, and therapeutic factors. We investigated independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients receiving morphine.

RESULTS

We included 6,516 patients (mean age, 81 [SD, 10] years; 56% women): 416 (6.4%) in the M and 6,100 (93.6%) in the WOM group. Overall, 635 (9.7%; M, 26.7%; WOM, 8.6%) died by day 30. After propensity score matching, 275 paired patients constituted each group. Patients receiving morphine had a higher 30-day mortality (55 [20.0%] vs 35 [12.7%] deaths; hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.54; P = .017). In patients receiving morphine, death was directly related to glycemia (P = .013) and inversely related to the baseline Barthel index and systolic BP (P = .021) at ED arrival (P = .021). Mortality was increased at every intermediate time point, although the greatest risk was at the shortest time (at 3 days: 22 [8.0%] vs 7 [2.5%] deaths; OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.40-7.93; P = .014). In-hospital mortality did not increase (39 [14.2%] vs 26 [9.1%] deaths; OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.97-2.82; P = .083) and LOS did not differ between groups (median [interquartile range] in M, 8 [7]; WOM, 8 [6]; P = .79).

CONCLUSIONS

This propensity score-matched analysis suggests that the use of IV morphine in AHF could be associated with increased 30-day mortality.

The effect of intravenous isosorbide dinitrate in acute decompensated heart failure in hospital

Background According to new recommendations for the management of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in 2015, intravenous vasodilator therapy might be given as an early therapy when systolic blood pressure is normal to high (≥110 mmHg). Only 29% of patients with ADHF are treated with vasodilators without medical contraindication. Objective To evaluate the effect of the systematic use of ISDN on ADHF without contraindication especially on rehospitalization rate. Settings The 600-bed hospital (Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Vosgien, Neufchâteau, France). Methods This is a retrospective study with data analysed from medical records. Patients with ADHF episodes and hospitalization in the cardiology department or intensive care unit (ICU) between November 2013 and December 2015 were included resulting in 199 hospitalizations in the analysis (37 were treated by ISDN, and 162 were not). Main outcome measure Effects of ISDN on 180-day hospital readmission for ADHF or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in-hospital mortality, length of stay, number of ICU admissions, and ICU length of stay. Results Patients who received ISDN required more ICU admissions than the other patients (54.1 vs 33.3%, p = 0.02). Nevertheless 180-day hospital readmission was lower for patients who were receiving ISDN (8.1 vs 22.8%, p = 0.04). ISDN did not influence other clinical outcomes tested. Conclusion ISDN may minimize or prevent the consequences of altered haemodynamics. Lower rehospitalization rate with ISDN was seen in this study.

Challenges of Treating Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comorbidity poses substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in acute care settings. The specific role of pulmonary comorbidity in the treatment and outcomes of cardiovascular disease patients was not addressed in any short- or long-term prospective study. Both HF and COPD can be interpreted as systemic disorders associated with low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodelling and skeletal muscle atrophy. HF is regularly treated as a broader cardiopulmonary syndrome utilising acute respiratory therapy. Based on observational data and clinical expertise, a management strategy of concurrent HF and COPD in acute settings is suggested. Concomitant use of beta2-agonists and beta-blockers in a comorbid cardiopulmonary condition seems to be safe and effective.

Registry-Based Pragmatic Trials in Heart Failure: Current Experience and Future Directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in heart failure (HF) are becoming increasingly complex and expensive to conduct and if positive deliver expensive therapy tested only in selected populations.

RECENT FINDINGS

Electronic health records and clinical cardiovascular quality registries are providing opportunities for pragmatic and registry-based prospective randomized clinical trials (RRCTs). Simplified regulatory, ethics, and consent procedures; recruitment integrated into real-world care; and simplified or automated baseline and outcome collection allow assessment of study power and feasibility, fast and efficient recruitment, delivery of generalizable findings at low cost, and potentially evidence-based and novel use of generic drugs with low costs to society. There have been no RRCTs in HF to date. Major challenges include generating funding, international collaboration, and the monitoring of safety and adherence for chronic HF treatments. Here, we use the Spironolactone Initiation Registry Randomized Interventional Trial in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (SPIRRIT-HFpEF), to be conducted in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry, to exemplify the advantages and challenges of HF RRCTs.

A comparison of research into cachexia, wasting and related skeletal muscle syndromes in three chronic disease areas

INTRODUCTION

We compared the frequency of cancer, heart and lung related cachexia and cachexia-related research articles in the specialist journal, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (JCSM) to those seen in a leading European journal in each specialist area during 2015 and 2016 to assess whether work on cachexia and related fields is relatively over or under represented in each specialist area.

RESULTS

In the dedicated journal, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, there were 44 references related to cancer, 5 related to respiratory disease, 5 related to heart failure, and 21 related to more than one of these chronic diseases. Despite this cancer preponderance, in the European Journal of Cancer in the two publication years, there were only 5 relevant publications (0.67% of the journal output), compared to 16 (1.41%) in the European Respiratory Journal and 10 (2.19%) in the European Journal of Heart Failure.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable under-representation of cancer cachexia-related papers in the major European Cancer journal despite a high proportion in the dedicated cachexia journal. The under-representation is even more marked when expressed as a percentage, 0.67%, compared to 1.41% and 2.19% of the lung and heart journals respectively. These results are consistent with a worrying lack of interest in, or publication of, cachexia and related syndromes research in the cancer literature in Europe compared to its importance as a clinical syndrome. Greater interest is shown in lung and cardiology journals.

Heart failure in patients presenting with dyspnoea to the emergency department in the Asia Pacific region: an observational study

OBJECTIVES

To describe demographic features, assessment, management and outcomes of patients who were diagnosed with heart failure after presenting to an emergency department (ED) with a principal symptom of dyspnoea.

DESIGN

Planned substudy of the prospective, descriptive cohort study: Asia, Australia and New Zealand Dyspnoea in Emergency Departments (AANZDEM).

SETTING

46 EDs in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia collected data over 3 72-hour periods in May, August and October 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with an ED diagnosis of heart failure.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes included patient epidemiology, investigations ordered, treatment modalities used and patient outcomes (hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality).

RESULTS

455 (14.9%) of the 3044 patients had an ED diagnosis of heart failure. Median age was 79 years, half were male and 62% arrived via ambulance. 392 (86%) patients were admitted to hospital. ED diagnosis was concordant with hospital discharge diagnosis in 81% of cases. Median hospital LOS was 6 days (IQR 4-9) and in-hospital mortality was 5.1%. Natriuretic peptide levels were ordered in 19%, with lung ultrasound (<1%) and echocardiography (2%) uncommonly performed. Treatment modalities included non-invasive ventilation (12%), diuretics (73%), nitrates (25%), antibiotics (16%), inhaled β-agonists (13%) and corticosteroids (6%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the Asia Pacific region, heart failure is a common diagnosis among patients presenting to the ED with a principal symptom of dyspnoea. Admission rates were high and ED diagnostic accuracy was good. Despite the seemingly suboptimal adherence to investigation and treatment guidelines, patient outcomes were favourable compared with other registries.

Prognostic Impact of Physician Specialty on the Prognosis of Outpatients With Heart Failure: Propensity Matched Analysis of the REDINSCOR and RICA Registries

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The specialty treating patients with heart failure (HF) has a prognostic impact in the hospital setting but this issue remains under debate in the ambulatory environment. We aimed to compare the clinical profile and outcomes of outpatients with HF treated by cardiologists or internists.

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical, electrocardiogram, laboratory, and echocardiographic data of 2 prospective multicenter Spanish cohorts of outpatients with HF treated by cardiologists (REDINSCOR, n=2150) or by internists (RICA, n=1396). Propensity score matching analysis was used to test the influence of physician specialty on outcome.

RESULTS

Cardiologist-treated patients were often men, were younger, and had ischemic etiology and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients followed up by internists were predominantly women, were older, and a higher percentage had preserved LVEF and associated comorbidities. The 9-month mortality was lower in the REDINSCOR cohort (11.6% vs 16.9%; P<.001), but the 9-month HF-readmission rates were similar (15.7% vs 16.9%; P=.349). The propensity matching analysis selected 558 pairs of comparable patients and continued to show significantly lower 9-month mortality in the cardiology cohort (12.0% vs 18.8%; RR, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.48-0.85; P=.002), with no relevant differences in the 9-month HF-readmission rate (18.1% vs 17.2%; RR, 0.95; 95%CI, 0.74-1.22; P=.695).

CONCLUSIONS

Age, sex, LVEF and comorbidities were major determinants of specialty-related referral in HF outpatients. An in-depth propensity matched analysis showed significantly lower 9-month mortality in the cardiologist cohort.

Plasma Levels of Soluble CD146 Reflect the Severity of Pulmonary Congestion Better Than Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Acute heart failure negatively affects short-term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, reliable and non-invasive assessment of pulmonary congestion is needed to select patients requiring more intensive monitoring and therapy. Since plasma levels of natriuretic peptides are influenced by myocardial ischemia, they might not reliably reflect congestion in the context of ACS. The novel endothelial biomarker, soluble CD146 (sCD146), presents discriminative power for detecting the cardiac origin of acute dyspnea similar to that of natriuretic peptides and is associated with systemic congestion. We evaluated the performance of sCD146 for the assessment of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS.

METHODS

One thousand twenty-one consecutive patients with ACS were prospectively enrolled. Plasma levels of sCD146, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and high-sensitive troponin T were measured within 24 hr after the onset of chest pain. Pulmonary congestion on chest radiography was determined and classified in three groups according to the degree of congestion.

RESULTS

Nine hundred twenty-seven patients with ACS were analyzed. Ninety-two (10%) patients showed signs of pulmonary edema on chest radiography. Plasma levels of sCD146 reflected the radiological severity of pulmonary congestion. Higher plasma levels of sCD146 were associated with the worse degree of pulmonary congestion. In contrast to BNP, sCD146 levels were not affected by the level of troponin T.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel endothelial biomarker, sCD146, correlates with radiological severity of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS and, in contrast to BNP, is not affected by the amount of myocardial cell necrosis.

Serelaxin in acute heart failure patients with and without atrial fibrillation: a secondary analysis of the RELAX-AHF trial

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common comorbidity in HF and affects patients' outcome. We sought to assess the effects of serelaxin in patients with and without AFib.

METHODS

In a post hoc analysis of the RELAX-AHF trial, we compared the effects of serelaxin on efficacy end points, safety end points and biomarkers in 1161 patients with and without AFib on admission electrocardiogram.

RESULTS

AFib was present in 41.3% of patients. Serelaxin had a similar effect in patients with and without AFib, including dyspnea relief by visual analog scale through day 5 [mean change in area under the curve, 541.11 (33.79, 1048.44), p = 0.0366 in AFib versus 361.80 (-63.30, 786.90), p = 0.0953 in non-AFib, interaction p = 0.5954] and all-cause death through day 180 [HR = 0.42 (0.23, 0.77), p = 0.0051 in AFib versus 0.90 (0.53, 1.52), p = 0.6888 in non-AFib, interaction p = 0.0643]. Serelaxin was similarly safe in the two groups and induced similar reductions in biomarkers of cardiac, renal and hepatic damage. Stroke occurred more frequently in AFib patients (2.8 vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0116) and there was a trend for lower stroke incidence in the serelaxin arm in AFib patients (odds ratios, 0.31, p = 0.0759 versus 3.88, p = 0.2255 in non-AFib, interaction p = 0.0518).

CONCLUSIONS

Serelaxin was similarly safe and efficacious in improving short- and long-term outcomes and inducing organ protection in acute HF patients with and without AFib.

Lack of Diuretic Efficiency (but Not Low Diuresis) Early in An Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure Episode Is Associated with Increased 180-Day Mortality

INTRODUCTION

The assessment of the amount of urine produced by the dose of administered diuretic has been proposed as the main signal of interest in diuretic responsiveness - diuretic efficiency (DE). The main aim of our study is to determine if a low DE is associated with 180-day all-cause mortality (ACM).

METHODS

During a 3-year period, we retrospectively studied patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and respiratory insufficiency admitted to the emergency room of a tertiary university hospital in Porto, Portugal. A total of 170 patients (age 76.2 ± 10.3 years) were included. The outcome of ACM occurred in 43 (25.3%) patients during the 180-day follow-up period. DE was evaluated for a maximum of 3 h after emergency room admission. The lowest DE was defined as ≤140 mL of diuresis per 40 mg of furosemide equivalents.

RESULTS

No significant differences in age, comorbidities, baseline HF symptoms, or disease-modifying medication were found between the lowest and highest DE groups. The lowest DE group had higher blood urea and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels (41.3 ± 24.5 vs. 56.7 ± 23.2 mL/min/1.73 m², p < 0.001). The patients with the lowest DE had significantly higher rates of ACM during the 180-day follow-up, even after adjustment for other clinically relevant variables: hazard ratio (HR) [95% CI] = 2.31 [1.16-4.58], p = 0.016. The lowest diuresis (≤300 mL) and the highest intravenous furosemide dose (>80 mg) alone were not significantly associated with the outcome. After adjustment for N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, the association between the lowest DE and the outcome lost strength (HR [95% CI] = 1.53 [0.75-3.13], p = 0.240).

CONCLUSION

A low DE (≤140 mL/40 mg of furosemide) in the first 3 h after an ADHF episode was associated with increased mid-term mortality rates.

Risk factors for noninvasive ventilation failure in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema: A prospective, observational cohort study

PURPOSE

We identified risk factors for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted an observational cohort study over a 3-year period in a 28-bed emergency intensive care unit (EICU) and prospectively included all consecutive patients in whom NIV was attempted as initial ventilatory support for ACPE. The primary outcome variables were NIV failure rate and risk factors for NIV failure.

RESULTS

Among the 118 patients in the study, NIV failed for 44 (37.3%) patients. Risk factors for NIV failure were Killip class IV (odds ratio [OR], 28.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17-375.73; p=0.011), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <30% (OR, 9.54; 95% CI, 1.01-90.55; p=0.050) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≥3350pg/mL (OR, 39.63; 95% CI, 3.92-400.79; p=0.002) at baseline, and fluid balance ≥400mL within 24h after ACPE (OR, 13.19; 95% CI, 1.18-147.70; p=0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

NIV failure occurred in 37.3% of ACPE patients in a real-world EICU. When patients had Killip class IV, a lower LVEF, a higher BNP, and a more positive fluid balance within 24h after ACPE, the risk of failure was higher. TRIAL REGISTRATION CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT02653365.

Adrenomedullin: a marker of impaired hemodynamics, organ dysfunction, and poor prognosis in cardiogenic shock

Background

The clinical CardShock risk score, including baseline lactate levels, was recently shown to facilitate risk stratification in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). As based on baseline parameters, however, it may not reflect the change in mortality risk in response to initial therapies. Adrenomedullin is a prognostic biomarker in several cardiovascular diseases and was recently shown to associate with hemodynamic instability in patients with septic shock. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value and association with hemodynamic parameters of bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) in patients with CS.

Methods

CardShock was a prospective, observational, European multinational cohort study of CS. In this sub-analysis, serial plasma bio-ADM and arterial blood lactate measurements were collected from 178 patients during the first 10 days after detection of CS.

Results

Both bio-ADM and lactate were higher in 90-day non-survivors compared to survivors at all time points (P < 0.05 for all). Lactate showed good prognostic value during the initial 24 h (AUC 0.78 at admission and 0.76 at 24 h). Subsequently, lactate returned normal (≤2 mmol/L) in most patients regardless of later outcome with lower prognostic value. By contrast, bio-ADM showed increasing prognostic value from 48 h and beyond (AUC 0.71 at 48 h and 0.80 at 5–10 days). Serial measurements of either bio-ADM or lactate were independent of and provided added value to CardShock risk score (P < 0.001 for both). Ninety-day mortality was more than double higher in patients with high levels of bio-ADM (>55.7 pg/mL) at 48 h compared to those with low bio-ADM levels (49.1 vs. 22.6%, P = 0.001). High levels of bio-ADM were associated with impaired cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure during the study period. Furthermore, high levels of bio-ADM at 48 to 96 h were related to persistently impaired cardiac and end-organ function.

Conclusions

Bio-ADM is a valuable prognosticator and marker of impaired hemodynamics in CS patients. High levels of bio-ADM may show shock refractoriness and developing end-organ dysfunction and thus help to guide therapeutic approach in patients with CS.

Study identifier of CardShock study NCT01374867 at clinicaltrials.gov

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13613-016-0229-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The impact of emergency medical services in acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Real-life data on the role of emergency medical services (EMS) in acute heart failure (AHF) are scarce. Our aim was to describe prehospital treatment of AHF and to compare patients using EMS with self-presented, non-EMS patients.

METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively from three university hospitals in Helsinki metropolitan area between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. According to the use of EMS, patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups.

RESULTS

The study included 873 AHF patients. One hundred were (11.5%) EMS and 773 (88.5%) non-EMS. EMS patients more often had comorbidities. Initial heart rate (HR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) differed between EMS and non-EMS patients; mean HR 89.2 (SD 22.5) vs. 83.7 (21.5)/min (p=0.02) and SpO₂ 90.3 (8.6) vs. 92.9 (6.6)% (p=0.01). However, on presentation to ED EMS patients' vital signs were similar to non-EMS patients'. On presentation to ED 46.0% were normotensive and 68.2% "warm and wet". Thirty-four percentage of EMS patients received prehospital medication. In-hospital mortality was 6.0% and 7.1% (p=0.84) and length of stay (LOS) 7.7 (7.0) and 8.5 (7.9) days (p=0.36) in EMS and non-EMS groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of EMS and administration of prehospital medication was low. EMS patients had initially worse HR and SpO₂ than non-EMS patients. However, EMS patients' signs improved and were similar on presentation to ED. There were no differences in in-hospital mortality and LOS. This underscores the need for equal attention to any AHF patient independent of the arrival mode.

IMPROV-ED study: outcomes after discharge for an episode of acute-decompensated heart failure and comparison between patients discharged from the emergency department and hospital wards

OBJECTIVE

To define the short- and mid-term outcomes of patients discharged after an episode of acute-decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and evaluate the differences between patients discharged directly from the emergency department (ED) and those discharged after hospitalization.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, multicenter, cohort-designed study, including consecutive patients diagnosed with ADHF in 27 Spanish EDs. Thirty-four variables on epidemiology, comorbidity, baseline status, vital signs, signs of congestion, laboratory tests, and treatment were collected in every patient. The primary outcome was a combined endpoint of ED revisit (without hospitalization) or hospitalization due to ADHF, or all-cause death. Secondary outcomes were each of these three events individually. Outcomes were obtained by survival analysis at different timepoints in the entire cohort, and crude and adjusted comparisons were carried out between patients discharged directly from the ED and after hospitalization.

RESULTS

Of the 3233 patients diagnosed with ADHF during a 2-month period, we analyzed 2986 patients discharged alive: 787 (26.4%) discharged from the ED and 2199 (73.6%) after hospitalization. The cumulative percentages of events for the whole cohort (at 7/30/180 days) for the combined endpoint were 7.8/24.7/57.8; for ED revisit 2.5/9.4/25.5; for hospitalization 4.6/15.3/40.7; and for death 0.9/4.3/16.8. After adjustment for patient profile and center, significant increases were found in the hazard ratios for ED- compared to hospital-discharged patients in the combined endpoint, ED revisit and hospitalization, being higher at short-term [at 7 days, 2.373 (1.678-3.355), 2.069 (1.188-3.602), and 3.071 (1.915-4.922), respectively] than at mid-term [at 180 days, 1.368 (1.160-1.614), 1.642 (1.265-2.132), and 1.302 (1.044-1.623), respectively]. No significant differences were found in death.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ADHF discharged from the ED have worse outcomes, especially at short term, than those discharged after hospitalization. The definition and implementation of effective strategies to improve patient selection for direct ED discharge are needed.

Prognostic value of malnutrition assessed by Controlling Nutritional Status score for long-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of nutritional status is poorly understood and evidence-based nutritional assessment indices are required in acute heart failure (AHF). We investigated the prognostic value of malnutrition assessed by the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score (range 0-12, higher=worse, consisting of serum albumin, cholesterol and lymphocytes) in AHF patients.

METHODS

The CONUT score was measured on admission in 635 consecutive AHF patients. The primary outcome was all-cause death.

RESULTS

Median CONUT score was 3 (interquartile range 2 to 5). During the median follow-up of 324days, CONUT score was independently associated with death (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11-1.42, P<0.001) after adjustment for confounders in a multivariate Cox model. The CONUT score demonstrated the best C-statistic for predicting death (0.71) among other common nutritional markers in HF. Furthermore, addition of the CONUT score to an established risk prediction model from the Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure study significantly increased the C-statistic from 0.75 to 0.77 (P=0.02). The net reclassification improvement afforded by CONUT score was 21% for all-cause death, 27% for survival and 49% overall (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition assessed by the CONUT score on admission was an independent determinant of long-term death in AHF, and its prognostic value outweighed that of other nutritional indices. Moreover, addition of the score to the existing risk prediction model significantly increased the predictive ability for death, indicating beneficial clinical application of the CONUT score in AHF patients.

Nutritional status is related to heart failure severity and hospital readmissions in acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients and predicts adverse outcomes. The relationship between nutritional status and outcomes in HF has been partially studied. Our aim was to determine the relationship between the nutritional status and the long-term prognosis in patients hospitalized for acute HF.

METHODS

We analyzed 145 patients admitted consecutively to a cardiology department for acute HF. Nutritional status was measured with the CONUT method, a validated scale based on laboratory testing (albumin; cholesterol; lymphocytes) during hospitalization. Patients were classified as normal, mildly, moderately or severely malnourished, and followed in a HF clinic.

RESULTS

The mean aged of the population was 69.6years and 61% of patients were men, 54 had previous HF hospitalization (37%), 112 had hypertension (77%), 67 were diabetic (46%) and 135 had class III or IV NYHA (93%). Forty eight patients (33%) had normal nutritional status, 75 were mildly malnourished (52%), and 22 were moderately or severely malnourished (15%). Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or NYHA class among the three groups were not statistically different. ProBNP was directly correlated with the nutritional status. After a mean follow-up of 326days, 27 had a HF hospitalization (19%) and 61 (42,1%) had a hospitalization not related to HF. The analysis by Kaplan-Meier curves and log rank test showed that these differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition is common in patients hospitalized for HF. It seems to be a mediator of disease progression and determines a poor prognosis especially in advanced stages.

Efficacy of a remote web-based lung ultrasound training for nephrologists and cardiologists: a LUST trial sub-project

Within the framework of the LUST trial (LUng water by Ultra-Sound guided Treatment to prevent death and cardiovascular events in high-risk end-stage renal disease patients), the European Renal and Cardiovascular Medicine (EURECA-m) working group of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis Transplant Association established a central core lab aimed at training and certifying nephrologists and cardiologists participating in this trial. All participants were trained by an expert trainer with an entirely web-based programme. Thirty nephrologists and 14 cardiologists successfully completed the training. At the end of training, a set of 47 lung ultrasound (US) videos was provided to trainees who were asked to estimate the number of B-lines in each video. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the whole series of 47 videos between each trainee and the expert trainer was high (average 0.81 ± 0.21) and >0.70 in all but five cases. After further training, the five underperforming trainees achieved satisfactory agreement with the expert trainer (average post-retraining ICC 0.74 ± 0.14). The Bland-Altman plot showed virtually no bias (difference between the mean 0.03) and strict 95% limits of agreement lines (-1.52 and 1.45 US B-lines). Only four cases overlapped but did not exceed the same limits. Likewise, the Spearman correlation coefficient applied to the same data series was very high (r = 0.979, P < 0.0001). Nephrologists and cardiologists can be effectively trained to measure lung congestion by an entirely web-based programme. This web-based training programme ensures high-quality standardization of US B-line measurements and represents a simple, costless and effective preparatory step for clinical trials targeting lung congestion.

Publication trends in cachexia and sarcopenia in elderly heart failure patients

The loss of skeletal mass - sarcopenia and cachexia - is considered to be a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure (CHF). Unfortunately, sarcopenia is generally considered to be a geriatric syndrome, but not necessarily seen as a comorbidity in CHF, even though it has a wide range of adverse health outcomes. While there were 15,574 publication with the title word "heart failure" in PubMed in the 5‑year period from 1 June 2011 to 31 May 2016, only 22 or 71 publications were found with the search combination "sarcopenia" or "cachexia" (title word) and "heart failure" (all fields), respectively. This shows very clearly that loss of muscle quality and function due to heart failure is still an underappreciated problem in the medical field.

[Management of cardiogenic shock: Results from a survey in France and Belgium]

PURPOSE

Physician survey on cardiogenic shock management; recommendations for the management of patients with cardiogenic shock are based mostly on experts' opinion.

METHODS

Overall 1585 emails were sent to "senior" intensive care physicians from France and Belgium from September 2014 to march 2015. Response rate was 10% (157 respondents). Agreement was assessed based on RAND/UCLA methodology.

RESULTS

Continuous monitoring of cardiac output, vascular filling, noninvasive ventilation were deemed appropriate. The use of systematic diuretics and dopamine seemed inappropriate. There was a strong agreement to use dobutamine as inotropic drug in first intention. The use of noradrenaline and adrenaline was considered appropriate. There was a strong agreement to use mechanical circulatory support, in particular extracorporeal life support, in refractory cardiogenic shock. Only 25% of responders felt that there are criteria of refractory cardiogenic shock. Concerning the objectives of systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, 95% of the responses were in the range between 70 to 100, 30 to 50, and 55 to 65mmHg, respectively. The target of SvO₂ was between 55% and 75%, and cardiac index between 1.5 and 3L/min/m² for 95% of responders. There was a strong agreement to maintain hemoglobin between 7 and 9.9g/dL.

CONCLUSION

Based on our physician survey, we found an agreement in vascular filling and early enteral nutrition. Dobutamine and noradrenaline should be the preferred drugs, but not dopamine. Mechanical circulatory support (preferably with extracorporeal support) should be restricted to refractory cardiogenic shock. Those responses differed slightly from experts' opinion, available in terms of recommendations.

[Usefulness of natriuretic peptide testing and Doppler echocardiography at bedside in the diagnosis of acute heart failure]

Acute heart failure is a common condition that leads to hospital admission, with important mortality and readmission rates. A prompt and accurate diagnosis of this condition by hospitalists is essential for an early and tailored medical management. The use of natriuretic peptide testing (BNP and NT-proBNP) through a two cut-point strategy is currently recommended as the first-line diagnostic complement to the initial clinical evaluation in the acute care setting. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is an other noninvasive method that can be used at bedside, especially in patients with intermediate, inconclusive natriuretic peptides levels. In this regard, left ventricular ejection fraction and several simple Doppler indexes (restrictive mitral filling pattern, spectral tissue Doppler E/e' ratio), have been validated in the emergency diagnosis of acute heart failure. The aim of the present review is to overview the respective contribution of natriuretic peptides and Doppler echocardiography at bedside to the diagnosis of acute heart failure in the acute care setting.

[Optimization of the management of acute heart failure. New concept of fast-track]

The acute heart failure generates a very important number of hospitalizations for a high cost. A recent reflection on optimizing its management is ongoing, based on the fastest management in the emergency department, with a distinction between which patient should remain and who returns at home, and under what conditions, allowing to limit the number of hospitalizations. It will require a reorganization of emergency department and updating of decision algorithms and new guidelines of care.