Utilidad pronóstica de la ecografía pulmonar en el seguimiento ambulatorio de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca / Use of lung ultrasound as a prognostic tool in outpatients with heart failure

Objetivo: Valorar la utilidad pronóstica de la ecografía pulmonar en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca. Métodos: Estudio observacional de cohortes prospectivo, en el que se realizó una ecografía pulmonar a 54 pacientes en seguimiento ambulatorio por insuficiencia cardiaca. La ecografía se clasificó como positiva o negativa para síndrome intersticial ecográfico según el número de líneas B observadas. Se realizó un seguimiento durante 6 meses, considerando eventos indicativos de mal pronóstico las visitas a urgencias, reingresos y fallecimientos debidos a insuficiencia cardiaca. Resultados: El 53,7% (29) de los enfermos presentaban síndrome intersticial ecográfico. De ellos, reingresaron el 48,3% (14) frente al 16% (4) de los que no tenían dicho síndrome (p = 0,012). Considerando como variable final conjunta la necesidad de reingreso, las urgencias y fallecimientos por insuficiencia cardiaca, el 55,2% (16) de los pacientes con síndrome intersticial presentaron al menos una de estas complicaciones, frente al 20% (5) de los participantes sin el síndrome (p = 0,008). Conclusiones: La ecografía en el ámbito ambulatorio es útil para predecir qué enfermos tienen mayor riesgo de descompensación de insuficiencia cardiaca a medio plazo (AU)

Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of lung ultrasound for patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study, in which a lung ultrasound was performed on 54 patients at a heart failure outpatient consultation. Ultrasonography was classified as positive or negative for ultrasound interstitial syndrome depending on the number of B lines observed. Patients were followed up for six months; considering emergency visits, readmissions and deaths due to heart failure as markers of poor prognosis. Results: 53.7% (29) of the patients had ultrasound interstitial syndrome. Among them, 48.3% (14) were readmitted, compared to 16% (4) of those without the syndrome (P = .012). Considering any of the events previously described as end points (readmissions, emergencies and deaths), we found that in the group of patients with ultrasound interstitial syndrome, 55.2% (16) had at least one of these complications, compared to 20% (5) of participants without the syndrome (P = .008). Conclusions: Lung ultrasound in the outpatient setting is useful in predicting which patients are at increased risk of heart failure decompensation in the mid-term (AU)

[Use of lung ultrasound as a prognostic tool in outpatients with heart failure]. / Utilidad pronóstica de la ecografía pulmonar en el seguimiento ambulatorio de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic value of lung ultrasound for patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study, in which a lung ultrasound was performed on 54 patients at a heart failure outpatient consultation. Ultrasonography was classified as positive or negative for ultrasound interstitial syndrome depending on the number of B lines observed. Patients were followed up for six months; considering emergency visits, readmissions and deaths due to heart failure as markers of poor prognosis. RESULTS: 53.7% (29) of the patients had ultrasound interstitial syndrome. Among them, 48.3% (14) were readmitted, compared to 16% (4) of those without the syndrome (P=.012). Considering any of the events previously described as end points (readmissions, emergencies and deaths), we found that in the group of patients with ultrasound interstitial syndrome, 55.2% (16) had at least one of these complications, compared to 20% (5) of participants without the syndrome (P=.008). CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound in the outpatient setting is useful in predicting which patients are at increased risk of heart failure decompensation in the mid-term.