Predicción de la mortalidad a muy corto plazo de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca crónica agudizada: escala EAHFE-3D

Effect of systemic corticosteroid therapy for acute heart failure patients with elevated C-reactive protein

AIMS

The current study explores whether degree of inflammation, reflected by C-reactive protein (CRP) level, modifies the effect of intravenous (IV) corticosteroid administered in the emergency department (ED) on clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We selected patients diagnosed with AHF in the ED, with confirmed N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide > 300 pg/mL and CRP > 5 mg/L in the ED from the Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Departments (EAHFE) registry. In these 1109 patients, 121 were treated by corticosteroid. The corticosteroid therapy hazard ratio (HR) for 30 day all-cause mortality was 1.26 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-2.09, P = 0.38]. Although not statistically significant, HRs tended to decrease with increasing CRP level, with point estimates favouring corticosteroid at CRP levels above 20. In patients with CRP > 40 mg/L, with adjusted HRs of 0.56 (95% CI 0.20-1.55, P = 0.27) for 30 day all-cause mortality, 0.92 (95% CI 0.52-1.62, P = 0.78) for 30 day post-discharge ED revisit, hospitalization, or death, and adjusted odds ratio of 0.61 (95% CI 0.17-2.14, P = 0.44) for in-hospital all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The present analysis suggests that corticosteroids might have the potential to improve outcomes in AHF patients with inflammatory activation. Larger, prospective studies of anti-inflammatory therapy should be considered to assess potential benefit in patients with the highest degree of inflammation.

Risk stratification in heart failure decompensation in the community: HEFESTOS score

Aims

Because evidence regarding risk stratification predicting prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) decompensation attended in primary care is lacking, we developed and externally validated a model to forecast death/hospitalization during the first 30 days after an episode of decompensation. The predictive model is based on variables easily obtained in primary care settings.

Methods and results

HEFESTOS is a multinational study consisting of a derivation cohort of HF patients recruited in 14 primary healthcare centres in Barcelona and a validation cohort from primary healthcare in 9 other European countries. The derivation and validation cohorts included 561 and 250 patients, respectively. Percentages of women in the derivation and validation cohorts were 56.3% and 47.6% (P = 0.026), respectively. Mean age was 82.2 years (SD 8.03) in the derivation cohort, and 79.3 years (SD 10.3) in the validation one (P = 0.001). HF with preserved ejection fraction represented 72.1% in the derivation cohort and 58.8% in the validation one (P = 0.004). Mortality/hospitalization during the first 30 days after a decompensation episode was 30.5% and 26% (P = 0.225) for the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to develop a score of risk. The identified predictors were worsening of dyspnoea [odds ratio (OR): 2.5; P = 0.001], orthopnoea (OR: 2.16; P = 0.01), paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (OR: 2.25; P = 0.01), crackles (OR: 2.35; P = 0.01), New York Heart Association functional class III/IV (OR: 2.11; P = 0.001), oxygen saturation ≤ 90% (OR: 4.98; P < 0.001), heart rate > 100 b.p.m. (OR: 2.72; P = 0.002), and previous hospitalization due to HF (OR: 2.45; P < 0.001). The model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.807, 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.770; 0.845] in the derivation cohort and AUC 0.73, 95% CI: [0.660; 0.808] in the validation one. No significant differences between both cohorts were observed (P = 0.08). Regarding probability of hospitalization/death, three risk groups were defined: low <5%, medium 5–20%, and high >20%. Outcome incidence was 2.7% for the low‐risk group, 12.8% for medium risk, and 46.2% for high risk in the derivation cohort, and 9.1%, 12.9%, and 39.6% in the validation one.

Conclusions

The HEFESTOS score, based on variables easily accessible in a community setting and validated in an external European cohort, properly predicted the risk of death/hospitalization during the first 30 days after an HF decompensation episode.

Risk stratification scores for patients with acute heart failure in the Emergency Department: A systematic review

AIMS

This study aimed to systematically identify and summarise all risk scores evaluated in the emergency department setting to stratify acute heart failure patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted including all multicentre studies reporting the use of risk predictive models in emergency department acute heart failure patients. Exclusion criteria were: (a) non-original articles; (b) prognostic models without predictive purposes; and (c) risk models without consecutive patient inclusion or exclusively tested in patients admitted to a hospital ward. We identified 28 studies reporting findings on 19 scores: 13 were originally derived in the emergency department (eight exclusively using acute heart failure patients), and six in emergency department and hospitalised patients. The outcome most frequently predicted was 30-day mortality. The performance of the scores tended to be higher for outcomes occurring closer to the index acute heart failure event. The eight scores developed using acute heart failure patients only in the emergency department contained between 4-13 predictors (age, oxygen saturation and creatinine/urea included in six scores). Five scores (Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade, Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade 30 Day mortality ST depression, Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Emergency department 3 Day, Acute Heart Failure Risk Score, and Multiple Estimation of risk based on Emergency department Spanish Score In patients with Acute Heart Failure) have been externally validated in the same country, and two (Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade and Multiple Estimation of risk based on Emergency department Spanish Score In patients with Acute Heart Failure) further internationally validated. The c-statistic for Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade to predict seven-day mortality was between 0.74-0.81 and for Multiple Estimation of risk based on Emergency department Spanish Score In patients with Acute Heart Failure to predict 30-day mortality was 0.80-0.84.

CONCLUSIONS

There are several scales for risk stratification of emergency department acute heart failure patients. Two of them are accurate, have been adequately validated and may be useful in clinical decision-making in the emergency department i.e. about whether to admit or discharge.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients Who Receive Noninvasive Ventilation and Present Limitation of Life Support Treatment: The LLST-NIVCat Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Patients who receive noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) sometimes have a limitation of life support treatment (LLST). The characteristics and prognosis in these patients may be worse, however, few studies have been carried out in this respect.

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the differences between patients receiving NIV in the ED with LLST (NIV-LLST) or without LLST (NIV-noLLST) and their impact on in-hospital mortality, as well as investigate in-hospital mortality in the NIV-LLST group.

METHOD

We performed a secondary analysis of data from the NIVCat registry. This was a prospective, multicenter, analytical cohort study with consecutive inclusion of patients receiving NIV from February to March 2015 in 11 hospital EDs in Spain. Data on the baseline characteristics, the acute episode, and final patient destination were collected. The dependent variable was all-cause in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

We analyzed 152 cases receiving NIV, 66 (43.4%) of whom had NIV-LLTS. Age ≥ 75 years was associated with NIV-LLST. In-hospital mortality was higher in the NIV-LLST group, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-6.06). Patients with NIV-LLST presenting an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presented the lowest mortality, with an odds ratio of 0.27 (95% confidence interval 0.08-0.93), compared with the remaining patients.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort of patients receiving NIV in the ED, the presence of LLST is frequent and is associated with high hospital mortality. The NIV-LLST patients with a COPD exacerbation have a better prognosis than NIV-LLST patients with other diseases.

Characteristics and prognosis of patients with acute heart failure without troponin determination: The EAHFE-TROPICA3 study

BACKGROUND

The absence of cardiac troponin (cTn) determination in an episode of acute heart failure (AHF) is frequent. The characteristics of these patients are not well known; nor is it known whether they have a better prognosis than patients in whom cTn is determined.

AIM

The objective of the EAHFE-TROPICA3 study was to analyse the characteristics of patients consulting for AHF in whom cTn was not determined (nocTn), and to evaluate the relationship of cTn determination (wcTn) with patient outcomes.

METHODS

This was an analysis of the multipurpose prospective EAHFE registry of patients with AHF consulting at the emergency departments of 34 Spanish hospitals.

RESULTS

Data from 8850 patients with AHF were analysed; cTn was not determined in 4216 of these patients (47.6%), who had a lower prevalence of ischaemic heart disease, more frequent use of loop diuretics at baseline, a greater rate of oedema in the acute episode, more frequent history of heart failure, and less use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or aldosterone receptor antagonists and beta-blockers at baseline. Compared with the wcTn group, the nocTn group had the same in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-1.50), mortality at 30 days (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.90-1.28) and reconsultation at 30 days (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80-1.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with AHF with and without cTn determination have different characteristics. These differences are not related to a better prognosis.

Identification of Senior At Risk scale predicts 30-day mortality among older patients with acute heart failure

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of frailty screening tool (Identification of Senior at Risk [ISAR]) in predicting 30-day mortality risk in older patients attended in emergency department (ED) for acute heart failure (AHF).

DESIGN

Observational multicenter cohort study.

SETTING

OAK-3 register.

SUBJECTS

Patients aged ≥65 years attended with ADHF in 16 Spanish EDs from January to February 2016.

INTERVENTION

No.

VARIABLES

Variable of study was ISAR scale. The outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

We included 1059 patients (mean age 85±5,9 years old). One hundred and sixty (15.1%) cases had 0-1 points, 278 (26.3%) 2 points, 260 (24.6%) 3 points, 209 (19.7%) 4 points, and 152 (14.3%) 5-6 points of ISAR scale. Ninety five (9.0%) patients died within 30 days. The percentage of mortality increased in relation to ISAR category (lineal trend P value <.001). The area under curve of ISAR scale was 0.703 (95%CI 0.655-0.751; P<.001). After adjusting for EFFECT risk categories, we observed a progressive increase in odds ratios of ISAR scale groups compared to reference (0-1 points).

CONCLUSIONS

scale is a brief and easy tool that should be considered for frailty screening during initial assessment of older patients attended with AHF for predicting 30-day mortality.

The Usefulness of the MEESSI Score for Risk Stratification of Patients With Acute Heart Failure at the Emergency Department

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The MEESSI scale stratifies acute heart failure (AHF) patients at the emergency department (ED) according to the 30-day mortality risk. We validated the MEESSI risk score in a new cohort of Spanish patients to assess its accuracy in stratifying patients by risk and to compare its performance in different settings.

METHODS

We included consecutive patients diagnosed with AHF in 30 EDs during January and February 2016. The MEESSI score was calculated for each patient. The c-statistic measured the discriminatory capacity to predict 30-day mortality of the full MEESSI model and secondary models. Further comparisons were made among subgroups of patients from university and community hospitals, EDs with high-, medium- or low-activity and EDs that recruited or not patients in the original MEESSI derivation cohort.

RESULTS

We analyzed 4711 patients (university/community hospitals: 3811/900; high-/medium-/low-activity EDs: 2695/1479/537; EDs participating/not participating in the previous MEESSI derivation study: 3892/819). The distribution of patients according to the MEESSI risk categories was: 1673 (35.5%) low risk, 2023 (42.9%) intermediate risk, 530 (11.3%) high risk and 485 (10.3%) very high risk, with 30-day mortality of 2.0%, 7.8%, 17.9%, and 41.4%, respectively. The c-statistic for the full model was 0.810 (95%CI, 0.790-0.830), ranging from 0.731 to 0.785 for the subsequent secondary models. The discriminatory capacity of the MEESSI risk score was similar among subgroups of hospital type, ED activity, and original recruiter EDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The MEESSI risk score successfully stratifies AHF patients at the ED according to the 30-day mortality risk, potentially helping clinicians in the decision-making process for hospitalizing patients.

Mediterranean Diet and Other Dietary Patterns in Primary Prevention of Heart Failure and Changes in Cardiac Function Markers: A Systematic Review

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome and is recognized as the ultimate pathway of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies using nutritional strategies based on dietary patterns have proved to be effective for the prevention and treatment of CVD. Although there are studies that support the protective effect of these diets, their effects on the prevention of HF are not clear yet. Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies that examined dietary patterns, such as dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH diet), paleolithic, vegetarian, low-carb and low-fat diets and prevention of HF. No limitations were used during the search in the databases. Results: A total of 1119 studies were identified, 14 met the inclusion criteria. Studies regarding the Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian, and Paleolithic diets were found. The Mediterranean and DASH diets showed a protective effect on the incidence of HF and/or worsening of cardiac function parameters, with a significant difference in relation to patients who did not adhere to these dietary patterns. Conclusions: It is observed that the adoption of Mediterranean or DASH-type dietary patterns may contribute to the prevention of HF, but these results need to be analyzed with caution due to the low quality of evidence.

Non-invasive ventilation in emergency departments in public hospitals in Catalonia. The VENUR-CAT study

OBJECTIVES

To know the implementation and characteristics of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the Emergency Departments (EDs) of public hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) and analyze possible differences based on the typology, degree of activity and the availability of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the hospital.

DESIGN

A non-interventional, descriptive study was carried out, using a structured questionnaire divided into 3sections: 1) professional experience and training; 2) devices used; and 3) clinical scenarios and the use of NIV.

SETTING

Persons responsible for public EDs in Catalonia.

RESULTS

Fifty-two of the 54 public EDs in Catalonia responded (96.3%). Fifty-one perform NIV, which is mainly initiated by emergency care physicians (78.5%); 66.7% maintain the patient in the ED until discharge; and in 43.1% of the cases the length of stay is>24h. Of the EDs, 39.2% have their own protocol, 35.3% of which are established by consensus with other departments (more frequently in non-county hospitals [P=.012], and centers with an ICU [P=.014]), while 25.5% have no protocol, and 43.1% register the activity. Training represents the greatest difficulty for the implementation of NIV, but 19.6% do not provide specific training. When support is needed, the main physician of reference is the intensivist (35.3%) (more frequently in non-county hospitals [P=.012], and centers with an ICU [P=.002]).

CONCLUSIONS

In most EDs in Catalonia, NIV is performed by emergency care physicians. Areas needing improvement include drainage of patients once NIV has been started, the promotion of protocols, registry of activity, and training of the healthcare professionals.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on clinical course after an episode of acute heart failure. EAHFE-COPD study

OBJECTIVE

To study if the coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients diagnosed with acute heart failure (AHF) at the emergency department (ED) has an impact on short- and long-term outcomes.

METHOD

The EAHFE-COPD study included patients who attended in 34 Spanish EDs for AHF. We compared patients with AHF plus COPD with patients with AHF in whom COPD was neither diagnosed nor excluded by functional respiratory tests (FRT). Outcome analysis included all-cause mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and ED revisit. Crude results were adjusted by differences between patients with and without COPD.

RESULTS

We included 8099 patients with AHF, 2069 having COPD (25.6%; AHF-COPD-known). Compared with AHF-COPD-unknown, AHF-COPD-known differed in 20 variables. After adjusting for differences between the two groups, AHF-COPD-known patients showed no significant differences in 30-day mortality (OR=0.89; 95% CI=0.71-1.11), prolonged hospitalization in general wards (OR=1.04; 95% CI=0.89-1.22) or SSU (OR=1.38; 95% CI=0.97-1.97), and 1-year mortality (HR: 1.02; 95% CI=0.89-1.17), but showed a higher 30-day revisit rate (OR=1.32; 95% CI=1.13-1.54).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients attending the ED for AHF, the coexistence of COPD is only associated with an increased risk of short-term ED revisit, but not prolonged hospitalization and short- or long-term mortality.