Prognostic significance of hyponatremia among ambulatory patients with heart failure and preserved and reduced ejection fractions

[Effectiveness of urea administration for the treatment of hyponatremia in heart failure]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of urea in patients with hyponatremia and heart failure (HF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a retrospective observational analytical study of patients with HF and hyponatremia (Na+ <135mmol/L). Forty-nine patients treated with urea and 47 patients who did not receive urea, all under standard treatment (according to usual clinical practice) for HF, were included and followed up at Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital in Vigo (Spain) between January 2013 and May 2022. The study evaluated the normalization of sodium levels (Na >135mmol/L). The initial natremia at the start of oral urea treatment was 127±5.22 mmol/L, at 24h the sodium level was 128±2.47 (P<.009), and the mean on the day of normalization was 135.19±4.23mmol/L (P<.005). The average number of days to achieve sodium normalization was 5.03±2.37 days. The initial uremia at the start of urea treatment was 73±46.93mg/dL, and the mean on the day of Na+ normalization was 116.05±63.64mg/dL (P<.002). The average oral urea dose was 22.5g/day. No relevant adverse effects were observed, nor were there significant changes in creatinine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral urea treatment, when added to standard treatment for short periods of time, is safe and effective in correcting natremia in patients with hypervolemic HF with hyponatremia.

Hyponatraemia and changes in natraemia during hospitalization for acute heart failure and associations with in-hospital and long-term outcomes - from the ESC-HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

To comprehensively assess hyponatraemia in acute heart failure (AHF) regarding prevalence, associations, hospital course, and post-discharge outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Of 8298 patients in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry hospitalized for AHF with any ejection fraction, 20% presented with hyponatraemia (serum sodium <135 mmol/L). Independent predictors included lower systolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and haemoglobin, along with diabetes, hepatic disease, use of thiazide diuretics, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, digoxin, higher doses of loop diuretics, and non-use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers. In-hospital death occurred in 3.3%. The prevalence of hyponatraemia and in-hospital mortality with different combinations were: 9% hyponatraemia both at admission and discharge (hyponatraemia Yes/Yes, in-hospital mortality 6.9%), 11% Yes/No (in-hospital mortality 4.9%), 8% No/Yes (in-hospital mortality 4.7%), and 72% No/No (in-hospital mortality 2.4%). Correction of hyponatraemia was associated with improvement in eGFR. In-hospital development of hyponatraemia was associated with greater diuretic use and worsening eGFR but also more effective decongestion. Among hospital survivors, 12-month mortality was 19% and adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were for hyponatraemia Yes/Yes 1.60 (1.35-1.89), Yes/No 1.35 (1.14-1.59), and No/Yes 1.18 (0.96-1.45). For death or heart failure hospitalization they were 1.38 (1.21-1.58), 1.17 (1.02-1.33), and 1.09 (0.93-1.27), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with AHF, 20% had hyponatraemia at admission, which was associated with more advanced heart failure and normalized in half of patients during hospitalization. Admission hyponatraemia (possibly dilutional), especially if it did not resolve, was associated with worse in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes. Hyponatraemia developing during hospitalization (possibly depletional) was associated with lower risk.

Hypernatremia: Epidemiology and Predictive Role in Emerging and Established Acute Kidney Injury

Hypernatremia (plasma sodium > 145 mmol/L) reflects impaired water balance, and affected patients can suffer from severe neurologic symptoms. Hyponatremia, on the other hand, is the most frequent electrolyte disorder in hospitals. It may be diagnosed in acute kidney injury (AKI), but hyponatremia prior to the diagnosis of AKI has also predictive or prognostic value in the short term. Aim of the article was to summarize data on both, epidemiology and outcomes of in-hospital acquired hypernatremia ("In-hospital acquired" refers to the diagnosis of either hypo- or hypernatremia in patients, who did not exhibit any of these electrolyte imbalances upon admission to the hospital). It also aimed to discuss its predictive role in patients with emerging or established AKI. Five databases were searched for references: PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Studies published between 2000 and 2023 were screened. The following keywords were used: "hypernatremia", "mortality", "pathophysiology", "acute kidney injury", "AKI", "risk prediction", "kidney replacement therapy", "KRT", "renal replacement therapy", "RRT", "hyponatremia", and "heart failure". A total of 16 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. Among these, 13 studies had a retrospective design, two investigations were published as secondary analyses from prospective trial cohorts, and one study was prospective in nature. Out of the 16 studies, 11 focused on the epidemiology and outcomes of hypernatremia, while five investigations were related to AKI and/or AKI-associated endpoints. The prevalence of hypernatremia diagnosed during hospitalization varied from 1.9% to 6.8%, with one exception where it was 30.8%. All studies demonstrated associations between hypernatremia and mortality, even over extended periods after discharge. In AKI patients, hypernatremia shows potential for predicting in-hospital death. In conclusion, hypernatremic individuals are at higher risk of death during in-hospital therapy. Also, the electrolyte disorder potentially qualifies as a future biomarker for AKI onset and AKI-associated mortality.

Relationship between serum sodium level at dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality

BACKGROUND

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease. In addition, hyponatremia is associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis. However, few studies have examined this relationship in patients with incident dialysis.

METHODS

We used a database of multicenter prospective cohort studies that included 1520 incident dialysis patients. The baseline was set at the time of dialysis initiation. The enrolled patients were classified into five groups according to their serum sodium levels (< 130 mEq/L, 130-134 mEq/L, 135-139 mEq/L, 140-144 mEq/L, and ≥ 145 mEq/L). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 392 all-cause deaths occurred during the follow-up period. The ultrafiltration volume per body weight during the first dialysis session was more significant in the groups with the lowest and highest sodium levels. The percentage of patients using loop diuretics and thiazide was higher in the group with lower sodium levels (< 130 mEq/L and 130-134 mEq/L). All-cause mortality was significantly different among the five groups (p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis indicated that all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the group with the lowest sodium level compared to the group with a serum sodium level of 135-139 mEq/L (hazard ratio: 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.49).

CONCLUSION

Hyponatremia of < 130 mEq/L at dialysis initiation was significantly associated with all-cause mortality. We considered the results relevant to underlying conditions, including cardiovascular disease and medications.

sST2 and Heart Failure-Clinical Utility and Prognosis

New parameters and markers are constantly being sought to help better assess patients with heart failure (HF). ST2 protein has gained interest as a potential biomarker in cardiovascular disease. It is known that the IL-33/ST2L system belongs to the cardioprotective pathway, which prevents the fibrosis, hypertrophy, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and also inhibits the inflammatory response. Soluble ST2 (sST2) is involved in the immune response and secreted in response to the mechanical overload of the myocardium, thus providing information on the processes of myocardial remodeling and fibrosis. A total of 110 hospitalized patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical parameters were studied. During the follow-up, 30.9% patients died and 57.3% patients reached the composite endpoint. Using ROC curves, the reference cut-off point for sST2 was determined to be 45.818 pg/mL for all-cause deaths. Significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory parameters and natriuretic peptides were found in the group of patients with higher sST2 concentrations. sST2 protein is an independent risk factor for all-cause deaths of patients with HFrEF.

Hyponatremia and lower normal serum sodium levels are associated with an increased risk of all-cause death in heart failure patients

AIM

To explore the relationship between the serum sodium level on admission and all-cause mortality in HF patients.

DESIGN

A single-center retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized with HF at the Heart Failure Center, Fuwai Hospital, from November 2008 to November 2018 were enrolled.

RESULTS

A total of 3649 patients were included, and the mean sodium level was 137.19 ± 4.36 mmol/L, with a range from 115.6 to 160.9 mmol/L. During a median follow-up of 1101 days, mortality occurred in 1413 (38.7%) hospital survivors. After adjustment for age, sex, and other potential confounders, patients with sodium levels <135 mmol/L (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-2.16) and 135-137 mmol/L (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.01-1.78) had an increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with sodium levels of 139-141 mmol/L.

Dysnatremia is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality within 365 days post-discharge in patients with atrial fibrillation without heart failure: A prospective cohort study

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between serum sodium concentrations at hospital admission and all-cause mortality within 365 days post-discharge in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) without heart failure (HF).

METHODS

The prospective cohort study enrolled 1,446 patients with AF without HF between November 2018 and October 2020. A follow-up was performed 30, 90, 180, and 365 days after enrollment through outpatient visits or telephone interviews. All-cause mortality was estimated in three groups according to serum sodium concentrations: hyponatremia (< 135 mmol/L), normonatremia (135-145 mmol/L), and hypernatremia (> 145 mmol/L). We estimated the risk of all-cause mortalities using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with normonatremia as the reference.

RESULTS

The all-cause mortalities of hyponatremia, normonatremia, and hypernatremia were 20.6, 9.4, and 33.3% within 365 days post-discharge, respectively. In the univariable analysis, hyponatremia (HR: 2.19, CI 1.5-3.2) and hypernatremia (HR: 4.03, CI 2.32-7.02) increased the risk of all-cause mortality. The HRs for hyponatremia and hypernatremia were 1.55 (CI 1.05-2.28) and 2.55 (CI 1.45-4.46) after adjustment for age, diabetes mellitus, loop diuretics, antisterone, antiplatelet drugs, and anticoagulants in the patients with AF without HF. The association between serum sodium concentrations and the HRs of all-cause mortality was U-shaped.

CONCLUSION

Dysnatremia at hospital admission was an independent factor for all-cause mortality in patients with AF without HF within 365 days post-discharge.

Relationship between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality in congestive heart failure patients: A retrospective cohort study based on the Mimic-III database.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1919991/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum sodium levels and mortality in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients has not been well studied previously. Serum sodium levels are linked to an increased risk of all-cause death in CHF patients over the short, medium, and long term. Serum sodium levels are strongly linked to an increased risk of death from congestive heart failure and could be a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study is to look into the relationship between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality in people with CHF after controlling for other factors.METHODS: The publicly accessible Mimic III database was the source of data for our study. We use the ICU Admission Scoring System to collect demographic data, laboratory findings, comorbidities, vital signs, and scoring information for each patient. Cox proportional risk analysis, smooth curve fitting, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve were used to assess the relationship between baseline sodium levels and all-cause mortality in CHF patients.RESULTS: The segmentation regression model discovered a turning point value of serum sodium levels (137.5mmol/L) between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality. According to the results of the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, lower serum sodium levels (<137.5mmol/L) were associated with an increased risk of 30-day, 90-day, 365-day, and 4-year all-cause deaths. The HRs and 95th confidence intervals were 0.96 (0.94, 0.99) , 0.96 (0.94, 0.99), 0.96 (0.94, 0.98) , and 0.96 (0.95, 0.98), respectively; The higher Serum sodium levels(≥137.5mmol/L) were related to associate multiplied risk of 30-day, 90-day, 365-day, and 4-year all-cause deaths; the HRs and 95th confidence intervals were 1.02 (1.00, 1.05), 1.02 (1.00, 1.04), 1.02 (1.00, 1.03) , and 1.02 (1.00, 1.03), respectively.CONCLUSION: Serum sodium levels were u-shaped about all-cause mortality. In individuals with CHF, serum sodium levels are linked to an elevated risk of short-, medium-, and long-term all-cause mortality.

Clinical predictors of hyponatremia in patients with heart failure according to severity of chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Hyponatremia, a marker of illness severity and poor prognosis, is commonly exhibited in patients with CKD.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included patients hospitalized due to heart failure (HF). We used stepwise logistic regression to investigate the independent association of cardiovascular drugs, markers of HF severity, and baseline clinical characteristics with hyponatremia in three subgroups; normal renal function, mild-to-moderate CKD, and severe CKD.

RESULTS

Of the 1232 patients, 38.6% were hyponatremic. Patients with severe CKD, compared to those with normal renal function and mild-to-moderate CKD, were more likely to be hyponatremic (47.1%, 34.4% and 36.6%, respectively; p ≤ 0.0001). Alcohol consumption, female sex, n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) use, or angiotensin II receptor I blocker (ARB) non-use were associated with hyponatremia in patients with normal renal function (p ≤ 0.03 in all cases). Current smoking, diabetes mellitus, NT-proBNP, loop diuretic dose, and MRA use were predictors in mild-to-moderate CKD (p ≤ 0.04 in all cases). ARB use, loop diuretic dose, and HCT use were predictors in severe CKD (p ≤ 0.03 in all cases). Non-use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) was an independent predictor of hyponatremia in all CKD stages (p ≤ 0.04 in all cases).

CONCLUSION

Apart from a firm favorable effect of CCBs, cardiovascular therapy should be carefully tailored to avoid hyponatremia in patients with cardiorenal syndrome.

Relationship of Dapagliflozin With Serum Sodium: Findings From the DAPA-HF Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the prognostic importance of hyponatremia and the effects of dapagliflozin on serum sodium in the DAPA-HF (Dapagliflozin And Prevention of Adverse outcomes in Heart Failure) trial.

BACKGROUND

Hyponatremia is common and prognostically important in hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but its prevalence and importance in ambulatory patients are uncertain.

METHODS

We calculated the incidence of the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure) and secondary outcomes according to sodium category (≤135 and >135 mmol/L). Additionally, we assessed: 1) whether baseline serum sodium modified the treatment effect of dapagliflozin; and 2) the effect of dapagliflozin on serum sodium.

RESULTS

Of 4,740 participants with a baseline measurement, 398 (8.4%) had sodium ≤135 mmol/L. Participants with hyponatremia were more likely to have diabetes, be treated with diuretics, and have lower systolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Hyponatremia was associated with worse outcomes even after adjustment for predictive variables (adjusted HRs for the primary outcome 1.50 [95% CI: 1.23-1.84] and all-cause death 1.59 [95% CI: 1.26-2.01]). The benefits of dapagliflozin were similar in patients with and without hyponatremia (HR for primary endpoint: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.57-1.19] and 0.73 [95% CI: 0.63-0.84], respectively, P for interaction = 0.54; HR for all-cause death: 0.85 [95% CI: 0.56-1.29] and 0.83 [95% CI: 0.70-0.98], respectively, P for interaction = 0.96). Between baseline and day 14, more patients on dapagliflozin developed hyponatremia (11.3% vs 9.4%; P = 0.04); thereafter, this pattern reversed and at 12 months fewer patients on dapagliflozin had hyponatremia (4.6% vs 6.7%; P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline serum sodium concentration was prognostically important, but did not modify the benefits of dapagliflozin on morbidity and mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. (Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on the Incidence of Worsening Heart Failure or Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure [DAPA-HF]: NCT03036124).

Relationship between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality in congestive heart failure patients: A retrospective cohort study based on the Mimic-III database

BACKGROUND

The relationship between serum sodium levels and mortality in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients has not been well-studied previously. The non-linear correlation between serum sodium levels and mortality in patients with heart failure is currently controversial, and the relationship between different serum sodium levels and mortality is disputed. The goal of this study is to look into the relationship between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality in people with CHF after controlling for other factors.

METHODS

The publicly accessible Mimic III database was the source of data for our study. We use the ICU Admission Scoring System to collect demographic data, laboratory findings, comorbidities, vital signs, and scoring information for each patient. Cox proportional risk analysis, smooth curve fitting, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve were used to assess the relationship between baseline sodium levels and all-cause mortality in CHF patients.

RESULTS

The segmentation regression model discovered a turning point value of serum sodium levels (137.5 mmol/L) between serum sodium levels and all-cause mortality. According to the results of the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, lower serum sodium levels (<137.5 mmol/L) were associated with an increased risk of 30, 90, 365-day, and 4-year all-cause deaths. The HRs and 95th confidence intervals were 0.96 (0.94, 0.99), 0.96 (0.94, 0.99), 0.96 (0.94, 0.98), and 0.96 (0.95, 0.98), respectively; the higher serum sodium levels (≥137.5 mmol/L) were related to an associated multiplied risk of 30, 90, 365-day, and 4-year all-cause deaths; the HRs and 95th confidence intervals were 1.02 (1.00, 1.05), 1.02 (1.00, 1.04), 1.02 (1.00, 1.03), and 1.02 (1.00, 1.03), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Serum sodium levels were u-shaped about all-cause mortality. In individuals with CHF, serum sodium levels are linked to an elevated risk of short-, medium-, and long-term all-cause mortality.

Hyponatraemia in heart failure: time for new solutions?

Hyponatraemia is very common in heart failure (HF), especially in decompensated patients. It is associated with increased mortality and morbidity and considered a marker of advanced disease. Recognition of hyponatraemia and its causes may help guide treatment strategy. Historically, therapy has primarily focused on water restriction, decongestion with loop diuretics in case of volume overload (dilutional hyponatraemia) and sodium repletion in case of depletion. In this review, we summarise the potential benefits of established and emerging HF therapies on sodium homeostasis, with a focus on dual vasopressin antagonists, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and hypertonic saline, and propose a potential therapeutic approach for hyponatraemia in HF.

Papel dos Níveis de Sódio na Fibrilação Atrial na Insuficiência Cardíaca: Jogador Ativo ou Bystander?

Fundamento

Objetivo

Métodos

Resultados

Conclusão

Prognostic impact of hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia at admission and discharge in heart failure patients with preserved, mid-range and reduced ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Hyponatraemia is common in patients with acute heart failure (HF).

AIMS

To determine the impact of sodium disturbances on mortality and readmissions in HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF).

METHODS

This study was a prospective multicentre consecutive registry in 20 hospitals, including patients admitted due to acute HF in cardiology departments. Sodium <135 mmol/L was considered hyponatraemia, >145 mmol/L hypernatraemia and 135-145 mmol/L normal.

RESULTS

A total of 1309 patients was included. Mean age was 72.0 ± 11.9 years, and 810 (61.9%) were male. Mean serum sodium level was 138.6 ± 4.7 mmol/L at hospital admission and 138.1 ± 4.1 mmol/L at discharge. The evolution of sodium levels was: normal-at-admission/normal-at-discharge 941 (71.9%), abnormal-at-admission/normal-at-discharge 127 (9.7%), normal-at-admission/abnormal-at-discharge 155 (11.8%) and abnormal-at-admission/abnormal-at-discharge 86 (6.6%). Hyponatraemia at discharge was more common in HFrEF (109 (20.7%)) than in HFpEF (79 (13.9%)) and HFmrEF (27 (12%)), P = 0.003. The prevalence of hypernatraemia at discharge was similar in the three groups: HFrEF (10 (1.9%)), HFpEF (12 (2.1%)) and HFmrEF (4 (1.9%)), P = 0.96. In multivariate analysis, abnormal sodium concentrations at hospital admission (hazard ratio (HR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.76, P = 0.001) and discharge (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08-1.64, P = 0.007) were both independently associated with increased mortality and readmissions at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia at admission and discharge predict a poor outcome in patients with acute HF regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction. Hyponatraemia at discharge is more frequent in HFrEF than in the other groups.

Serum sodium and eplerenone use in patients with a myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure: insights from the EPHESUS trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium changes are common in myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and/or heart failure (HF). Sodium handling is fine-tuned in the distal nephron, were eplerenone exhibits some of its pleotropic effects. Little is known about the effect of eplerenone on serum sodium and the prognostic relevance of sodium alterations in patients with MI complicated with LVSD and/or HF.

METHODS

The EPHESUS trial randomized 6632 patients to either eplerenone or placebo. Hyponatremia and hypernatremia were defined as sodium < 135 mmol/L or > 145 mmol/L, respectively. Linear mixed models and time updated Cox regression analysis were used to determine the effect of eplerenone on sodium changes and the prognostic importance of sodium changes, respectively. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and a composite of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and CV-hospitalization.

RESULTS

A total of 6221 patients had a post-baseline sodium measurement, 797 patients developed hyponatremia (mean of 0.2 events/per patient) and 1476 developed hypernatremia (mean of 0.4 events/per patient). Patients assigned to eplerenone had a lower mean serum sodium over the follow-up (140 vs 141 mmol/L; p < 0.0001) and more often developed hyponatremia episodes (15 vs 11% p = 0.0001) and less often hypernatremia episodes (22 vs. 26% p = 0.0003). Hyponatremia, but not hypernatremia was associated with adverse outcome for all outcome endpoints in the placebo group but not in the eplerenone group (interaction p value < 0.05 for all). Baseline sodium values did not influence the treatment effect of eplerenone in reducing the various endpoints (interaction p value > 0.05 for all). Development of new-onset hyponatremia following eplerenone initiation did not diminish the beneficial eplerenone treatment effect.

CONCLUSION

Eplerenone induces minor reductions in serum sodium. The beneficial effect of eplerenone was maintained regardless of the baseline serum sodium or the development of hyponatremia. Sodium alterations should not refrain clinicians from prescribing eplerenone to patients who had an MI complicated with LVSD and/or HF.

TRAIL REGISTRY

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00232180. Serum sodium and eplerenone use in patients with a myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure: insights from the EPHESUS trial.

Relationship between Hyponatremia and Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Diabetes

OBJECTIVES

Hyponatremia is a common complication of diabetes. However, the relationship between serum sodium level and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is unknown. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between low serum sodium level and DPN in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on 1928 patients with type 2 diabetes between 2010 and 2018. The multivariate test was used to analyze the relationship between the serum sodium level and the nerve conduction function. A restricted cubic spline was used to flexibly model and visualize the relationship between the serum sodium level and DPN, followed by logistic regression with adjustment.

RESULTS

As the serum sodium level increased, the prevalence of DPN had a reverse J-curve distribution with the serum sodium levels (69.6%, 53.7%, 49.6%, 43.9%, and 49.7%; P = 0.001). Significant differences existed between the serum sodium level and the motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve conduction velocity, part of compound muscle action potential, and sensory nerve action potential of the participants. Compared with hyponatremia, the higher serum sodium level was a relative lower risk factor for DPN after adjusting for several potential confounders (OR = 0.430, 95%CI = 0.220-0.841; OR = 0.386, 95%CI = 0.198-0.755; OR = 0.297, 95%CI = 0.152-0.580; OR = 0.376, 95%CI = 0.190-0.743; all P < 0.05). Compared with low-normal serum sodium groups, the high-normal serum sodium level was also a risk factor for DPN (OR = 0.690, 95%CI = 0.526-0.905, P = 0.007). This relationship was particularly apparent in male participants, those aged <65 years, those with a duration of diabetes of <10 years, and those with a urinary albumin - to - creatinine ratio (UACR) < 30 mg/g.

CONCLUSIONS

Low serum sodium levels were independently associated with DPN, even within the normal range of the serum sodium. We should pay more attention to avoid the low serum sodium level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Tobacco smoking in patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease: A 20-year experience at Duke University Medical Center

Smoking is associated with incident heart failure (HF), yet limited data are available exploring the association between smoking status and long-term outcomes in HF with reduced vs. preserved ejection fraction (i.e., HFrEF vs. HFpEF).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of HF patients undergoing coronary angiography from 1990-2010. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and HF were stratified by EF (< 50% vs. ≥50%), smoking status (prior/current vs. never smoker), and level of smoking (light/moderate vs. heavy). Time-from-catheterization-to-event was examined using Cox proportional hazard modeling for all-cause mortality (ACM), ACM/myocardial infarction/stroke (MACE), and ACM/HF hospitalization with testing for interaction by HF-type (HFrEF vs. HFpEF).

RESULTS

Of 14,406 patients with CAD and HF, 85% (n = 12,326) had HFrEF and 15% (n = 2080) had HFpEF. At catheterization, 61% of HFrEF and 57% of HFpEF patients had a smoking history. After adjustment, there was a significant interaction between HF-type and the association between smoking status and MACE (interaction P = .009). Smoking history was associated with increased risk for MACE in patients with HFrEF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.18 [1.12-1.24]), but not HFpEF (HR 1.01 [0.90-1.12]). Active smokers had increased mortality following adjustment compared to former smokers regardless of HF-type (HFrEF HR 1.19 [1.06-1.32], HFpEF HR 1.30 [1.02-1.64], interaction P = .50). Heavy smokers trended towards increased risk of adverse outcomes versus light/moderate smokers; these findings were consistent across HF-type (interaction P > .12).

CONCLUSION

Smoking history was independently associated with worse outcomes in HFrEF but not HFpEF. Regardless of HF-type, current smokers had higher risk than former smokers.

Prognostic value of serum hyponatremia for outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: An observational cohort study

Hyponatremia is a risk factor associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. However, whether hyponatremia has a similar role in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has remained controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and 24-month prognostic profile of a cohort of patients with HFpEF in China. From a registered observational cohort study on 1,027 subjects with HF, 496 patients with HFpEF were included. The association between baseline hyponatremia on admission and 24-month adverse outcomes (including all-cause mortality, re-hospitalization for HF and stroke) was analyzed using logistic regression with the Cox proportional hazards model. Of the 496 patients with HFpEF with a mean age of 72.8 years and proportion of males of 53.0%, 71 patients were diagnosed with hyponatremia. Furthermore, 29 patients (5.8%) were lost to follow-up. The hyponatremia group had lower blood pressure and serum hemoglobin, higher N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and D-dimer, more patients with a history of atrial fibrillation and a higher proportion of spironolactone and loop diuretic use. According to a multivariate regression analysis, New York Heart Association functional classes III-IV and a serum NT-proBNP level above the median were risk factors for hyponatremia, while higher systolic blood pressure and β-blocker use were protective factors against hyponatremia. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, hyponatremia was associated with all-causes of mortality, re-hospitalization for HF and a poor prognosis for patients suffering from strokes (log-rank P<0.05 for all 3 endpoints). On multivariate logistic regression analysis with the Cox proportional hazard model, hyponatremia was an independent predictor of three adverse outcomes [all-cause mortality: Hazard ratio (HR)=1.54, 95% CI=1.07-2.91, P=0.034; re-hospitalization for heart failure: HR=1.28, 95% CI=1.16-2.47, P=0.013; stroke: HR=1.78, 95% CI=1.04-2.89, P=0.016]. Collectively, the present results suggested that hyponatremia on admission was significantly associated with all-cause mortality, re-hospitalization and stroke within 24 months in a cohort of hospitalized patients with HFpEF in China. Thus, hyponatremia should be carefully monitored and frequently adjusted in patients with HFpEF (NCT04062500).

The aging burden of hospitalization for heart failure in Chinese populations: evidence from the Macao Heart Failure Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the aging burden of hospitalization for heart failure in Chinese populations in Macao.

METHODS

The Macao Heart Failure Study consists of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) at Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário (the only public hospital that provides medical care for the approximately 600, 000 residents of Macao) from January 2014 to December 2016. First, we investigated the relationship between socioeconomic development and epidemiological characteristics of HF in Macao. Then we assessed the patientso clinical features and outcomes according to the age groups.

RESULTS

A total of 967 patients were included in the final analysis. The median age at admission was 82 years old. The advanced age at the admission of HF in Macao was significantly associated with a high-income level and the aging population structure. Marked heterogeneity existed in the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, utilization of evidence-based therapies, short- and long-term outcomes, and prognostic utility of clinical variables among the different age groups.

CONCLUSION

Rapid economic development and significantly aging populations have produced a profound impact on the epidemiological characteristics of HF in Chinese populations. Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is predominantly a disease of the elderly in Macao, and a significant heterogeneity exists in the clinical features, managements, and outcomes among different age groups. Age-based risk stratification models and multidisciplinary HF teams are urgently needed to improve the management and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure (HHF) patients.

Furosemide and spironolactone doses and hyponatremia in patients with heart failure

Background

Hyponatremia, a marker of disease severity and prognosis, has been associated with various clinical factors and drug use, especially diuretics.

Methods

This observational prospective cohort study enrolled patients hospitalized at the University Hospital Center Split because of heart failure (HF). We investigated the association of clinical variables and cardiovascular drugs, including furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, and their doses, with the presence of hyponatremia at admission.

Results

Of the 565 included patients, 32.4% were hyponatremic, 62.6% were males, and the mean age was 73.1 ± 10.6 years. In the univariate analysis, hyponatremic patients were more often current smokers (p = 0.01), alcohol consumers (p = 0.01), receiving spironolactone (p = 0.004) or combination of furosemide and spironolactone (p = 0.003). Patients who received 50 and 100 mg of spironolactone, compared to those receiving 25 mg (p < 0.0001), as well as patients who received 250 to 500 mg of furosemide compared to ≤240 mg (p = 0.001), were significantly more often hyponatremic. In the multivariate analysis, when diuretic doses were accounted for, furosemide doses of 250 to 500 mg (p = 0.009), spironolactone doses of 50 to 100 mg (p = 0.0003), increasing age (p = 0.03), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.04) were independently associated with hyponatremia.

Conclusion

High doses of furosemide and spironolactone, or concomitant use of these diuretics, seem to be an important cause of hyponatremia in HF patients, particularly in combination with advanced age, diabetes and alcohol consumption. Diuretic dose reduction may help avoid hyponatremia and improve clinical status and prognosis in such patients.

Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Is Hyponatremia a Useful Clinical Biomarker?

Background

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a global health burden. Despite advances in treatment, there remain well-recognised morbidity and mortality. Risk stratification requires the identification and validation of biomarkers, old and new. Hyponatremia has re-emerged as a prognostic marker in CHF patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study on 241 CHF patients recruited from King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia (January 2005–December 2016). Their serum sodium and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline, along with 2-D echocardiographic assessments of left ventricular mass and ejection fraction. The primary endpoint was the association between hyponatremia and all-cause mortality (ACM) after a follow-up period of 24 months.

Results

Mean age of patients was 60.61 ± 12.63 (SD) years; 65.1% were males, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 71%. Baseline serum sodium was 138.00 (136, 140) (median and interquartile range). Hyponatremia (<135 meq/L) was present in 14.1%. After follow-up, 46 deaths had occurred. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazard model showed that type 2 DM, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (III–IV vs I–II), age, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were significant and independent predictors of ACM, with HR 3.03 (95% CI; 1.13, 8.16) (P=0.028), HR 2.31 (95% CI; 1.11, 4.82) (P=0.026), HR 1.06 (95% CI; 1.03, 1.09) (P<0.001), and HR 1.01 (95% CI; 1.00, 1.02) (P=0.039), respectively. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was not a significant predictor. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used for the analysis of NYHA class and hyponatremia interactions and showed that hyponatremia had an association with poorer survival in patients with NYHA class III–IV rather than I–II (Log-rank test, P= 0.0009).

Conclusion

Hyponatremia was a feature in CHF patients, and ACM was predicted by type 2 DM, NYHA class, age, and LVMI. Hyponatremia impact on survival was in patients with more advanced disease.

Prognostic Significance of Hyponatremia in ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction/Heart Failure Patients

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and heart failure (HF) are common, big-budget, debilitating and expanding diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, especially STEMI and heart failure have been known to cause 17.3 million deaths worldwide annually. Hyponatremia, delineated as a serum sodium (sNa) concentration <135 mmol/l, is a frequently seen electrolyte disturbance in practice and the prevalence, clinical impact; the prognostic factor of low SNa in STEMI/heart failure patients vary widely. The aim of this review is to assess its existence and comparing survival difference between hypo and normonatremic patients. A comprehensive review of the published articles was conducted using database PubMed. We found a total of over 1400 articles. The inclusion criteria used for this review were age >65 years, published within the last 10 years, written in English, performed on human subjects and of studies such as reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), especially for heart failure MeSH words. By applying this inclusion criterion, we found out 40 relevant articles which included 26 cohort studies, four clinical trials, four review articles, and six RCTs. In the analysis of 7,06,899 patients with STEMI/heart failure, hyponatremia was significantly linked to causing all-cause mortality, both short and long term (hazard ratio [HR] as continuous variable: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.026; HR as categorical variable: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.06-2.75; P = 0.028). The rates of rehospitalization were also higher (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.14) along with prolonged hospital stays as well as a greater cost burden as compared to patients with normal serum sodium. It was existent not only in patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but also in subjects with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.75, P = 0.004). Rise of first follow-up and discharge sodium does seem to have positive linkage on survival as well (hazard ratio [HR] 0.429, 95% CI 0.191-0.960, P = 0.04). Hyponatremia is the most frequently encountered electrolyte abnormality in clinical practice and has a poor prognosis in both STEMI and heart failure patients. It exacerbates both short and long term mortality, rehospitalization rates, as well as the average length of stay in the hospital. Although it is still a mystery whether hyponatremia is just a marker of iller patients or the core of poor prognosis in patients with STEMI and HF, one thing is certain: timely recognition of patients at risk for developing hyponatremia could help to commence early treatment.

Racial differences and mortality risk in patients with heart failure and hyponatremia

BACKGROUND

Hyponatremia is a well-established poor prognostic marker in patients with heart failure. Whether the mortality risk is comparable among different races of patients with heart failure and hyponatremia is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure and an admission sodium level<135 mEq/L from 1/1/2001 through 12/31/10 were identified. Patients were divided into four groups based on self-reported race: white, African American, Hispanic and other. African Americans were used as the reference group for statistical analysis. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

We included 4,343 patients, from which 1,356 (31%) identified as white, 1,248 (29%) as African American, 780 (18%) as Hispanic and 959 (22%) as other. During a median follow-up of 23 months, a total of 2,384 patients died: 678 were African American, 820 were white, 298 were Hispanic and 588 were other. After adjusting for baseline demographics, comorbidities and medication use, Hispanic patients had a 45% less risk of death as compared to African Americans (HR .55, CI .48-.64, p<0.05). There was no difference in mortality between white and African American patients (HR 1.04, CI .92-1.2, p = 0.79).

CONCLUSION

Hispanic patients admitted for heart failure and who were hyponatremic on admission had an independent lower risk of mortality compared to other groups. These findings may be due to the disparate activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system among various racial groups. This observational study is hypothesis generating and suggests that treatment of patients with heart failure and hyponatremia should perhaps be focused more on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system reduction in certain racial groups, yet less in others.

Serial sodium values and adverse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study is to examine whether serial measurements of serum sodium values after diagnosis identify a higher-risk subset of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS

We identified 50,932 subjects with HFpEF with 759,577 recorded sNa measurements (mean age 72 ± 11 years) using a validated algorithm in the VA national database from 2002 to 2012. We examined the association of repeated measures of sNa with mortality using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 2.9 years (IQR: 1.2-5.4), 19,011 deaths occurred. After adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, glomerular filtration rate, potassium, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary disease, diabetes, anemia, and medications, we found J-shaped associations of serum sodium with mortality. HRs for all-cause mortality were 2.48 (95% CI: 2.38-2.60) for the sNA 115.00-133.99 category; and 1.40 (95% CI: 1.35-1.46) for the sNA 143.00-175.00 category compared to the 137.01-140.99 category (ref). We used generalized estimating equation-based negative binomial regression to compute the incidence density ratios (IDR) to examine days hospitalized for heart failure and for all causes. There were a total of 1,275,614 days of all-cause hospitalization and 104,006 days of heart-failure hospitalization. The IDRs for the lowest sNA group were 2.03 (95% CI: 1.90-2.18) for all-cause hospitalization and 1.73 (95% CI: 1.39-2.16) for heart-failure hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that monitoring of serum sodium values during longitudinal follow-up can identify HFpEF patients at risk of adverse outcomes.

Predictors of cardiovascular outcome and rehospitalization in elderly patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem and represents the only cardiac disease continuing to increase in prevalence, in particular among elderly patients. The frequent rehospitalizations have a negative impact on quality of life of patients with HF, constituting a substantial cost for patients and the health system. The aim of this review was to look into biochemical, echocardiographic and socioeconomical parameters as predictors of clinical outcomes and rehospitalizations.

METHODS

This narrative review is based on the material searched for and obtained via PubMed from January 2000 up to March 2018. The search terms we used were as follows: "elderly, heart failure, cardiovascular" in combination with "biomarker, echocardiography and hospitalization."

RESULTS

This review analyses the potential predictive role of biochemical and echocardiographic and socioeconomical parameters on clinical outcomes (particularly cardiovascular) and hospital readmissions in patients with chronic HF. We focused on risk stratification of elderly patients with HF, who constitute a category of frail subjects at higher risk for readmission to hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

In elderly subjects with chronic HF, the risk stratification could benefit of a multiparametric approach combining biochemical, echocardiographic, demographic and socioeconomical parameters, thus ensuring a better quality of life and at the same time a better allocation of financial resources.

Hyponatremia at discharge is associated with adverse prognosis in acute heart failure syndromes with preserved ejection fraction: a report from the JASPER registry

INTRODUCTION

Hyponatremia predicts adverse prognosis in patients with heart failure in particular with reduced ejection fraction. In contrast, it has recently been reported that hyponatremia on admission is not a predictor of post-discharge mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We investigated the prognostic impact of hyponatremia at discharge in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and its clinical characteristics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Japanese Heart Failure Syndrome with Preserved Ejection Fraction (JASPER) registry is a nationwide, observational, prospective registration of consecutive Japanese patients hospitalised with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or greater. Five hundred consecutive patients were enrolled in this analysis. We divided the patients into two groups based on their sodium serum levels at discharge: hyponatremia group (sodium <135 mEq/L, n=50, 10.0%) and control group (sodium ⩾135 mEq/L, n=450, 90.0%). This present analysis had two primary endpoints: all-cause death and all-cause death or rehospitalisation for heart failure. At discharge, the hyponatremia group had lower systolic blood pressure (110.0 mmHg vs. 114.5 mmHg, P=0.014) and higher levels of urea nitrogen (31.9 mg/dL vs. 24.2 mg/dL, P=0.032). In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, more patients in the hyponatremia group reached the primary endpoints than those in the control group (log rank <0.01, respectively). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, hyponatremia at discharge was a predictor of the two endpoints (all-cause death, hazard ratio 2.708, 95% confidence interval 1.557-4.708, P<0.001; all-cause death or rehospitalisation for heart failure, hazard ratio 1.829, 95% confidence interval 1.203-2.780, P=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyponatremia at discharge is associated with adverse prognosis in hospitalised patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Prognostic Role of Hyponatremia in Heart Failure Patients Depending on Renal Disease: Clinical Evidence

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> Hyponatremia is very often associated with renal disease in patients with heart failure (HF) and, when present, determines a poor outcome. We investigated the role of hyponatremia in HF patients in whom the presence or absence renal insufficiency was accurately predefined. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This was a cohort study based on the Spanish National Registry on Heart Failure (RICA), a multicenter, prospective registry that enrolls patients admitted for decompensated HF who were subsequently followed up for 1 year. We classified patients into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of renal disease defined by the hematocrit, urea, and gender formula (HUGE) and then according to the presence of hyponatremia (Na ≤135 mEq/L). <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 3,478 patients were included. Hyponatremia was more prevalent in the group with renal disease (22.1%) than without (18.4%). During admission, both groups with hyponatremia had more complications than those with normal serum sodium. During the 1-year follow-up, patients with hyponatremia and renal disease had a significantly worse outcome (HF mortality and readmission), HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.54–2.29, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, compared to those with hyponatremia without renal disease, HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.79–1.3, <i>p</i> = 0.94. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Hyponatremia is more prevalent in patients with renal insufficiency, and outcome is poorest when both renal disease and hyponatremia coexist. Patients with hyponatremia without renal disease show no differences in outcome compared to those without hyponatremia.

Prognostic Significance of Baseline Serum Sodium in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum sodium at the time of diagnosis and long term clinical outcomes in a large national cohort of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied 25 440 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction treated at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States between 2002 and 2012. Serum sodium at the time of heart failure diagnosis was analyzed as a continuous variable and in categories as follows: low (115.00-134.99 mmol/L), low-normal (135.00-137.99 mmol/L), referent group (138.00-140.99 mmol/L), high normal (141.00-143.99 mmol/L), and high (144.00-160.00 mmol/L). Multivariable Cox regression and negative binomial regression were performed to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) and incidence density ratios (95% CI) for the associations of serum sodium with mortality and hospitalizations (heart failure and all-cause), respectively. The average age of patients was 70.8 years, 96.2% were male, and 14% were black. Compared with the referent group, low, low-normal, and high sodium values were associated with 36% (95% CI, 28%-44%), 6% (95% CI, 1%-12%), and 9% (95% CI, 1%-17%) higher risk of all-cause mortality, respectively. Low and low-normal serum sodium were associated with 48% (95% CI, 10%-100%) and 38% (95% CI, 8%-77%) higher risk of number of days of heart failure hospitalizations per year, and with 44% (95% CI, 32%-56%) and 18% (95% CI, 10%-27%) higher risk of number of days of all-cause hospitalizations per year, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Both elevated and reduced serum sodium, including values currently considered within normal range, are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Using Electrolyte Free Water Balance to Rationalize and Treat Dysnatremias

Dysnatremias or abnormalities in plasma [Na+] are often termed disorders of water balance, an unclear physiologic concept often confused with changes in total fluid balance. However, most clinicians clearly recognize that hypertonic or hypotonic gains or losses alter plasma [Na+], while isotonic changes do not modify plasma [Na+]. This concept can be conceptualized as the electrolyte free water balance (EFWB), which defines the non-isotonic components of inputs and outputs to determine their effect on plasma [Na+]. EFWB is mathematically proportional to the rate of change in plasma [Na+] (dPNa/dt) and, therefore, is actively regulated to zero so that plasma [Na+] remains stable at its homeostatic set point. Dysnatremias are, therefore, disorders of EFWB and the relationship between EFWB and dPNa/dt provides a rationale for therapeutic strategies incorporating mass and volume balance. Herein, we leverage dPNa/dt as a desired rate of correction of plasma [Na+] to define a stepwise approach for the treatment of dysnatremias.

Hyponatraemia and its prognosis in acute heart failure is related to right ventricular dysfunction

OBJECTIVES

Hyponatraemia is a well-known predictor of clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF). However, the mechanism remains poorly understood. Previous reports suggest that hyponatraemia is related to right HF. We sought to evaluate the association between right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and hyponatraemia, and the impact of this relationship on the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

This is a nested case-control study of the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry. Among 2935 AHF patients enrolled prospectively and consecutively at four tertiary hospitals in Korea from 2011 to 2014, 116 patients with severe persistent hyponatraemia, defined as serum sodium level <130 mmol/L at admission and <135 mmol/L before discharge, were matched with 232 controls, based on propensity scores for hyponatraemia. RV function was assessed with fractional area change (FAC) by echocardiography.

RESULTS

RV dysfunction (FAC <35%) was more prevalent in patients with severe persistent hyponatraemia than in those without (81.0% vs 33.6%, p<0.001). Hyponatraemia was strongly associated with RV dysfunction (adjusted OR 8.00, 95% CI 4.50 to 14.22, p<0.001), but not with left ventricular dysfunction (adjusted OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.50, p=0.308). RV dysfunction was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality, after adjustment for hyponatraemia (adjusted HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.15, p<0.001), while hyponatraemia was not (adjusted HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.87, p=0.108).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AHF, hyponatraemia was more common with RV dysfunction. RV dysfunction, rather than hyponatraemia, was more significantly related with patients' prognosis. Thus, the utility of RV dysfunction instead of hyponatraemia per se should be considered in HF risk models.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Korean Acute Heart Failure registry NCT01389843; Results.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in heart failure and serum sodium levels

AIMS

To determine whether there are differences in blood pressure profile on dynamic assessment by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) according to serum sodium levels in stable heart failure patients.

METHODS

Data were collected from the Spanish National Registry on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Heart Failure (DICUMAP). Patients underwent ABPM by the oscillometric principle using a Spacelabs 90121 monitor. The sample was divided into three groups according to sodium levels and their clinical and laboratory data and echocardiographic findings were analyzed. Robust statistical methods were used to compare the groups in univariate and multivariate models.

RESULTS

A total of 175 patients (44.57% male) were analyzed. We found a predominance of anomalous circadian blood pressure profiles in all three groups, with a significantly higher percentage of risers in the lowest serum sodium group (p=0.05). In addition, in this group there were significant differences in mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) (24-h SBP, p=0.05) and in mean daytime SBP (dSBP, p=0.008), with significant differences in nocturnal fall in SBP (p=0.05) and in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.005). In multivariate analysis a significant relationship was found between sodium levels and 24-h SBP (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, p=0.01) and dSBP (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, p=0.004).

CONCLUSION

A relationship was found between lower sodium levels and lower systolic blood pressure, especially during waking hours, with a lower decline between daytime and night-time blood pressure.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of short-term mortality in Egyptian patients with acute heart failure

Objective

To identify the clinical and laboratory predictors of short-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Subjects and methods

We conducted a prospective, single center study on 120 consecutive patients presented with acute heart failure to the emergency department. All patients had clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation. Short-term mortality was reported within 30 days of presentation.

Results

Mean age was 59.29 ± 10.1 years, 55.8% were males and 50.8% were smokers. The common AHF presentations were dyspnea (91.7%), chest tightness (62.5%) and lower limb edema (54.2%). Ischemic heart disease, diabetes and hypertension were present in 72.5%, 43.3% and 35% of patients, respectively.

Short-term mortality was reported in 29 patients (24.16%); most of them died in-hospital (19 patients, 65.52%). The following parameters were significantly associated with short-term mortality: hypoxia (P < 0.001), tachycardia (P < 0.01), raised jugular venous pressure (JVP) (P < 0.001), low systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), prolonged PR interval (P < 0.007), atrial fibrillation (AF) (P < 0.038), left bundle branch block (LBBB) (P < 0.04), impaired kidney function (P < 0.007), anemia (P < 0.029), hyponatremia (P < 0.006), hypoalbuminemia (P < 0.005), dilated left ventricle (LV) (P < 0.001), low LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (P < 0.001), and dilated left atrium (LA) (P < 0.002).

ROC curve analysis showed that low LVEF (≤24%), dilated LV end diastolic diameter (LVESD) ≥ 66.5 mm, dilated LV end systolic diameter (LVESD) ≥ 53.5 mm, dilated LA diameter ≥ 48 mm, increased serum creatinine ≥ 1.6 mg/dl, and decreased serum albumin ≤ 3 g/dl can significantly predict short-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Conclusion

Variable clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters were associated with short-term mortality. Our study showed that low LVEF, dilated LV diameter, dilated LA diameter, impaired kidney function and low serum albumin can predict short-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Comparison of Left Ventricular Relaxation and Left Atrial Function in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction Versus Patients With Systemic Hypertension and Healthy Subjects

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may be characterized as impaired left ventricular (LV) relaxation and/or left atrial (LA) function, both of which are age and gender dependent. The aim of this study was to investigate LV relaxation and the LA function in HFpEF. A total of 71 HFpEF (mean age 73 years, 38 men) were studied. Late transmitral flow velocity (A), late mitral annular velocity (a'), and early mitral annular velocity (e') were measured and compared with age- and gender-matched normal control subjects (CTL; n = 71) and hypertensive patients (HT; n = 71). To clarify prognostic impact of the LA function, cardiac event-free survival was compared between high a' (≥7.9 cm/s, n = 36) and low a' (<7.9 cm/s, n = 35) groups. Cardiac event was defined as a composite of all-cause death and hospitalization due to recurrent congestive heart failure. In both HFpEF and HT groups, e' was significantly and similarly decreased compared with CTL group (p = 0.005). Although A was similar among the 3 groups, a' was significantly lower in HFpEF group than in HT and CTL groups (7.9 ± 2.1 vs 9.0 ± 1.9 vs 9.3 ± 1.96 cm/s, p <0.0001). HFpEF with low a' showed significantly lower cardiac event-free survival than HFpEF with high a' (log rank, p = 0.02). By multivariate Cox proportional analysis, low a' was the only independent predictor of cardiac events (hazard ratio 2.896, 95% confidence interval 1.004 to 8.355, p = 0.049). Both LV relaxation and LA function are impaired in HFpEF. Impaired LA function may be associated with worse prognosis in HFpEF.

Clinical aspects of symptomatic hyponatremia

Hyponatremia (HN) is a common condition, with a large number of etiologies and a complicated treatment. Although chronic HN has been shown to be a predictor of poor outcome, sodium-increasing treatments in chronic stable and asymptomatic HN have not proven to increase life expectancy. For symptomatic HN, in contrast, the necessity for urgent treatment has broadly been accepted to avoid the development of fatal cerebral edema. On the other hand, a too rapid increase of serum sodium in chronic HN may result in cerebral damage due to osmotic demyelinisation. Recently, administration of hypertonic saline bolus has been recommended as first-line treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe symptomatic HN. This approach is easy to memorize and holds the potential to greatly facilitate the initial treatment of symptomatic HN. First-line treatment of chronic HN is fluid restriction and if ineffective treatment with tolvaptan or in some patients other agents should be considered. A number of recommendations and guidelines have been published on HN. In the present review, the management of patients with HN in relation to everyday clinical practice is summarized with focus on the acute management.

Diagnosis, Clinical Course, and 1-Year Outcome in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (from the Polish Cohort of the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry)

Compared with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), the diagnosis of HF with preserved EF (HF-PEF) is more challenging. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of HF-PEF among patients hospitalized for HF, to evaluate the pertinence of HF-PEF diagnosis and to compare HF-PEF and HF-REF patients with respect to outcomes. The analysis included 661 Polish patients hospitalized for HF, selected from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-HF Long-Term Registry. Patients with an EF of ≥50% were included in the HF-PEF group and patients with an EF of <50% - in the HF-REF group. The primary end point was all-cause death at 1 year. The secondary end point was a composite of all-cause death and rehospitalization for HF at 1 year. HF-PEF was present in 187 patients (28%). Of those 187 patients, mitral inflow pattern was echocardiographically assessed in 116 patients (62%) and classified as restrictive/pseudonormal in 37 patients (20%). Compared with HF-REF subjects, patients with HF-PEF were older, more often female, and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. Despite lower B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations and lower prevalence of moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation in patients with HF-PEF, congestive symptoms at admission were as severe as in patients with HF-REF. There were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality between the HF groups. One-year mortality was high in both groups (17% in HF-PEF vs 21% in HF-REF, p = 0.22). There was a trend toward a lower frequency of the secondary end point in the HF-PEF group (32% vs 40%, p = 0.07). In conclusion, in clinical practice, even easily obtainable echocardiographic indexes of diastolic dysfunction are relatively rarely acquired. One-year survival rate of patients with HF-PEF is not significantly better than that of patients with HF-REF.

Relation between serum sodium levels and clinical outcomes in Turkish patients hospitalized for heart failure: a multi-center retrospective observational study

Objective:

The purpose of the study was to analyze the prevalence of hyponatremia and related 1-year outcomes of patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Turkish patients.

Methods:

A total of 500 hospitalized patients with HFrEF were consecutively included in a retrospective study at 19 participating hospitals. Patients were categorized according to their serum sodium levels (sNa) on admission day as normonatremic (135–145 mEq/L) and hyponatremic (<135 mEq/L). One-year all-cause mortality, re-hospitalization rates, and the impact of the changes in sNa at the time of discharge to clinical outcomes were examined.

Results:

Hyponatremia was observed in 29% of patients. Patients with hyponatremia had lower blood pressures, creatinine clearance, and left ventricular ejection fraction and higher serum creatinine and BUN levels on admission compared with those with normonatremia. Hyponatremia was associated with higher 1-year all-cause mortality (14% vs. 2.6%, p<0.001) and re-hospitalization rates (46.9% vs. 33.7%, p=0.005). After adjustment for covariates, hyponatremia was independently associated with 1-year all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 4.762; 95% CI, 1.941–11.764; p=0.001). At discharge, only 50.8% of hyponatremic patients were corrected to normonatremia (≥135 mEq/L). Those with persistent hyponatremia had the highest all-cause mortality (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

In this study, it is demonstrated that hyponatremia is relatively common and is associated with increased 1-year all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization rates among Turkish patients hospitalized with HFrEF. Approximately 50% of the patients with initial low sNa had persistent hyponatremia at discharge, and these patients had the worst clinical outcomes.

Transient Hyponatremia During Hospitalization for Acute Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to study whether the temporal pattern of transient hyponatremia development in acute heart failure might provide insight into its pathophysiology and prognostic relevance.

METHODS

A post hoc analysis of the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) and Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation in Acute Heart Failure (DOSE AHF) studies was performed (n = 716). Patients were stratified according to the temporal pattern of hyponatremia development: (1) no hyponatremia, (2) persistent hyponatremia, (3) decompensation hyponatremia disappearing with decongestive treatment, and (4) treatment-induced hyponatremia.

RESULTS

Transient decompensation versus no hyponatremia was associated with significantly elevated blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio (P < .001), plasma renin activity (P < .001), and plasma aldosterone levels (P < .001) at baseline. Disease severity characteristics of such patients were intermediate between no and persistent hyponatremia. In contrast, patients with treatment-induced versus no hyponatremia had similar baseline characteristics and comparable natriuretic peptide levels, and both groups had little neurohumoral activation at baseline. Diuretic efficacy, defined as net fluid balance (milliliters) per 40 mg furosemide-equivalent dose administered, was lower in patients with persistent or treatment-induced hyponatremia versus decompensation hyponatremia or no hyponatremia, respectively. The former versus latter groups also had more pronounced neurohumoral activation with decongestive treatment. The risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-4.19; P < .001) and death or heart failure readmission (hazard ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.60-2.97; P < .001) was significantly elevated in patients with persistent versus no hyponatremia, with the risk of decompensation and treatment hyponatremia situated in between.

CONCLUSIONS

Transient hyponatremia is prognostically relevant, but it has a heterogeneous cause according to its temporal pattern of development.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

The role of spironolactone and eplerenone in patients with Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is not well defined. Since a growing medical literature has suggested that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be beneficial for patients with HFpEF, this review gives an in-depth update on the role of spironolactone and eplerenone and their implications for therapy in the setting of HFpEF. Eleven clinical studies, including seven randomized trials, were reviewed. Two randomized controlled trials evaluated the effect of eplerenone on different end-points, including 6 minute walk distance (6 MWD), cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal reinfarction, hospitalization for unstable angina and congestive heart failure. Eplerenone did not affect either 6 MWD or event-free survival rates in the overall study population in these two reports. The effects of spironolactone on similar composite endpoints were evaluated in 7 studies in patients with HFpEF. Compared to placebo, hospitalization for heart failure was significantly lower in the spironolactone group and spironolactone was also shown to improve diastolic function and induced beneficial remodeling through a reduction in myocardial fibrosis. The safety profile of spironolactone and eplerenone has been assessed in two recent studies. Data showed that eplerenone and spironolactone are both associated with the occurrence of gynecomastia, mastodynia, and abnormal vaginal bleeding and in addition, they can increase natriuresis and cause renal retention of potassium; furthermore, eplerenone may cause hyperkalemia and promote the onset of metabolic acidosis or hyponatremia. In conclusion although the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists eplerenone and spironolactone improve clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF, additional data will be necessary to better define their risk-benefit profile, especially for eplerenone, in the treatment of HFpEF.