Underutilization of IV nitrates in the treatment of acute heart failure

Revisiting nitrates use in pre-shock state of contemporary cardiogenic shock classification

Patients at each shock stage may behave and present differently with a spectrum of shock severity and adverse outcomes. Shock severity, shock aetiology, and several factors should be integrated in management decision-making. Although the contemporary shock stages classification provided a standardized shock severity assessment, individual agents or management strategy has not yet been studied in the context of each shock stage. The pre-shock state may comprise a wide range of presentations. Nitrate therapy has potential benefit in myocardial infarction and acute heart failure. Herein, this review aims to discuss the potential use of nitrate therapy in the context of the pre-shock state or stage B of the contemporary shock classification given its various presentations.

Temporal trends in nitrate utilization for acute heart failure in elderly emergency patients: A single-centre observational study

BACKGROUND

We previously conducted a pilot study that reported the safety of isosorbide dinitrate boluses for elderly emergency patients with acute heart failure syndrome.

AIMS

To assess the temporal trend in the rate of elderly patients treated with isosorbide dinitrate, and to evaluate subsequent outcome differences.

METHODS

This was a single-centre study. We compared patients aged>75 years who attended the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary oedema in the years 2007 and 2014. The primary endpoint was the rate of patients who received isosorbide dinitrate boluses in the emergency department. Secondary endpoints included in-hospital mortality, need for intensive care and length of stay.

RESULTS

We analysed 368 charts, 232 from patients included in 2014 (63%) and 136 in 2007 (37%). The mean age was 85±6 years in both groups. There was a significant rise in the rate of patients treated with isosorbide dinitrate between 2007 and 2014: 97 patients (42%) in 2014 vs. 24 patients (18%) in 2007 (P<0.01). Comparing the two periods, we report similar in-hospital mortality rates (8% vs. 11%; P=0.5), rates of admission to the intensive care unit (13% vs. 17%; P=0.3) and lengths of stay (10 days in both groups).

CONCLUSION

We observed a significant rise in the rate of elderly patients treated with isosorbide dinitrate boluses for acute heart failure. However, we did not observe any significant improvement in outcomes.