Age and shock severity predict mortality in cardiac intensive care unit patients with and without heart failure

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock: Insights From a High-Volume Italian Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening condition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, and complication rate of patients with CS admitted to a high-volume hospital in Italy. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory data, therapeutic management, and outcomes of patients with CS admitted to the Policlinico Gemelli (Rome) between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2023. We included 96 patients [median age 71 years, interquartile range 60-79; 65 (68%) males], of whom 49 patients (51%) presented CS secondary to acute myocardial infarction and 60 (63%) with a de novo presentation of CS. Dobutamine was the most frequently used inotrope and noradrenaline the most frequently used vasopressor (adopted in 56% and 82% of cases, respectively). Forty-five (47%) patients died during the hospitalization. Nonsurvivors were older and had a higher inflammatory burden at admission, elevated lactate levels, a greater increase in lactate levels, higher left ventricular filling pressures, and worse right ventricular function. C-reactive protein levels [odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.00-1.04), P = 0.027], lactate levels at admission (OR 3.49, 95% CI, 1.59-7.63, P = 0.02), and increase in lactate levels (OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.37-5.75, P = 0.005) were independent predictors of in-hospital all-cause death. Our data contribute to the assessment of the regional variations in the management and outcomes of patients with CS. We observed a high mortality and complication rate. Lactate acidosis and C-reactive protein measured at admission may help in identifying patients at higher risk of adverse in-hospital outcomes.

Shock Severity Classification and Mortality in Adults With Cardiac, Medical, Surgical, and Neurological Critical Illness

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Shock Classification could perform risk stratification in a mixed cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, similar to its validation in patients with acute cardiac disease.

METHODS

We included 21,461 adult Mayo Clinic ICU patient admissions from December 1, 2014, to February 28, 2018, including cardiac ICU (16.7%), medical ICU (37.4%), neurosciences ICU (27.7%), and surgical ICU (18.2%). The SCAI Shock Classification (a 5-stage classification from no shock [A] to refractory shock [E]) was assigned in each 4-hour period during the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

RESULTS

The median age was 65 years, and 43.2% were female. In-hospital mortality occurred in 1611 (7.5%) patients, with a stepwise increase in in-hospital mortality in each higher maximum SCAI Shock stage overall: A, 4.0%; B, 4.6%; C, 7.0%; D, 13.9%; and E, 40.2%. The SCAI Shock Classification provided incremental mortality risk stratification in each ICU, with the best performance in the cardiac ICU and the worse performance in the neurosciences ICU. The SCAI Shock Classification was associated with higher adjusted in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32 per each stage; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.41; P<.001); this association was not observed in the neurosciences ICU when considered separately.

CONCLUSION

The SCAI Shock Classification provided incremental mortality risk stratification beyond established prognostic markers across the spectrum of medical and surgical critical illness, proving utility outside its original intent.

Comparative Analysis of Therapeutic Strategies in Post-Cardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock: Insight into a High-Volume Cardiac Surgery Center

Background: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS), which is defined as severe low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac surgery, has a mortality rate of up to 90%. No study has yet been performed to compare patients with PCCS treated by conservative means to patients receiving additional mechanical circulatory support with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis from January 2018 to June 2022 was performed. Results: Out of 7028 patients who underwent cardiac surgery during this time period, 220 patients (3%) developed PCCS. The patients were stratified according to their severity of shock based on the Stage Classification Expert Consensus (SCAI) group. Known risk factors for shock-related mortality, including the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) and plasma lactate levels, were assessed at structured intervals. In patients treated additionally with ECMO (n = 73), the in-hospital mortality rate was 60%, compared to an in-hospital mortality rate of 85% in patients treated by conservative means (non-ECMO; n = 52). In 18/73 (25%) ECMO patients, the plasma lactate level normalized within 48 h, compared to 2/52 (4%) in non-ECMO patients. The morbidity of non-ECMO patients compared to ECMO patients included a need for dialysis (42% vs. 60%), myocardial infarction (19% vs. 27%), and cerebrovascular accident (17% vs. 12%). Conclusions: In conclusion, the additional use of ECMO in PCCS holds promise for enhancing outcomes in these critically ill patients, more rapid improvement of end-organ perfusion, and the normalization of plasma lactate levels.

Patients Aged 90 Years and Above With Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Management and Outcomes

Limited data exist regarding outcomes after coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients aged ≥90 years admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We studied sequential CICU patients ≥90 years admitted with ACS from 2007 to 2018. Three therapeutic approaches were defined: (1) No CAG; (2) CAG without PCI (CAG/No PCI); and (3) CAG with PCI (CAG/PCI). In-hospital mortality was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. All-cause 1-year mortality was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. The study included 239 patients with a median age of 92 (range 90 to 100) years (57% females; 45% ST-elevation myocardial infarction; 8% cardiac arrest; 16% shock). The No CAG group had higher Day 1 Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, more co-morbidities, worse kidney function, and fewer ST-elevation myocardial infarctions. In-hospital mortality was 20.8% overall and did not differ between the No CAG (n = 103; 21.4%), CAG/No PCI (n = 47; 21.3%), and CAG/PCI (n = 90; 20.0%) groups, before or after adjustment. Overall 1-year mortality was 52.5% and did not differ between groups before or after adjustment. Median survival was 6.9 months overall and 41.2% of hospital survivors died within 1 year of CICU admission. CICU patients aged ≥90 years with ACS have a substantial burden of illness with high in-hospital and 1-year mortality that was not lower in those who underwent CAG or PCI. These results suggest that careful patient selection for invasive coronary procedures is essential in this vulnerable population.

Heart failure related cardiogenic shock: An ISHLT consensus conference content summary

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the understanding, risk-stratification, and treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS). Despite improved pharmacologic and device-based therapies for CS, short-term mortality remains as high as 50%. Most recent efforts in research have focused on CS related to acute myocardial infarction, even though heart failure related CS (HF-CS) accounts for >50% of CS cases. There is a paucity of high-quality evidence to support standardized clinical practices in approach to HF-CS. In addition, there is an unmet need to identify disease-specific diagnostic and risk-stratification strategies upon admission, which might ultimately guide the choice of therapies, and thereby improve outcomes and optimize resource allocation. The heterogeneity in defining CS, patient phenotypes, treatment goals and therapies has resulted in difficulty comparing published reports and standardized treatment algorithms. An International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) consensus conference was organized to better define, diagnose, and manage HF-CS. There were 54 participants (advanced heart failure and interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, critical care cardiologists, intensivists, pharmacists, and allied health professionals), with vast clinical and published experience in CS, representing 42 centers worldwide. State-of-the-art HF-CS presentations occurred with subsequent breakout sessions planned in an attempt to reach consensus on various issues, including but not limited to models of CS care delivery, patient presentations in HF-CS, and strategies in HF-CS management. This consensus report summarizes the contemporary literature review on HF-CS presented in the first half of the conference (part 1), while the accompanying document (part 2) covers the breakout sessions where the previously agreed upon clinical issues were discussed with an aim to get to a consensus.

Cardiogenic Shock Classification and Associated Mortality Risk

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Shock Classification was developed to create standardized language describing the severity of cardiogenic shock (CS). The purposes of this review were to evaluate short-term and long-term mortality rates at each SCAI shock stage for patients with or at risk for CS, which has not been studied previously, and to propose using the SCAI Shock Classification to develop algorithms for clinical status monitoring. A detailed literature search was conducted for articles published from 2019 through 2022 in which the SCAI shock stages were used to assess the mortality risk. In total, 30 articles were reviewed. The SCAI Shock Classification at hospital admission revealed a consistent and reproducible graded association between shock severity and mortality risk. Furthermore, shock severity correlated incrementally with mortality risk even after patients were stratified for diagnosis, treatment modalities, risk modifiers, shock phenotype, and underlying cause. The SCAI Shock Classification system can be used to evaluate mortality across populations of patients with or at risk for CS including those with different causes, shock phenotypes, and comorbid conditions. We propose an algorithm that uses clinical parameters incorporating the SCAI Shock Classification into the electronic health record to continually reassess and reclassify the presence and severity of CS across time throughout hospitalization. The algorithm has the potential to alert the care team and a CS team, leading to earlier recognition and stabilization of the patient, and may facilitate the use of treatment algorithms and prevent CS deterioration, leading to improved outcomes.

Mortality and Heart Failure Hospitalization Among Young Adults With and Without Cardiogenic Shock After Acute Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES

To investigate risk factors and outcomes of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) in young patients with AMI.

BACKGROUND

AMI-CS is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Data regarding AMI-CS in younger individuals are limited.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutive patients with type 1 AMI aged 18-50 years admitted to 2 large tertiary-care academic centers were included, and they were adjudicated as having cardiogenic shock (CS) by physician review of electronic medical records using the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions CS classification system. Outcomes included all-cause mortality (ACM), cardiovascular mortality (CVM) and 1-year hospitalization for heart failure (HHF). In addition to using the full population, matching was also used to define a comparator group in the non-CS cohort. Among 2097 patients (mean age 44 ± 5.1 years, 74% white, 19% female), AMI-CS was present in 148 (7%). Independent risk factors of AMI-CS included ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, left main disease, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, female sex, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes. Over median follow-up of 11.2 years, young patients with AMI-CS had a significantly higher risk of ACM (adjusted HR 2.84, 95% CI 1.68-4.81; P < 0.001), CVM (adjusted HR 4.01, 95% CI 2.17-7.71; P < 0.001), and 1-year HHF (adjusted HR 5.99, 95% CI 2.04-17.61; P = 0.001) compared with matched non-AMI-CS patients. Over the course of the study, there was an increase in the incidence of AMI-CS among young patients with MI as well as rising mortality rates for patients with both AMI-CS and non-AMI-CS.

CONCLUSIONS

Of young patients with AMI, 7% developed AMI-CS, which was associated with a significantly elevated risk of mortality and HHF.

Heart failure: an update from the last years and a look at the near future

In the last years, major progress occurred in heart failure (HF) management. Quadruple therapy is now mandatory for all the patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Whilst verciguat is becoming available across several countries, omecamtiv mecarbil is waiting to be released for clinical use. Concurrent use of potassium-lowering agents may counteract hyperkalaemia and facilitate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor implementations. The results of the EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) trial were confirmed by the Dapagliflozin in Heart Failure with Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction (DELIVER) trial, and we now have, for the first time, evidence for treatment of also patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. In a pre-specified meta-analysis of major randomized controlled trials, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and HF hospitalization in the patients with HF regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction. Other steps forward have occurred in the treatment of decompensated HF. Acetazolamide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Volume Overload (ADVOR) trial showed that the addition of intravenous acetazolamide to loop diuretics leads to greater decongestion vs. placebo. The addition of hydrochlorothiazide to loop diuretics was evaluated in the CLOROTIC trial. Torasemide did not change outcomes, compared with furosemide, in TRANSFORM-HF. Ferric derisomaltose had an effect on the primary outcome of CV mortality or HF rehospitalizations in IRONMAN (rate ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.66-1.02; P = 0.070). Further options for the treatment of HF, including device therapies, cardiac contractility modulation, and percutaneous treatment of valvulopathies, are summarized in this article.

First 24-h Sardjito Cardiovascular Intensive Care (SCIENCE) admission risk score to predict mortality in cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The application of prognostic scoring systems to identify risk of death within 24 h of CICU admission has significant consequences for clinical decision-making. Previous score of parameters collected after 24 h was considered too late to predict mortality. As a result, we attempted to develop a CICU admission risk score to predict hospital mortality using indicators collected within 24 h.

METHODS

Data were obtained from SCIENCE registry from January 1, 2021 to December 21, 2021. Outcomes of 657 patients (mean age 58.91 ± 12.8 years) were recorded retrospectively. Demography, risk factors, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory and echocardiography data at 24-h of patient admitted to CICU were analysed by multivariate logistic regression to create two models of scoring system (probability and cut-off model) to predict in-hospital mortality of any cause.

RESULTS

From a total of 657 patients, the hospital mortality was 15%. The significant predictors of mortality were male, acute heart failure, hemodynamic instability, pneumonia, baseline creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL, TAPSE <17 mm, and the use of mechanical ventilator within first 24-h of CICU admission. Based on Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis a cut off of ≥3 is considered to be a high risk of in-hospital mortality (sensitivity 75% and specificity 65%).

CONCLUSION

The initial 24-h SCIENCE admission risk rating system can be used to predict in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to the CICU with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.

Advances in the Staging and Phenotyping of Cardiogenic Shock: Part 1 of 2

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a heterogeneous syndrome reflecting a broad spectrum of shock severity, diverse etiologies, variable cardiac function, different hemodynamic trajectories, and concomitant organ dysfunction. These factors influence the clinical presentation, management, response to therapy, and outcomes of CS patients, necessitating a tailored approach to care. To better understand the variability inherent to CS populations, recent algorithms for staging the severity of CS have been described and validated. This paper is part 1 of a 2-part state-of-the-art review. In this first article, we consider the context for clinical staging and stratification in CS with a focus on established severity staging systems for CS and their use for risk stratification and clinical care. We describe the use of staging for predicting outcomes in populations with or at risk for CS, including risk modifiers that provide more nuanced risk stratification, and highlight how these approaches may allow individualized care.

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Patients Readmitted to the Intensive Care Unit After Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Admission

Readmission to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the index hospitalization is associated with poor outcomes in medical or surgical ICU survivors. Little is known about critically ill patients with acute cardiovascular conditions cared for in a cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). We sought to describe the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of all ICU readmissions in patients who survived to CICU discharge. We retrospectively reviewed Mayo Clinic patients from 2007 to 2015 who survived the index CICU admission and identified patients with a second ICU stay during their index hospitalization; these patients were categorized as ICU transfers (patients who went directly from the CICU to another ICU) or ICU readmissions (patients initially transferred from the CICU to the ward, and then back to an ICU). Among 9,434 CICU survivors (mean age 67 years), 138 patients (1.5%) had a second ICU stay during the index hospitalization: 60 ICU transfers (0.6%) and 78 ICU readmissions (0.8%). The most common indications for ICU readmission were respiratory failure and procedure/surgery. On multivariable modeling, respiratory failure, severe acute kidney injury, and Charlson Comorbidity Index at the time of discharge from the index ICU stay were associated with ICU readmission. Death during the first ICU readmission (n = 78) occurred in 7.7% of patients. In-hospital mortality was higher for patients with a second ICU stay. In conclusion, few CICU survivors have a second ICU stay during their index hospitalization; these patients are at a higher risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Respiratory failure, severe acute kidney injury, and higher co-morbidity burden identify CICU survivors at elevated risk of ICU readmission.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted for acute heart failure in a single-centre study

Aims

Acute heart failure represents a medical condition with very high mortality. Accurate risk stratification can help physicians to improve the health care about these patients. The aim of our study was to characterize real‐life patients admitted for acute heart failure in a specific region with one tertiary medical centre and to describe risk factors of short‐term and long‐term mortality.

Methods and results

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients admitted from January 2017 to December 2017 to Department of cardiology of the tertiary medical centre University Hospital in Hradec Kralove. We identified 385 patients admitted for acute heart failure to the standard care and intensive care unit. The median of age was 74 years (IQR 67.5–80) and 34% of patients were female. Hospital admission was due to de novo heart failure in 222 (57.7%) patients. The most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (77.7%), dyslipidaemia (67.3%) and coronary artery disease (63.1%). Coronary artery disease (52.7% of cases) and valve disease (28.1% of cases) were the most common aetiologies of heart failure. The all‐cause in‐hospital mortality was 12.7%, 30‐day mortality was 14.6% and 1 year mortality was 34%. Among risk factors of in‐hospital mortality, the most significant factors were haemodialysis during the hospitalization [odds ratio (OR) 15.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.96–84.57, P = 0.0008], chronic heart failure (OR 4.27, 95% CI 1.66–11.03, P = 0.001) and STEMI as a precipitating factor of heart failure (OR 4.19, 95% CI 1.23–14.25, P = 0.023). Haemodialysis during the hospitalization (OR 4.28, 95% CI 1.17–15.61, P = 0.025) and the comorbidity depression and anxiety (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.45–8.39, P = 0.005) were the most significant risk factors of long‐term mortality.

Conclusions

Our study confirms very high mortality rates among patients with acute heart failure underlying poor prognosis of these patients. Comorbidities (peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure and depression and anxiety), precipitating factors of heart failure (myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation), complications occurring during the hospitalization (acute kidney injury, pulmonary ventilation for respiratory failure and haemodialysis) and the age of patients should be included in the risk stratification of in‐hospital, 30 day and 1 year mortality.

Causes and outcomes of ICU hospitalisations in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Rationale

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease characterised by limited survival despite remarkable improvements in therapy. The causes, clinical burden and outcomes of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remain poorly characterised. The aim of this study was to describe patient characteristics, causes of ICU hospitalisation, and risk factors for ICU and 1-year mortality.

Methods

Data from patients enrolled in the Johns Hopkins Pulmonary Hypertension Registry were analysed for the period between January 2010 and December 2020. Clinical, functional, haemodynamic and laboratory data were collected.

Measurements and main results

102 adult patients with 155 consecutive ICU hospitalisations were included. The leading causes for admission were right heart failure (RHF, 53.3%), infection (17.4%) and arrhythmia (11.0%). ICU mortality was 27.1%. Mortality risk factors included Na <136 mEq·mL-1 (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.41-6.82), elevated pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.03-2.98), hyperbilirubinaemia (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09-1.80), hyperlactaemia (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05-1.93), and need for vasopressors/inotropes (OR: 5.29, 95% CI: 2.28-12.28), mechanical ventilation (OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.63-8.76) and renal replacement therapy (OR: 5.57, 95% CI: 1.25-24.76). Mortality rates at 3, 6 and 12 months were 17.5%, 27.6% and 39.0%, respectively. Connective tissue disease-associated PAH has lower 1-year survival compared to idiopathic PAH (51.4% versus 79.8%, log-rank test p=0.019).

Conclusions

RHF is the most common cause for ICU admission. In-hospital and 1-year mortality remain exceedingly high despite improved ICU care. Recognising specific risk factors on admission can help identifying patients at risk for poor outcomes.

Shock Severity Assessment in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Patients With Sepsis and Mixed Septic-Cardiogenic Shock

We sought to validate the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) cardiogenic shock classification for mortality risk stratification in patients with sepsis and concomitant cardiovascular disease or mixed septic-cardiogenic shock. We conducted a single-center retropective cohort study of cardiac intensive care unit patients with an admission diagnosis of sepsis. We used clinical, vital sign, and laboratory data during the first 24 hours after admission to assign SCAI shock stage. We included 605 patients with a median age of 69.4 years (interquartile range, 57.9 to 79.8 years), 222 of whom (36.7%) were female. Acute coronary syndrome or heart failure was present in 480 patients (79.3%), and cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest was present in 271 patients (44.8%). The median day 1 Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) cardiovascular subscore was 1.5 (interquartile range, 1 to 4), and the admission SCAI shock stage distribution was stage B, 40.7% (246); stage C, 19.3% (117); stage D, 32.9% (199); and stage E, 7.1% (43). In-hospital mortality occurred in 177 of the 605 patients (29.3%) and increased incrementally with higher SCAI shock stage. After multivariable adjustment, admission SCAI shock stage was associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio per stage, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.88; P=.003). Admission SCAI shock stage had higher discrimination for in-hospital mortality than the day 1 SOFA cardiovascular subscore (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.68 vs 0.64; P=.04 by the DeLong test). Admission SCAI shock stage was associated with 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio per stage, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.37; P=.02). The SCAI shock classification provides improved mortality risk stratification over the day 1 SOFA cardiovascular subscore in cardiac intensive care unit patients with sepsis and concomitant cardiovascular disease or mixed septic-cardiogenic shock.

Biventricular Function and Shock Severity Predict Mortality in Cardiac ICU Patients

BACKGROUND

Ventricular function, including left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD), and biventricular dysfunction (BVD), contribute to shock in cardiac ICU (CICU) patients, but the prognostic usefulness remains unclear.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Do patients with ventricular dysfunction have higher mortality at each Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) shock stage?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We identified patients in the CICU admitted with available echocardiography data. LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, RVSD as moderate or greater systolic dysfunction by semiquantitative measurement, and BVD as the presence of both. Multivariate logistic regression determined the relationship between ventricular dysfunction and adjusted in-hospital mortality as a function of SCAI stage.

RESULTS

The study population included 3,158 patients with a mean ± SD age of 68.2 ± 14.6 years, of which 51.8% had acute coronary syndromes. LVSD was present in 22.3%, RVSD in 11.8%, and BVD in 16.4%. After adjustment for SCAI shock stage, no difference in in-hospital mortality was found between patients with LVSD or RVSD and those without ventricular dysfunction (P > .05), but BVD was associated independently with higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.815; 95% CI, 1.237-2.663; P = .0023). The addition of ventricular dysfunction to the SCAI staging criteria increased discrimination for hospital mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.784 vs 0.766; P < .001).

INTERPRETATION

Among patients admitted to the CICU, only BVD was associated independently with higher hospital mortality. The addition of echocardiography assessment to the SCAI shock criteria may facilitate improved clinical risk stratification.

Lingua Franca of Cardiogenic Shock: Speaking the Same Language

Cardiogenic shock has remained a vexing clinical problem over the last 20 years despite progressive development of increasingly capable percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices. It is increasingly clear that the published trials of various percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices have compared heterogenous populations of cardiogenic shock patients, and therefore have not yielded a single result where one approach improved survival. To classify patients, various risk scores such as the CARDSHOCK and IABP-Shock-II scores have been developed and validated but they have not been broadly applied. The Society for Cardiac Angiography and Intervention Expert Consensus on Classification of Cardiogenic Shock has been widely studied since its publication in 2019, and is reviewed at length. In particular, there have been numerous validation studies done and these are reviewed. Finally, the directions for future research are reviewed.

Describing and Classifying Shock: Recent Insights

Cardiogenic shock continues to present a daunting challenge to clinicians, despite an increasing array of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices. Mortality for cardiogenic shock has not changed meaningfully in more than 20 years. There have been many attempts to generate risk scores or frameworks to evaluate cardiogenic shock and optimize the use of resources and assist with prognostication. These include the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock (IABP-SHOCK) II risk score, the CardShock score and the new CLIP biomarker score. This article reviews the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) classification of cardiogenic shock and subsequent validation studies. The SCAI classification is simple for clinicians to use as it is based on readily available information and can be adapted depending on the data set that can be accessed. The authors consider the future of the field. Underlying all these efforts is the hope that a better understanding and classification of shock will lead to meaningful improvements in mortality rates.

Influence of intra-aortic balloon pump on mortality as a function of cardiogenic shock severity

BACKGROUND

Randomized studies of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in cardiogenic shock (CS) have focused exclusively on patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without stratification according to shock severity. We examined the association between IABP and mortality in CS patients across the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) shock stages.

METHODS

We included cardiac intensive care unit patients admitted from 2007 to 2015 with CS from any etiology. In-hospital mortality associated with IABP was examined in each SCAI shock stage. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to determine the association between IABP and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

We included 934 patients, with a mean age of 68 ± 14 years; 60% had ACS. The distribution of SCAI shock stages was: B, 41%; C, 13%; D, 38%; E, 8%. In-hospital mortality was lower in the 39% of patients who received IABP (27% vs. 43%, adjusted OR with IABP after IPTW 0.53, 95% CI 0.40-0.72, p < .0001). IABP use was associated with lower crude in-hospital mortality in each SCAI shock stage (all p < .05, except p = .08 in SCAI shock stage E). We did not observe any significant heterogeneity in the association between IABP use and in-hospital mortality as a function of SCAI shock stage.

CONCLUSIONS

IABP use was associated with substantially lower in-hospital mortality in patients with CS, without differences in this effect across the SCAI shock stages. Future studies should account for the severity and etiology of shock when evaluating the efficacy of IABP for CS.

Incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury stratified by cardiogenic shock severity

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) and it is independently associated with mortality. We sought to assess the prevalence, severity, and prognosis of AKI as a function of cardiogenic shock severity in unselected Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed admissions to the Mayo Clinic between 2007 to 2015 and stratified patients by the AKI stage (based on modified Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria) and Society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions (SCAI) shock stage. The association with in-hospital mortality was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 9,311 unique patients with a mean age of 67 years and 37% females. SCAI shock stages A, B, C, D, and E were present in 47%, 30%, 15%, 7%, and 1% of patients. The incidence of AKI of any severity was 39% in the CICU and 51% during the hospitalization. Hospital mortality occurred in 8% of all patients, and the risk increased as a function of the rising AKI and SCAI shock stage. Worsening AKI stage was associated with increased adjusted hospital mortality (adjusted OR per AKI stage 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.36, p < .001). Higher AKI stages were associated with increased adjusted hospital mortality in SCAI stage A/B (p < .001), but not in SCAI stage C, D, or E (all p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher AKI stages were independently associated with mortality in CICU patients after accounting for shock severity and may add incremental prognostic utility in patients with lower SCAI stages.

Influence of age and shock severity on short-term survival in patients with cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with poor outcomes in older patients, but it remains unclear if this is due to higher shock severity. We sought to determine the associations between age and shock severity on mortality among patients with CS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with a diagnosis of CS from Mayo Clinic (2007-15) and University Clinic Hamburg (2009-17) were subdivided by age. Shock severity was graded using the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) shock stages. Predictors of 30-day survival were determined using Cox proportional-hazards analysis. We included 1749 patients (934 from Mayo Clinic and 815 from University Clinic Hamburg), with a mean age of 67.6 ± 14.6 years, including 33.6% females. Acute coronary syndrome was the cause of CS in 54.0%. The distribution of SCAI shock stages was 24.1%; C, 28.0%; D, 33.2%; and E, 14.8%. Older patients had similar overall shock severity, more co-morbidities, worse kidney function, and decreased use of mechanical circulatory support compared to younger patients. Overall 30-day survival was 53.3% and progressively decreased as age or SCAI shock stage increased, with a clear gradient towards lower 30-day survival as a function of increasing age and SCAI shock stage. Progressively older age groups had incrementally lower adjusted 30-day survival than patients aged <50 years.

CONCLUSION

Older patients with CS have lower short-term survival, despite similar shock severity, with a high risk of death in older patients with more severe shock. Further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment strategies for older CS patients.

Age and shock severity predict mortality in cardiac intensive care unit patients with and without heart failure

AIMS

Age is an important risk factor for mortality among patients with cardiogenic shock and heart failure (HF). We sought to assess the extent to which age modified the performance of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) shock stage for in-hospital and 1 year mortality in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients with and without HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively reviewed unique admissions to the Mayo Clinic CICU during 2007-2015 and stratified patients by age and SCAI shock stage. The association between age and in-hospital mortality was analysed using multivariable logistic regression, and 1 year mortality was analysed using Cox proportional hazards analysis, both in the entire cohort and among patients with an admission diagnosis of HF or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The final study population included 10 004 unique patients with a mean age of 67 ± 15 years, including 46.1% with HF and 43.1% with ACS. Older patients more frequently had HF and had more extensive co-morbidities, higher illness severity, more organ failure, and differential use of critical care therapies. The percentage of patients with SCAI shock stages A, B, C, D, and E were 46%, 30%, 16%, 7%, and 1%, respectively. Patients with HF were older, had greater severity of illness and higher SCAI shock stage, and had higher rates of death at all time points. In-hospital mortality occurred in 908 (9%) patients, including 549 (12%) patients with HF (61% of all hospital deaths). Age was independently associated with hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio per 10 years 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.4, P < 0.001) and 1 year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio per 10 years 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.3, P < 0.001) in the overall cohort. The associations of age with both hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.6 vs. 1.3 per 10 years older) and 1 year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.5 vs. 1.3 per 10 years older) were higher for patients with ACS compared with patients with HF. Older age was associated with higher adjusted hospital mortality and 1 year mortality in each SCAI shock stage (all P < 0.05). Additive increases in both hospital mortality and 1 year mortality were observed with increasing age and SCAI shock stage.

CONCLUSIONS

Age is an independent risk factor for mortality that modifies the relationship between the SCAI shock stage and mortality risk in CICU patients, providing robust risk stratification for in-hospital and 1 year mortality. Although patients with HF had a higher risk of dying, age was more strongly associated with mortality among patients with ACS.