Impact of loop diuretic dosage in a population of patients with acute heart failure: a retrospective analysis

Diuretic dosing and outcomes with torsemide and furosemide following hospitalization for heart failure: The TRANSFORM-HF trial

AIMS

The TRANSFORM-HF trial found no difference in clinical outcomes between torsemide versus furosemide after hospitalization for heart failure. This analysis aimed to assess the impact of diuretic dosing on the primary and secondary clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This post-hoc analysis of TRANSFORM-HF categorized patients into three groups by discharge diuretic dose: (1) ≤40 mg, (2) >40-80 mg, and (3) >80 mg of furosemide equivalents. The associations between discharge dose and 12-month clinical events, and change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score (KCCQ-CSS), were assessed. Overall, 2379 patients were included, aged 65 years (interquartile range 56-75), 883 (37.1%) women, and 812 (34.2%) Black. Furosemide had adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for all-cause mortality of 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.59) for discharge dose group 2 and 1.40 (95% CI 1.04-1.88) for group 3, compared with group 1. For torsemide, aHRs were 1.74 (95% CI 1.32-2.30) for group 2 and 1.58 (95% CI 1.14-2.19) for group 3. No evidence of heterogeneity for the association between increased mortality and higher dose was found by loop diuretic type (pinteraction = 0.17). Higher doses of furosemide and torsemide were associated with increased risk of all-cause hospitalization and the composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization, without evidence of heterogeneity by loop diuretic type (pinteraction > 0.2). Changes in KCCQ-CSS from baseline at 12 months was similar across dose groups for both drugs.

CONCLUSION

Following hospitalization for heart failure, higher loop diuretic dosing was independently associated with worse clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The correlation between higher loop diuretic dose and outcomes was consistent, regardless of loop diuretic used.

Portal Vein Pulsatility: A Valuable Approach for Monitoring Venous Congestion and Prognostic Evaluation in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

The severity of systemic congestion is associated with increased portal vein flow pulsatility (PVP).

AIM

To determine the usefulness of PVP as a marker of decongestion and prognosis in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients.

METHODS

105 patients, 60% of whom were men, were hospitalized with ADHF, and their PVP index (PVPI) was calculated (maximum velocity-minimum velocity/maximum velocity) × 100 on admission and before discharge, along with their EVEREST score, inferior vena cava diameter (IVC), NT-proBNP, serum sodium, and glomerular filtration rate. A PVPI ≥ 50% was defined as a marker of systemic congestion. After treatment with loop diuretics, a decrease in PVPI of >50% before discharge was considered a marker of decongestion The patients were classified into two groups (G): G1-PVPI decrease ≥ 50% (54 patients) and G2-PVPI decrease < 50% (51 patients).

RESULTS

At discharge, compared to G2, G1 patients had lower mean PVPI (14.2 vs. 38.9; p < 0.001), higher serum Na (138 vs. 132 mmol/L, p = 0.03), and a higher number of patients with a significant (>30%) NT-proBNP decrease (42 vs. 27, p = 0.007). PVPI correlated with IVC (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), NT-proBNP (r = 0.21, p = 0.04), and serum Na (r = -0.202, p = 0.04). A total of 55% of patients had worsening renal failure (G1 63% vs. G2 48%, p = 0.17). After 90 days, G2 patients had higher mortality (27.45% vs. 3.7 p = 0.001) and rehospitalization (49.01% vs. 33.33%, p < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, PVPI was an independent predictor of rehospitalization (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10, p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Portal vein flow pulsatility, a meaningful marker of persistent subclinical congestion, is related to short-term prognosis in ADHF patients.

Comparative analysis of the addition of empagliflozin versus doubling the furosemide dose in decompensated heart failure

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to compare the addition of SGLT2 inhibitors or doubling the diuretic dose in patients receiving treatment with beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), as well as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who present to the emergency department with decompensated heart failure.

METHODS

This study is a single-center and prospective analysis. A total of 980 decompensated heart failure (HFrEF) patients receiving optimal medical therapy (OMT) according to the 2021 European heart failure guidelines were randomized in a 2:1 ratio into the furosemide and empagliflozin treatment arms. The analysis includes patient clinical characteristics, laboratory results, and echocardiographic data. Factors influencing rehospitalization were identified through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Log-rank analysis was employed to assess factors affecting rehospitalization.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 67.9 years, with 52.1% being men. There was no significant impact of demographic, clinical, or echocardiographic factors on rehospitalization at 1 month; only the effect of treatment subgroups on rehospitalization was observed (p = 0.039). Significant echocardiographic and clinical improvements were seen in both treatment arms. The empagliflozin group exhibited significant improvements in 6-min walk distance, heart rate, body weight, NT-pro BNP levels, and eGFR level compared to the furosemide group. The rate of rehospitalization in the first month was significantly lower in those receiving empagliflozin (28.7%) compared to those receiving a double dose of furosemide (40.2%) (log-rank p = 0.013).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the management of decompensated HFrEF and demonstrates that SGLT2 inhibitors offer benefits beyond glycemic control in this patient group. The significant reduction in rehospitalization rates and improvements in echocardiographic parameters underscore the potential of SGLT2 inhibitors in reducing acute heart failure episodes.

Evaluation and Management of Hyponatremia in Heart Failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide a contemporary overview of the pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of hyponatremia in heart failure (HF).

RECENT FINDINGS

Potassium and magnesium losses due to poor nutritional intake and treatment with diuretics cause an intracellular sodium shift in HF that may contribute to hyponatremia. Impaired renal blood flow leading to a lower glomerular filtration rate and increased proximal tubular reabsorption lead to an impaired tubular flux through diluting distal segments of the nephron, compromising electrolyte-free water excretion. Hyponatremia in HF is typically a condition of impaired water excretion by the kidneys on a background of potassium and magnesium depletion. While those cations can and should be easily repleted, further treatment should mainly focus on improving the underlying HF and hemodynamics, while addressing congestion. For decongestive treatment, proximally acting diuretics such as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, acetazolamide, and loop diuretics are the preferred options.

Preliminary Report of Intravenous Tolvaptan Sodium Phosphate (Samtas®) Treatment in Decompensated Heart Failure

Background: Tolvaptan sodium phosphate (Samtas®; Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan) is a novel intravenous aquaretic diuretic aimed at individuals experiencing advanced congestion refractory to conventional diuretics and having difficulty with oral intake. Despite its potential, the true efficacy and practicality of this compound within real-world clinical settings remain obscure. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted, examining trends among consecutive in-hospital patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure who underwent treatment with tolvaptan sodium phosphate at a prominent academic medical center between June 2022 and June 2023. Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled (median age: 75 years, serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide: 8941 pg/mL). Among them, 14 patients (67%) received non-invasive/invasive positive-pressure ventilation, and 17 patients (81%) concurrently received intravenous inotropes. Subsequent to the initiation of tolvaptan sodium phosphate treatment, a significant increase in urine volume was observed on the following day (p = 0.036). Urine osmolality decreased from 356 (318, 443) at baseline to 247 (176, 333) mOsm/kg after 4 h (p = 0.002). No occurrences of hypernatremia were recorded during the therapeutic period. Notably, two patients transitioned from tolvaptan sodium phosphate treatment to continuous hemodiafiltration due to insufficient efficacy. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice, intravenous tolvaptan sodium phosphate exhibits potential efficacy and practicability in the majority of congestive heart failure patients exhibiting refractory congestion, unstable hemodynamics, and challenges with oral intake.