Prognostic Usefulness of the 6-Minute Walk Test in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

The 6-minute walk test distance (6MWD) has been shown to predict prognosis in selected cohorts of patients with heart failure and outcomes after surgical or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (AVI) in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). Our objective was to evaluate the association between the 6MWD and outcome in patients with severe AS while remaining under medical treatment. In a prospective observational cohort study, a total of 149 patients diagnosed with severe AS by Doppler echocardiography underwent a 6-minute walk test. The single end point was a composite of all-cause death or hospitalization for heart failure. Patients receiving an AVI were censored from follow-up at the time of their AVI, so that only the events that occurred while the patients remained under medical treatment were included in the analysis. During follow-up (median 12.9 months), the end point occurred in 65 patients (43.6%). Univariate analysis showed an association between the 6MWD and the end point (p <0.001). After adjustment for symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction, aortic valve area, Charlson co-morbidity score, and anemia, the 6MWD independently predicted the end point (adjusted hazard ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.89; p = 0.010). The incidence of the composite end point was 12 per 100 patient-years in patients with a 6MWD >331 m compared to 86 per 100 patient-years in those with a 6MWD ≤331 m (p <0.001). In conclusion, although patients with severe AS remain under medical treatment, the 6MWD is independently associated with all-cause death or hospitalization for heart failure.

[Clinical determinants and prognostic value of hemoglobin in hospitalized patients with systolic heart failure]. / Determinantes clínicos y valor pronóstico de la hemoglobina en pacientes hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca sistólica.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Anemia is a common finding in outpatients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with increased mortality. The aims of this study were to identify determinants of the hemoglobin level in a large group of hospitalized patients with systolic HF and to investigate the medium-term prognostic value of the hemoglobin level. METHODS: The study included 460 consecutive patients (age 68.3 [12.3] years, 74% male) who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (i.e., a left ventricular ejection fraction <45%). At hospital discharge, biochemical and hematological parameters were measured and clinical and echocardiographic variables were recorded. Patients were followed up for 16.8[9.7] months. RESULTS: Anemia, as defined by World Health Organization criteria, was present in 189 (41.1%) patients. The following independent determinants of the hemoglobin level were identified: age (relative risk [RR]=1.035, 95% CI, 1.011-1.060; P=.004), female sex (RR=1.843, 95% CI, 1.083-3.135; P=.024), diabetes mellitus (RR=1.413, 95% CI, 1.087-1.838; P=.010), plasma urea level (RR=1.013, 95% CI, 1.005-1.022; P=.001), and loop diuretic use (RR=2.801, 95% CI, 1.463-5.364; P=.002). A decrease in hemoglobin level was associated with increased risks of death (RR per g/dL=1.232, 95% CI, 1.103-1.375; P<.001) and death or HF readmission (RR per g/dL=1.152, 95% CI, 1.058-1.255; P<.001), but not with readmission for non-fatal HF (RR per g/dL=1.081, 95% CI, 0.962-1.215; P=.265). Blood transfusion during hospitalization did not alter the increased risk of death (RR=2.19, 95% CI 1.40-3.41; P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized patients with systolic HF, the hemoglobin level at hospital discharge was an independent predictor of death in the medium term, but not of readmission for non-fatal HF. The main determinants of the hemoglobin level were age, sex, renal function, diabetes, and the need for diuretics.

Determinantes clínicos y valor pronóstico de la hemoglobina en pacientes hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca sistólica / Clinical determinants and prognostic value of hemoglobin in hospitalized patients with systolic heart failure

Introducción y objetivos. En pacientes ambulatorios con insuficiencia cardiaca, la anemia es frecuente y se asocia con un aumento de la mortalidad. Estudiamos los determinantes del valor de hemoglobina y su valor pronóstico a medio plazo en una población amplia de pacientes hospitalizados con IC sistólica. Métodos. Se incluyó a 460 pacientes consecutivos (68,3 ± 12,3 años, 74% varones) hospitalizados con el diagnóstico de insuficiencia cardiaca y disfunción sistólica (fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo [FEVI] < 45%). En el momento del alta hospitalaria se realizaron las determinaciones bioquímicas y hematológicas y se recogieron las variables clínicas y ecocardiográficas. Los pacientes fueron seguidos durante 16,8 ± 9,7 meses. Resultados. Un total de 189 (41,1%) pacientes presentaban anemia (según la definición de la Organización Mundial de la Salud). Los determinantes independientes del valor de hemoglobina fueron la edad (riesgo relativo [RR] = 1,035; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,011-1,060; p = 0,004), el sexo femenino (RR = 1,843; IC del 95%, 1,083-3,135; p = 0,024), diabetes mellitus (RR = 1,413; IC del 95%, 1,087-1,838; p = 0,010), urea plasmática (RR = 1,013; IC del 95%, 1,005-1,022; p = 0,001) y diuréticos del asa (RR = 2,801; IC del 995%, 1,463-5,364; p = 0,002). Un menor valor de hemoglobina se asoció con un mayor riesgo de muerte evento (RR = 1,232; IC del 95%, 1,103-1,375; p < 0,001) y del evento combinado de muerte o reingreso por insuficiencia cardiaca (RR = 1,152; IC del 95%, 1,058-1,255; p < 0,001), pero no de reingreso por insuficiencia cardiaca no fatal (RR = 1,081; IC del 95%, 0,962-1,215; p = 0,265). La transfusión de hematíes durante el ingreso no modificó el incremento del riesgo de muerte (RR = 2,19; IC del 95%, 1,40-3,41, p = 0,001). Conclusiones. En pacientes hospitalizados con IC sistólica, el valor de hemoglobina en el momento del alta es un predictor independiente de mortalidad a medio plazo, pero no de reingresos por IC no fatal. Sus principales determinantes fueron la edad, el sexo, la función renal, la diabetes y la necesidad de diuréticos (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Anemia is a common finding in outpatients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with increased mortality. The aims of this study were to identify determinants of the hemoglobin level in a large group of hospitalized patients with systolic HF and to investigate the medium-term prognostic value of the hemoglobin level. Methods. The study included 460 consecutive patients (age 68.3 [12.3] years, 74% male) who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (i.e., a left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%). At hospital discharge, biochemical and hematological parameters were measured and clinical and echocardiographic variables were recorded. Patients were followed up for 16.8[9.7] months. Results. Anemia, as defined by World Health Organization criteria, was present in 189 (41.1%) patients. The following independent determinants of the hemoglobin level were identified: age (relative risk [RR]=1.035, 95% CI, 1.011–1.060; P=.004), female sex (RR=1.843, 95% CI, 1.083–3.135; P=.024), diabetes mellitus (RR=1.413, 95% CI, 1.087–1.838; P=.010), plasma urea level (RR=1.013, 95% CI, 1.005–1.022; P=.001), and loop diuretic use (RR=2.801, 95% CI, 1.463–5.364; P=.002). A decrease in hemoglobin level was associated with increased risks of death (RR per g/dL=1.232, 95% CI, 1.103–1.375; P < 001) and death or HF readmission (RR per g/dL=1.152, 95% CI, 1.058–1.255; P < .001), but not with readmission for nonfatal HF (RR per g/dL=1.081, 95% CI, 0.962–1.215; P=.265). Blood transfusion during hospitalization did not alter the increased risk of death (RR=2.19, 95% CI 1.40–3.41; P=.001). Conclusions. In hospitalized patients with systolic HF, the hemoglobin level at hospital discharge was an independent predictor of death in the medium term, but not of readmission for non-fatal HF. The main determinants of the hemoglobin level were age, sex, renal function, diabetes, and the need for diuretics (AU)