Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor improves early risk stratification in cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a biomarker reflecting the level of immune activation. It has been shown to have prognostic value in acute coronary syndrome and heart failure as well as in critical illness. Considering the complex pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock (CS), we hypothesized suPAR might have prognostic properties in CS as well. The aim of this study was to assess the kinetics and prognostic utility of suPAR in CS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

SuPAR levels were determined in serial plasma samples (0-96 h) from 161 CS patients in the prospective, observational, multicentre CardShock study. Kinetics of suPAR, its association with 90-day mortality, and additional value in risk-stratification were investigated. The median suPAR-level at baseline was 4.4 [interquartile range (IQR) 3.2-6.6)] ng/mL. SuPAR levels above median were associated with underlying comorbidities, biomarkers reflecting renal and cardiac dysfunction, and higher 90-day mortality (49% vs. 31%; P = 0.02). Serial measurements showed that survivors had significantly lower suPAR levels at all time points compared with nonsurvivors. For risk stratification, suPAR at 12 h (suPAR12h) with a cut-off of 4.4 ng/mL was strongly associated with mortality independently of established risk factors in CS: OR 5.6 (95% CI 2.0-15.5); P = 0.001) for death by 90 days. Adding suPAR12h > 4.4 ng/mL to the CardShock risk score improved discrimination identifying high-risk patients originally categorized in the intermediate-risk category.

CONCLUSION

SuPAR associates with mortality and improves risk stratification independently of other previously known risk factors in CS patients.

The emergency department arrival mode and its relations to ED management and 30-day mortality in acute heart failure: an ancillary analysis from the EURODEM study

Background

Acute heart failure patients are often encountered in emergency departments (ED) from 11% to 57% using emergency medical services (EMS). Our aim was to evaluate the association of EMS use with acute heart failure patients’ ED management and short-term outcomes.

Methods

This was a sub-analysis of a European EURODEM study. Data on patients presenting with dyspnoea were collected prospectively from European EDs. Patients with ED diagnosis of acute heart failure were categorized into two groups: those using EMS and those self-presenting (non- EMS). The independent association between EMS use and 30-day mortality was evaluated with logistic regression.

Results

Of the 500 acute heart failure patients, with information about the arrival mode to the ED, 309 (61.8%) arrived by EMS. These patients were older (median age 80 vs. 75 years, p < 0.001), more often female (56.4% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.002) and had more dementia (18.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001). On admission, EMS patients had more often confusion (14.2% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001) and higher respiratory rate (24/min vs. 21/min, p = 0.014; respiratory rate > 30/min in 17.1% patients vs. 7.5%, p = 0.005). The only difference in ED management appeared in the use of ventilatory support: 78.3% of EMS patients vs. 67.5% of non- EMS patients received supplementary oxygen (p = 0.007), and non-invasive ventilation was administered to 12.5% of EMS patients vs. 4.2% non- EMS patients (p = 0.002). EMS patients were more often hospitalized (82.4% vs. 65.9%, p < 0.001), had higher in-hospital mortality (8.7% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.014) and 30-day mortality (14.3% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001). The use of EMS was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.11–5.81, p = 0.027).

Conclusion

Most acute heart failure patients arrive at ED by EMS. These patients suffer from more severe respiratory distress and receive more often ventilatory support. EMS use is an independent predictor of 30-day mortality.

Mortality risk prediction in elderly patients with cardiogenic shock: results from the CardShock study

AIMS

This study aimed to assess the utility of contemporary clinical risk scores and explore the ability of two biomarkers [growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and soluble ST2 (sST2)] to improve risk prediction in elderly patients with cardiogenic shock.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients (n = 219) from the multicentre CardShock study were grouped according to age (elderly ≥75 years and younger). Characteristics, management, and outcome between the groups were compared. The ability of the CardShock risk score and the IABP-SHOCK II score to predict in-hospital mortality and the additional value of GDF-15 and sST2 to improve risk prediction in the elderly was evaluated. The elderly constituted 26% of the patients (n = 56), with a higher proportion of women (41% vs. 21%, P < 0.05) and more co-morbidities compared with the younger. The primary aetiology of shock in the elderly was acute coronary syndrome (84%), with high rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (87%). Compared with the younger, the elderly had higher in-hospital mortality (46% vs. 33%; P = 0.08), but 1 year post-discharge survival was excellent in both age groups (90% in the elderly vs. 88% in the younger). In the elderly, the risk prediction models demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.75 for the CardShock risk score and 0.71 for the IABP-SHOCK II score. Incorporating GDF-15 and sST2 improved discrimination for both risk scores with areas under the curve ranging from 0.78 to 0.84.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with cardiogenic shock have higher in-hospital mortality compared with the younger, but post-discharge outcomes are similar. Contemporary risk scores proved useful for early mortality risk prediction also in the elderly, and risk stratification could be further improved with biomarkers such as GDF-15 or sST2.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 is a marker of organ injuries in cardiogenic shock: results from the CardShock Study

AIMS

Optimal outcome after cardiogenic shock (CS) depends on a coordinated healing response in which both debris removal and extracellular matrix tissue repair play a crucial role. Excessive inflammation can perpetuate a vicious circle, positioning leucocytes as central protagonists and potential therapeutic targets. High levels of circulating Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1), were associated with death in acute myocardial infarction confirming excessive inflammation as determinant of bad outcome. The present study aims to describe the association of soluble TREM-1 with 90-day mortality and with various organ injuries in patients with CS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a post-hoc study of CardShock, a prospective, multicenter study assessing the clinical presentation and management in patients with CS. At the time of this study, 87 patients had available plasma samples at either baseline, and/or 48 h and/or 96-120 h for soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) measurements. Plasma concentration of sTREM-1 was higher in 90-day non-survivors than survivors at baseline [median: 1392 IQR: (724-2128) vs. 621 (525-1233) pg/mL, p = 0.008), 48 h (p = 0.019) and 96-120 h (p = 0.029). The highest tertile of sTREM-1 at baseline (threshold: 1347 pg/mL) was associated with 90-day mortality with an unadjusted HR 3.08 CI 95% (1.48-6.42). sTREM-1 at baseline was not associated to hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, use of vasopressors or inotropes) but rather with organ injury markers: renal (estimated glomerular filtration rate, p = 0.0002), endothelial (bio-adrenomedullin, p = 0.018), myocardial (Suppression of Tumourigenicity 2, p = 0.002) or hepatic (bilirubin, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

In CS patients TREM-1 pathway is highly activated and gives an early prediction of vital organ injuries and outcome.

Predictive value of plasma proenkephalin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent form of organ injury in cardiogenic shock. However, data on AKI markers such as plasma proenkephalin (P-PENK) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (P-NGAL) in cardiogenic shock populations are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of P-PENK and P-NGAL to predict acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock.

RESULTS

P-PENK and P-NGAL were measured at different time points between baseline and 48 h in 154 patients from the prospective CardShock study. The outcomes assessed were AKI defined by an increase in creatinine within 48 h and all-cause 90-day mortality. Mean age was 66 years and 26% were women. Baseline levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL (median [interquartile range]) were 99 (71-150) pmol/mL and 138 (84-214) ng/mL. P-PENK > 84.8 pmol/mL and P-NGAL > 104 ng/mL at baseline were identified as optimal cut-offs for AKI prediction and independently associated with AKI (adjusted HRs 2.2 [95% CI 1.1-4.4, p = 0.03] and 2.8 [95% CI 1.2-6.5, p = 0.01], respectively). P-PENK and P-NGAL levels at baseline were also associated with 90-day mortality. For patients with oliguria < 0.5 mL/kg/h for > 6 h before study enrollment, 90-day mortality differed significantly between patients with low and high P-PENK/P-NGAL at baseline (5% vs. 68%, p < 0.001). However, the biomarkers provided best discrimination for mortality when measured at 24 h. Identified cut-offs of P-PENK_24h > 105.7 pmol/L and P-NGAL_24h > 151 ng/mL had unadjusted hazard ratios of 5.6 (95% CI 3.1-10.7, p < 0.001) and 5.2 (95% CI 2.8-9.8, p < 0.001) for 90-day mortality. The association remained significant despite adjustments with AKI and two risk scores for mortality in cardiogenic shock.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL at baseline were independently associated with AKI in cardiogenic shock patients. Furthermore, oliguria before study inclusion was associated with worse outcomes only if combined with high baseline levels of P-PENK or P-NGAL. High levels of both P-PENK and P-NGAL at 24 h were found to be strong and independent predictors of 90-day mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01374867 at www.clinicaltrials.gov , registered 16 Jun 2011-retrospectively registered.

Kinetics of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in cardiogenic shock - Insights from the CardShock study

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory responses play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in CS and to assess their relation to clinical presentation, other biochemical variables, and prognosis.

METHODS

Levels of PCT, CRP and IL-6 were analyzed in serial plasma samples (0-120h) from 183 patients in the CardShock study. The study population was dichotomized by PCT_max ≥ and < 0.5 μg/L, and IL-6 and CRP_max above/below median.

RESULTS

PCT peaked already at 24 h [median PCT_max 0.71 μg/L (IQR 0.24-3.4)], whereas CRP peaked later between 48 and 72 h [median CRP_max 137 mg/L (59-247)]. PCT levels were significantly higher among non-survivors compared with survivors from 12 h on, as were CRP levels from 24 h on (p < 0.001). PCT_max ≥ 0.5 μg/L (60% of patients) was associated with clinical signs of systemic hypoperfusion, cardiac and renal dysfunction, acidosis, and higher levels of blood lactate, IL-6, growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), and CRP_max. Similarly, IL-6 > median was associated with clinical signs and biochemical findings of systemic hypoperfusion. PCT_max ≥ 0.5 μg/L and IL-6 > median were associated with increased 90-day mortality (50% vs. 30% and 57% vs. 22%, respectively; p < 0.01 for both), while CRP_max showed no prognostic significance. The association of inflammatory markers with clinical infections was modest.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory markers are highly related to signs of systemic hypoperfusion in CS. Moreover, high PCT and IL-6 levels are associated with poor prognosis.

Prognostic impact of angiographic findings, procedural success, and timing of percutaneous coronary intervention in cardiogenic shock

Aims

Urgent revascularization is the mainstay of treatment in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim was to investigate the association of angiographic results with 90‐day mortality. Procedural complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were also examined.

Methods and results

This CardShock (NCT01374867) substudy included 158 patients with ACS aetiology and data on coronary angiography and complications during PCI procedure. Survival analysis was conducted with Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Median age was 67 ± 11 years, and 77% were men. During 90‐day follow‐up, 66 (42%) patients died. Patients with one‐vessel disease (n = 49) had lower mortality than patients with two‐vessel (n = 59) or three‐vessel (n = 50) disease (25% vs. 48% vs. 52%, P = 0.011). Successful revascularization [Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Flow 3 post‐PCI) was achieved more often in survivors than non‐survivors (81% vs. 60%, P = 0.019). The median symptom‐to‐balloon time was 340 (196–660) minutes, with no difference between survivors and non‐survivors. In multivariable mortality analysis, multivessel disease (HR 2.59, CI_95% 1.29–5.18) and TIMI flow <3 post‐PCI (HR 2.41, CI_95% 1.4–4.15) were associated with 90‐day mortality. Procedural PCI complications were recorded in 51 (35%) patients, arrhythmic complications being the most common (n = 32, 63%). The incidence of complications was similar between survivors and non‐survivors (31% vs. 42%, P = 0.21).

Conclusions

Multivessel disease is associated with worse survival in ACS‐related CS. In patients undergoing PCI, arrhythmic complications were common, but not associated with excess mortality. Successful revascularization of the IRA had positive effect on outcome despite delay from symptom onset.

Pre-hospital management protocols and perceived difficulty in diagnosing acute heart failure

Aim

To illustrate the pre‐hospital management arsenals and protocols in different EMS units, and to estimate the perceived difficulty of diagnosing suspected acute heart failure (AHF) compared with other common pre‐hospital conditions.

Methods and results

A multinational survey included 104 emergency medical service (EMS) regions from 18 countries. Diagnostic and therapeutic arsenals related to AHF management were reported for each type of EMS unit. The prevalence and contents of management protocols for common medical conditions treated pre‐hospitally was collected. The perceived difficulty of diagnosing AHF and other medical conditions by emergency medical dispatchers and EMS personnel was interrogated.

Ultrasound devices and point‐of‐care testing were available in advanced life support and helicopter EMS units in fewer than 25% of EMS regions. AHF protocols were present in 80.8% of regions. Protocols for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, chest pain, and dyspnoea were present in 95.2, 80.8, and 76.0% of EMS regions, respectively. Protocolized diagnostic actions for AHF management included 12‐lead electrocardiogram (92.1% of regions), ultrasound examination (16.0%), and point‐of‐care testings for troponin and BNP (6.0 and 3.5%). Therapeutic actions included supplementary oxygen (93.2%), non‐invasive ventilation (80.7%), intravenous furosemide, opiates, nitroglycerine (69.0, 68.6, and 57.0%), and intubation 71.5%. Diagnosing suspected AHF was considered easy to moderate by EMS personnel and moderate to difficult by emergency medical dispatchers (without significant differences between de novo and decompensated heart failure). In both settings, diagnosis of suspected AHF was considered easier than pulmonary embolism and more difficult than ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, asthma, and stroke.

Conclusions

The prevalence of AHF protocols is rather high but the contents seem to vary. Difficulty of diagnosing suspected AHF seems to be moderate compared with other pre‐hospital conditions.

Levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Early Mortality Risk Stratification in Cardiogenic Shock

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the levels, kinetics, and prognostic value of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in cardiogenic shock (CS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Levels of GDF-15 were determined in serial plasma samples (0-120 h) from 177 CS patients in the CardShock study. Kinetics of GDF-15, its association with 90-day mortality, and incremental value for risk stratification were assessed. The median GDF-15_0h level was 9647 ng/L (IQR 4500-19,270 ng/L) and levels above median were significantly associated with acidosis, hyperlactatemia, renal dysfunction, and higher 90-day mortality (56% vs 28%, P < .001). Serial sampling showed that non-survivors had significantly higher GDF-15 levels at all time points (P < .001 for all). Furthermore, non-survivors displayed increasing and survivors declining GDF-15 levels during the first days in CS. Higher levels of GDF-15 were independently associated with mortality. A GDF-15_12h cutoff >7000 ng/L was identified as a strong predictor of death (OR 5.0; 95% CI 1.9-3.8, P = .002). Adding GDF-15_12h >7000 ng/L to the CardShock risk score improved discrimination and risk stratification for 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

GDF-15 levels are highly elevated in CS and associated with markers of systemic hypoperfusion and end-organ dysfunction. GDF-15 helps to discriminate survivors from non-survivors very early in CS.

Protein-based cardiogenic shock patient classifier

Aims

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high short-term mortality and a precise CS risk stratification could guide interventions to improve patient outcome. Here, we developed a circulating protein-based score to predict short-term mortality risk among patients with CS.

Methods and results

Mass spectrometry analysis of 2654 proteins was used for screening in the Barcelona discovery cohort (n = 48). Targeted quantitative proteomics analyses (n = 51 proteins) were used in the independent CardShock cohort (n = 97) to derive and cross-validate the protein classifier. The combination of four circulating proteins (Cardiogenic Shock 4 proteins—CS4P), discriminated patients with low and high 90-day risk of mortality. CS4P comprises the abundances of liver-type fatty acid-binding protein, beta-2-microglobulin, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase B, and SerpinG1. Within the CardShock cohort used for internal validation, the C-statistic was 0.78 for the CardShock risk score, 0.83 for the CS4P model, and 0.84 (P = 0.033 vs. CardShock risk score) for the combination of CardShock risk score with the CS4P model. The CardShock risk score with the CS4P model showed a marked benefit in patient reclassification, with a net reclassification improvement (NRI) of 0.49 (P = 0.020) compared with CardShock risk score. Similar reclassification metrics were observed in the IABP-SHOCK II risk score combined with CS4P (NRI =0.57; P = 0.032). The CS4P patient classification power was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Conclusion

A new protein-based CS patient classifier, the CS4P, was developed for short-term mortality risk stratification. CS4P improved predictive metrics in combination with contemporary risk scores, which may guide clinicians in selecting patients for advanced therapies.

Hypoalbuminemia is a frequent marker of increased mortality in cardiogenic shock

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia, early changes of plasma albumin (P-Alb) levels, and their effects on mortality in cardiogenic shock are unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

P-Alb was measured from serial blood samples in 178 patients from a prospective multinational study on cardiogenic shock. The association of hypoalbuminemia with clinical characteristics and course of hospital stay including treatment and procedures was assessed. The primary outcome was all-cause 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

Hypoalbuminemia (P-Alb < 34g/L) was very frequent (75%) at baseline in patients with cardiogenic shock. Patients with hypoalbuminemia had higher mortality than patients with normal albumin levels (48% vs. 23%, p = 0.004). Odds ratio for death at 90 days was 2.4 [95% CI 1.5-4.1] per 10 g/L decrease in baseline P-Alb. The association with increased mortality remained independent in regression models adjusted for clinical risk scores developed for cardiogenic shock (CardShock score adjusted odds ratio 2.0 [95% CI 1.1-3.8], IABP-SHOCK II score adjusted odds ratio 2.5 [95%CI 1.2-5.0]) and variables associated with hypoalbuminemia at baseline (adjusted odds ratio 2.9 [95%CI 1.2-7.1]). In serial measurements, albumin levels decreased at a similar rate between 0h and 72h in both survivors and nonsurvivors (ΔP-Alb -4.6 g/L vs. 5.4 g/L, p = 0.5). While the decrease was higher for patients with normal P-Alb at baseline (p<0.001 compared to patients with hypoalbuminemia at baseline), the rate of albumin decrease was not associated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoalbuminemia was a frequent finding early in cardiogenic shock, and P-Alb levels decreased during hospital stay. Low P-Alb at baseline was associated with mortality independently of other previously described risk factors. Thus, plasma albumin measurement should be part of the initial evaluation in patients with cardiogenic shock.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01374867 at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Current Use and Impact on 30-Day Mortality of Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Cardiogenic Shock Patients: Results From the CardShock Study

BACKGROUND

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is the most life-threatening manifestation of acute heart failure. Its complexity and high in-hospital mortality may justify the need for invasive monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC).

METHODS

Patients with CS included in the CardShock Study, an observational, prospective, multicenter, European registry, were analyzed, aiming to describe the real-world use of PAC, evaluate its impact on 30-day mortality, and the ability of different hemodynamic parameters to predict outcomes.

RESULTS

Pulmonary artery catheter was used in 82 (37.4%) of the 219 patients. Cardiogenic shock patients who managed with a PAC received more frequently treatment with inotropes and vasopressors, mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, and mechanical assist devices (P < .01). Overall 30-day mortality was 36.5%. Pulmonary artery catheter use did not affect mortality even after propensity score matching analysis (hazard ratio = 1.17 [0.59-2.32], P = .66). Cardiac index, cardiac power index (CPI), and stroke volume index (SVI) showed the highest areas under the curve for 30-day mortality (ranging from 0.752-0.803) and allowed for a significant net reclassification improvement of 0.467 (0.083-1.180), 0.700 (0.185-1.282), 0.683 (0.168-1.141), respectively, when added to the CardShock risk score.

CONCLUSIONS

In our contemporary cohort of CS, over one-third of patients were managed with a PAC. Pulmonary artery catheter use was associated with a more aggressive treatment strategy. Nevertheless, PAC use was not associated with 30-day mortality. Cardiac index, CPI, and SVI were the strongest 30-day mortality predictors on top of the previously validated CardShock risk score.

Circulating levels of microRNA 423-5p are associated with 90 day mortality in cardiogenic shock

AIMS

The role of microRNAs has not been studied in cardiogenic shock. We examined the potential role of miR-423-5p level to predict mortality and associations of miR-423-5p with prognostic markers in cardiogenic shock.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a prospective multinational observational study enrolling consecutive cardiogenic shock patients. Blood samples were available for 179 patients at baseline to determine levels of miR-423-5p and other biomarkers. Patients were treated according to local practice. Main outcome was 90 day all-cause mortality. Median miR-423-5p level was significantly higher in 90 day non-survivors [median 0.008 arbitrary units (AU) (interquartile range 0.003-0.017) vs. 0.004 AU (0.002-0.009), P = 0.003]. miR-423-5p level above median was associated with higher lactate (median 3.7 vs. 2.4 mmol/L, P = 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase levels (median 68 vs. 35 IU/L, P < 0.001) as well as lower cardiac index (1.8 vs. 2.4, P = 0.04) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (56 vs. 70 mL/min/1.73 m² , P = 0.002). In Cox regression analysis, miR-423-5p level above median was associated with 90 day all-cause mortality independently of established risk factors of cardiogenic shock [adjusted hazard ratio 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.2-3.2), P = 0.01].

CONCLUSIONS

In cardiogenic shock patients, above median level of miR-423-5p at baseline is associated with markers of hypoperfusion and seems to independently predict 90 day all-cause mortality.

Altered mental status predicts mortality in cardiogenic shock – results from the CardShock study

Background:

Altered mental status is among the signs of hypoperfusion in cardiogenic shock, the most severe form of acute heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of altered mental status, to identify factors associating with it, and to assess the prognostic significance of altered mental status in cardiogenic shock.

Methods:

Mental status was assessed at presentation of shock in 215 adult cardiogenic shock patients in a multinational, prospective, observational study. Clinical picture, biochemical variables, and short-term mortality were compared between patients presenting with altered and normal mental status.

Results:

Altered mental status was detected in 147 (68%) patients, whereas 68 (32%) patients had normal mental status. Patients with altered mental status were older (68 vs. 64 years, p=0.04) and more likely to have an acute coronary syndrome than those with normal mental status (85% vs. 74%, p=0.04). Altered mental status was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (76 vs. 80 mmHg, p=0.03) and lower arterial pH (7.27 vs. 7.35, p<0.001) as well as higher levels of blood lactate (3.4 vs. 2.3 mmol/l, p<0.001) and blood glucose (11.4 vs. 9.0 mmol/l, p=0.01). Low arterial pH (adjusted odds ratio 1.6 (1.1–2.2), p=0.02) was the only factor independently associated with altered mental status. Ninety-day mortality was significantly higher (51% vs. 22%, p<0.001) among patients with altered mental status.

Conclusions:

Altered mental status is a common clinical sign of systemic hypoperfusion in cardiogenic shock and is associated with poor outcome. It is also associated with several biochemical findings that reflect inadequate tissue perfusion, of which low arterial pH is independently associated with altered mental status.

Adrenomedullin: a marker of impaired hemodynamics, organ dysfunction, and poor prognosis in cardiogenic shock

Background

The clinical CardShock risk score, including baseline lactate levels, was recently shown to facilitate risk stratification in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). As based on baseline parameters, however, it may not reflect the change in mortality risk in response to initial therapies. Adrenomedullin is a prognostic biomarker in several cardiovascular diseases and was recently shown to associate with hemodynamic instability in patients with septic shock. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value and association with hemodynamic parameters of bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) in patients with CS.

Methods

CardShock was a prospective, observational, European multinational cohort study of CS. In this sub-analysis, serial plasma bio-ADM and arterial blood lactate measurements were collected from 178 patients during the first 10 days after detection of CS.

Results

Both bio-ADM and lactate were higher in 90-day non-survivors compared to survivors at all time points (P < 0.05 for all). Lactate showed good prognostic value during the initial 24 h (AUC 0.78 at admission and 0.76 at 24 h). Subsequently, lactate returned normal (≤2 mmol/L) in most patients regardless of later outcome with lower prognostic value. By contrast, bio-ADM showed increasing prognostic value from 48 h and beyond (AUC 0.71 at 48 h and 0.80 at 5–10 days). Serial measurements of either bio-ADM or lactate were independent of and provided added value to CardShock risk score (P < 0.001 for both). Ninety-day mortality was more than double higher in patients with high levels of bio-ADM (>55.7 pg/mL) at 48 h compared to those with low bio-ADM levels (49.1 vs. 22.6%, P = 0.001). High levels of bio-ADM were associated with impaired cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure during the study period. Furthermore, high levels of bio-ADM at 48 to 96 h were related to persistently impaired cardiac and end-organ function.

Conclusions

Bio-ADM is a valuable prognosticator and marker of impaired hemodynamics in CS patients. High levels of bio-ADM may show shock refractoriness and developing end-organ dysfunction and thus help to guide therapeutic approach in patients with CS.

Study identifier of CardShock study NCT01374867 at clinicaltrials.gov

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13613-016-0229-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The association of admission blood glucose level with the clinical picture and prognosis in cardiogenic shock - Results from the CardShock Study

BACKGROUND

Critically ill patients often present with hyperglycemia, regardless of previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperglycemia has been associated with adverse outcome in acute myocardial infarction and acute heart failure. We investigated the association of admission blood glucose level with the clinical picture and short-term mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS).

METHODS

Consecutively enrolled CS patients were divided into five categories according to plasma glucose level at the time of enrolment: hypoglycemia (glucose <4.0mmol/L), normoglycemia (4.0-7.9mmol/L), mild (8.0-11.9mmol/L), moderate (12.0-15.9mmol/L), and severe (≥16.0mmol/L) hyperglycemia. Clinical presentation, biochemistry, and short-term mortality were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Plasma glucose level of 211 CS patients was recorded. Glucose levels were distributed equally between normoglycemia (26% of patients), mild (27%), moderate (19%) and severe (25%) hyperglycemia, while hypoglycemia (2%) was rare. Severe hyperglycemia was associated with higher blood leukocyte count (17.3 (5.8) E9/L), higher lactate level (4.4 (3.3-8.4) mmol/L) and lower arterial pH (7.23 (0.14)) compared with normoglycemia or mild to moderate hyperglycemia (p<0.001 for all). In-hospital mortality was highest among hypoglycemic (60%) and severely hyperglycemic (56%) patients, compared with 22% in normoglycemic group (p<0.01). Severe hyperglycemia was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.19-11.7, p=0.02), when adjusted for age, gender, LVEF, lactate, and DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Admission blood glucose level has prognostic significance in CS. Mortality is highest among patients with severe hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Severe hyperglycemia is independently associated with high in-hospital mortality in CS. It is also associated with biomarkers of systemic hypoperfusion and stress response.

Current real-life use of vasopressors and inotropes in cardiogenic shock - adrenaline use is associated with excess organ injury and mortality

Background

Vasopressors and inotropes remain a cornerstone in stabilization of the severely impaired hemodynamics and cardiac output in cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim of this study was to analyze current real-life use of these medications, and their impact on outcome and on changes in cardiac and renal biomarkers over time in CS.

Methods

The multinational CardShock study prospectively enrolled 219 patients with CS. The use of vasopressors and inotropes was analyzed in relation to the primary outcome, i.e., 90-day mortality, with propensity score methods in 216 patients with follow-up data available. Changes in cardiac and renal biomarkers over time until 96 hours from baseline were analyzed with linear mixed modeling.

Results

Patients were 67 (SD 12) years old, 26 % were women, and 28 % had been resuscitated from cardiac arrest prior to inclusion. On average, systolic blood pressure was 78 (14) and mean arterial pressure 57 (11) mmHg at detection of shock. 90-day mortality was 41 %. Vasopressors and/or inotropes were administered to 94 % of patients and initiated principally within the first 24 hours. Noradrenaline and adrenaline were given to 75 % and 21 % of patients, and 30 % received several vasopressors. In multivariable logistic regression, only adrenaline (21 %) was independently associated with increased 90-day mortality (OR 5.2, 95 % CI 1.88, 14.7, p = 0.002). The result was independent of prior cardiac arrest (39 % of patients treated with adrenaline), and the association remained in propensity-score-adjusted analysis among vasopressor-treated patients (OR 3.0, 95 % CI 1.3, 7.2, p = 0.013); this was further confirmed by propensity-score-matched analysis. Adrenaline was also associated, independent of prior cardiac arrest, with marked worsening of cardiac and renal biomarkers during the first days. Dobutamine and levosimendan were the most commonly used inotropes (49 % and 24 %). There were no differences in mortality, whether noradrenaline was combined with dobutamine or levosimendan.

Conclusion

Among vasopressors and inotropes, adrenaline was independently associated with 90-day mortality in CS. Moreover, adrenaline use was associated with marked worsening in cardiac and renal biomarkers. The combined use of noradrenaline with either dobutamine or levosimendan appeared prognostically similar.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1387-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of baseline characteristics on mortality in the SURVIVE trial on the effect of levosimendan vs dobutamine in acute heart failure: Sub-analysis of the Finnish patients

BACKGROUND

In the SURVIVE trial, including 1327 acute heart failure patients, no statistically significant difference between levosimendan and dobutamine in the 180-day all-cause mortality was seen. Country-specific differences in outcome were, however, present. In the Finnish sub-population in fact, mortality was significantly lower in levosimendan treated patients. We aim to understand the reasons for this disparity.

METHODS

The risk factors for all-cause mortality were identified in the whole study population using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Those factors were evaluated in the 95 patients of the Finnish sub-population.

RESULTS

The treatment by country interaction for mortality in Finland vs. other countries was significant, p=0.029. Levosimendan treated patients had a lower 180-day mortality compared to dobutamine treated (17% vs. 40%, p=0.023) in the Finnish sub-population. Baseline variables predicting survival in the whole SURVIVE trial population included age, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, myocardial infarction during admission, levels of NT-pro-BNP, glucose, creatinine, and alanine transferase, use of ACE inhibitors and β-blockers, oliguria, time from hospital admission to randomization, history of cardiac arrest, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Finnish patients were more frequently treated with β-blockers (88% vs. 52%, p<0.0001), their study treatment was started earlier (mean±SD 41±40h vs. 81±154; p<0.0001), and they had more often acute myocardial infarction at admission (39% vs. 16%, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The lower mortality in the Finnish patients treated with levosimendan was associated with higher use of β-blockers, higher frequency of myocardial infarction at admission, and shorter delay between randomization and start of treatment.

Management of acute heart failure and the effect of systolic blood pressure on the use of intravenous therapies

AIMS

To examine the use of the treatments for acute heart failure (AHF) recommended by ESC guidelines in different clinical presentations and blood pressure groups.

METHODS

The use of intravenous diuretics, nitrates, opioids, inotropes, and vasopressors as well as non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was analysed in 620 patients hospitalized due to AHF. The relation between AHF therapies and clinical presentation, especially systolic blood pressure (SBP) on admission, was also assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 76% of patients received i.v. furosemide, 42% nitrates, 29% opioids, 5% inotropes and 7% vasopressors, and 24% of patients were treated with NIV. Furosemide was the most common treatment in all clinical classes and irrespective of SBP on admission. Nitrates were given most often in pulmonary oedema and hypertensive AHF. Overall, only SBP differed significantly between patients with and without the studied treatments. SBP was higher in patients treated with nitrates than in those who were not (156 vs. 141 mmHg, p<0.001). Still, only one-third of patients presenting acute decompensated heart failure and SBP over 120 mmHg were given nitrates. Inotropes and vasopressors were given most frequently in cardiogenic shock and pulmonary oedema, and their use was inversely related to initial SBP (p<0.001). NIV was used only in half of the cardiogenic shock and pulmonary oedema patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of AHF differs between ESC clinical classes and the use of i.v. vasoactive therapies is related to the initial SBP. However, there seems to be room for improvement in administration of vasodilators and NIV.