Good performance in the management of acute heart failure in cardiogeriatric departments: the ICREX-94 experience

CONTEXT

A growing number of elderly patients hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure (AHF) are being managed in cardiogeriatrics departments, but their characteristics and prognosis are poorly known. This study aimed to investigate the profile and outcome (rehospitalization at 90 days) of patients hospitalized for AHF in cardiogeriatrics departments in the Val-de-Marne area in the suburbs of Paris, and to compare them to AHF patients hospitalized in cardiology departments in the same area.

METHODS

Observational study, ICREX-94, conducted in seven cardiology departments in France and three specific cardiogeriatrics departments in Val-de-Marne.

RESULTS

A total of 308 patients were hospitalized for AHF between October 2017 and January 2019. During the 90 days following discharge, 29.6% patients were readmitted to the hospital. Compared with patients hospitalized in cardiology departments, patients in cardiogeriatrics departments were older (p < 0.001), less independent (living more often alone or in an institution) (p < 0.001), more often depressed (p < 0.001), had more often major neurocognitive disorder (p < 0.001), had a higher Human Development Index (HDI, p < 0.001), and were less often diagnosed with amyloidosis (p < 0.001). There was no difference in outcome whether patients were discharged from cardiology or cardiogeriatrics departments. The most frequent precipitating factors underlying AHF decompensation between the first and second hospitalization were arrhythmia and infection.

CONCLUSION

AHF patients discharged from cardiogeriatrics departments, compared to cardiology departments, showed clinical differences but had the same prognosis regarding AHF rehospitalization at 90 days.

Effects of a cardiac rehabilitation programme on plasma cardiac biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure

Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves the symptoms, exercise capacity and quality of life of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Its effects on new plasma biomarkers of prognostic importance are unknown. The present study aimed at analysing the effects of a structured CR programme on plasma cardiac biomarkers in a large population of patients with CHF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods We enrolled 107 consecutive CHF patients with LVEF ≤ 45% in an ambulatory CR programme. Peak VO₂ and plasma levels of Galectin-3, mid-regional proANP (MR-proADM), soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proANP) were assessed at inclusion and at the end of CR. Twenty-four unenrolled patients were managed with standard medical care and evaluated over the same period (no-CR group). Results Galectin-3, sST2, MR-proADM and MR-proANP plasma levels decreased after CR, with respective median reductions of 6.3% for Galectin 3 ( p < 0.001), 7.4% for sST2 ( p = 0.036), 6.4% for MR-proADM ( p = 0.001) and 16% for MR-proANP ( p < 0.001). MR-proADM was negatively correlated with peak VO₂ (ρ = -0.529, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.654 to -0.375, p < 0.001), and so were their relative variations along the course of CR (ρ = -0.357, 95% CI -0.518 to -0.172, p < 0.001). No change occurred in terms of biomarkers in the no-CR group. Conclusions Plasma cardiac biomarkers such as Galectin-3, MR-proADM, sST2 and MR-proANP all decreased after CR in CHF patients, suggesting an overall improvement in the neuro-hormonal profile.