Changes in the Treatment of Decompensated Advanced Heart Failure During Hospitalization and at Discharge.

BACKGROUND: In advanced heart failure (HF), each hospitalization for decompensation is a vulnerable moment, and it requires optimizing pharmacologic treatment. This study aimed to analyze changes in the pharmacologic treatment of HF before admission (P), during hospitalization (H), and at discharge (D) of patients with decompensated advanced HF. METHODS: We performed an ambispective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study conducted from January 2020 to June 2020. There were 252 consecutive patients admitted for decompensated advanced HF. The following were excluded: de novo HF cases, deceased patients, and scheduled admissions. Finally, 134 patients were analyzed, compared in 3 subgroups: pulmonary congestion (n = 90), systemic congestion (n = 31), and low output (n = 13). RESULTS: In the global analysis, an increase was detected in angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitors (P: 9.7%, H: 16.4, D: 22.4%; P < .02), beta blockers (P: 67.2%, H: 77.6%, D: 84.3%; P < .004), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (P: 29.9%, H: 44.4%, D: 46.3%; P < .01), loop diuretics (P: 70.1%, H: 99.3%, D: 95.5%; P < .001), and nitrates (P: 6.0%, H: 22.4%, D: 9.7%; P < .001). Pulmonary congestion was predominant with a significant increase in beta blockers (P: 61.1%, H: 77.8%, D: 88.9%; P < .001) and loop diuretics (P: 64.4%, H: 100%, D: 100%; P < .001); diuretics were increased in the systemic congestion group (P: 80.6%, H: 100%, D: 100%; P < .002), and 22.6% required 3% hypertonic saline solution. In patients with low output, beta blockers and diuretics were withdrawn (P: 84.6%, H: 76.9%, D: 46.1%; P < .08 and P: 84.6%, H: 92.3%, D: 61.5%; P < .1 respectively), without variation in the other pharmacologic groups. CONCLUSIONS: In daily clinical practice, HF drugs are increased and optimized in decompensated HF with a pulmonary or systemic congestion profile. When the profile is low output, beta blockers and diuretics are reduced.

Study Protocol for the Peruvian Registry of Advanced Heart Failure (REPICAV).

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a global problem with a high mortality rate, and advanced HF (AHF) represents the stage with the highest morbidity and mortality. We have no local data on this population and its treatment. The aim of this study will be to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and annual survival characteristics of patients diagnosed with AHF treated in hospitals with HF units in the city of Lima, Peru. Methods and Analysis: An observational, prospective, multicenter study will be conducted with evaluation at baseline and follow-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after study entry. Patients over 18 years of age with AHF seen in referral health facilities in metropolitan Lima will be included. The cumulative mortality during follow-up will be estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression models will calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Likewise, risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI will be estimated using generalized linear models with binomial family and log link function. This study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the National Cardiovascular Institute (Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular "Carlos Alberto Peschiera Carrillo"-INCOR [in Spanish]; Approval report 46/2021-CEI). Discussion: In Peru, there are no scientific data on the epidemiology of AHF in the population. This means that physicians are not adequately trained in the characteristics of the Peruvian population to identify patients who could be candidates for advanced therapies and to recognize the optimal time to refer these patients to more complex HF units. This study will be the first to examine the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of AHF in Peru with a follow-up of 1 year after the event and will provide relevant information on these observable characteristics for the management of high-complexity patients.

Implicaciones pronósticas de la hipo e hiperpotasemia en la insuficiencia cardíaca aguda con fracción de eyección reducida. Análisis de la mortalidad cardiovascular y reingresos hospitalarios / Prognostic implications of hypo and hyperkalaemia in acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Analysis of cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions

Antecedentes y objetivos:Las alteraciones del potasio constituyen un problema clínico de gran magnitud en la insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) descompensada. Este estudio pretende valorar las implicaciones pronósticas de la hipo e hiperpotasemia al ingreso por IC aguda en la mortalidad cardiovascular y reingresos hospitalarios.Material y método:De enero de 2016 a junio de 2020 fueron ingresados 1.397 casos con diagnóstico de IC aguda. Se excluyeron ingresos programados para estudio, terapias electivas y pacientes con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo>40%. El estudio se realizó sobre 689 pacientes, 45 con potasio (K+)<3,5 mmol/l, 49K+>5,0mmol/l y 595K+=3,5-5,0 mmol/l. Se analizaron los antecedentes, perfil clínico basal, terapia farmacológica y niveles de potasio obtenidos al ingreso.Resultados:La mortalidad anual por hipopotasemia (K+

Background and objectives: Potassium alterations constitute a major clinical problem in decompensated heart failure (HF). This study aims to assess the prognostic implications of hypo and hyperkalaemia on admission for acute HF in cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions.Material and method:From January 2016 to June 2020, 1,397 cases with a diagnosis of acute HF were admitted. Admission programmed for study, elective therapies, and patients with LVEF> 40% were excluded. The study was carried out on 689 patients, 45 with K+ <3.5 mmol/L, 49K +>5.0 mmol/L and 595K+3.5-5.0 mmol/L. Medical history, baseline clinical profile, drug therapy, and potassium levels obtained upon admission were analysed.Results:Annual mortality due to hypokalaemia (K+<3.5mmol/L) was 37.8% (HR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3-4.7; P<.007); for hyperkalaemia 40.8% (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.98-3.51; P<.055). Creatinine level and age were variables associated with mortality in both the hyperkalaemic and hypokalaemic cohorts. Hospital readmissions did not show statistical association with these electrolyte disorders.Conclusions:In patients admitted for decompensated HF, both hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia determined at admission have a negative prognostic impact on survival. Creatinine and age are other independent factors associated with mortality. The effect on the probability of hospital readmission at one year is not demonstrated in this study. (AU)

[Prognostic implications of hypo and hyperkalaemia in acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Analysis of cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions]. / Implicaciones pronósticas de la hipo e hiperpotasemia en la insuficiencia cardíaca aguda con fracción de eyección reducida. Análisis de la mortalidad cardiovascular y reingresos hospitalarios.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Potassium alterations constitute a major clinical problem in decompensated heart failure (HF). This study aims to assess the prognostic implications of hypo and hyperkalaemia on admission for acute HF in cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 2016 to June 2020, 1,397 cases with a diagnosis of acute HF were admitted. Admission programmed for study, elective therapies, and patients with LVEF> 40% were excluded. The study was carried out on 689 patients, 45 with K+ <3.5 mmol/L, 49K +>5.0 mmol/L and 595K+3.5-5.0 mmol/L. Medical history, baseline clinical profile, drug therapy, and potassium levels obtained upon admission were analysed. RESULTS: Annual mortality due to hypokalaemia (K+<3.5mmol/L) was 37.8% (HR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3-4.7; P<.007); for hyperkalaemia 40.8% (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.98-3.51; P<.055). Creatinine level and age were variables associated with mortality in both the hyperkalaemic and hypokalaemic cohorts. Hospital readmissions did not show statistical association with these electrolyte disorders. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for decompensated HF, both hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia determined at admission have a negative prognostic impact on survival. Creatinine and age are other independent factors associated with mortality. The effect on the probability of hospital readmission at one year is not demonstrated in this study.

The Female Sex Confers Different Prognosis in Heart Failure: Same Mortality but More Readmissions.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbimortality both in men and women. Differences between sex in etiopathogenesis, response to treatment, and quality of care have been found in patients with HF. Females are usually under-represented in clinical trials and there is no solid evidence demonstrating the influence of sex in the prognostic of chronic HF. The primary objective of this study was to analyse the differences in mortality and probability of hospital readmission between males and females with HF. The secondary objective was to compare mortality and probability of hospital readmission by ejection fraction (reduced vs. preserved). Methods: Patients with decompensated HF that were consecutively admitted to a Cardiology Service of a tertiary hospital for 4 years were recruited. De novo HF, death during hospitalization, programmed admissions and those patients with moderate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (40-50%) were discarded. Finally, 1,291 patients were included. Clinical profiles, clinical history, functional status, treatment at admission, first blood analysis performed, readmissions and mortality at follow-up were analyzed and compared. All patients underwent an echocardiographic study at admission. HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was considered when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was <40%, whilst HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was considered when LVEF was ≥50%. Results: 716 participants were male (55%). Basal characteristics showed differences in some outcomes. No differences were found in probability of survival among patients with decompensated HF by sex and ejection fraction (p = 0.25), whereas there was a clear tend to a major survival in females with HFrEF (p < 0.1). Females presented more readmissions when compared to males, independently from the LVEF (females = 33.5% vs. males = 26.8%; p = 0.009). Adjusted multivariate analysis showed no association between sex and mortality (HR = 0.97, IC 95% = 0.73-1.30, p = 0.86), although there was association between female sex and probability of readmission (OR = 1.37, IC 95% = 1.04-1.82, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Sex does not influence mid-term mortality in patients admitted for decompensated HF. Nevertheless, probability of readmission is higher in females independently from LVEF. Thus, it should be considered whether healthcare may be different depending on sex, and a more personalized and frequent care may be recommended in females.

Creatinine and NT-ProBNP levels could predict the length of hospital stay of patients with decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome that causes high morbidity and mortality with a high number of admissions and sometimes prolonged admissions. This study aimed at assessing whether parameters detected during the first 24 h of admission may predict a prolonged hospital stay in patients admitted to hospital for decompensated HF. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2019, 2359 admissions of decompensated HF were recorded. In-hospital transfers, de novo HF, deaths and scheduled admissions were discarded to homogenise the sample. Finally, 1196 patients were included. The sample was divided into two groups: (a) non-prolonged admission (n = 643, admission ≤7 days) or (b) prolonged admission (n = 553, admission >7 days). Clinical, analytical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables obtained during the first 24 h of admission were analysed. RESULTS: Univariate differences were found at admission in NT-ProBNP, creatinine, history of cardiac surgery, smoking and alcoholism, left and right ventricular ejection fraction, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. The ROC analysis showed significant areas under the curve for the NT-ProBNP (AUC: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.60-0.67; p < 0.001) and creatinine (AUC: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.66-0.72; p < 0.0001). The variables associated with prolonged hospital admission were NT-ProBNP (OR: 1, 95% CI: 1-1; p < 0.001), creatinine (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.8-2.7; p < 0.0001) and previous smoking (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.4-1; p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Variables such as creatinine and NT-ProBNP at hospital admission may define a subgroup of patients who will probably have a long hospital stay. Therefore, the planning of hospital care and transition to discharge may be enhanced.

Efectividad de la reanimación cardiopulmonar intrahospitalaria en pacientes con paro cardiorespiratorio en el Servicio de Emergencia Adultos, Hospital Alberto Sabogal Sologuren, EsSalud. Julio 2013 - Junio 2014 / Effectiveness of intra-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with cardiac arrest in the Adult Emergency Service, Hospital Alberto Sabogal Sologuren, EsSalud. July 2013 - June 2014

Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad de las maniobras de Reanimación Cardiopulmonar Intrahospitalaria en pacientes con paro Cardiorrespiratorio atendidos en el Servicio de Emergencia adultos del HASS durante el periodo Julio 2013-Junio 2014. Metodología: Estudio observacional, analítico comparativo, prospectivo, de corte transversal. Se trabajó con un total de 42 pacientes con paro cardiorrespiratorio intrahospitalario. Se consideró como "Efectiva" a la reanimación cardiopulmonar cuando se logró sobrevida con calidad de vida con/sin secuelas neurológicas considerada como buen desempeño cerebral o Incapacidad cerebral Moderada. Para el análisis estadístico de variables cuantitativas se empleó medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión; y para el análisis cualitativo, frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: De las principales características sociodemográficas y clínicas de los pacientes en estudio se tuvo que el 61.9 por ciento fueron de sexo masculino y la edad promedio fue de 66.45 años, el lugar principal del evento estudiado fue en shock trauma (64.3 por ciento) en cuanto a las intervenciones más usadas para la reanimación cardiopulmonar fueron la compresión torácica y el uso de medicamentos intravenosos (95.2 por ciento); además, la causa inmediata al paro más frecuente fue la depresión respiratoria en el 64.3 por ciento y el ritmo cardiaco inicial más frecuente fue la asistolia en el 66.7 por ciento. El tiempo promedio de inicio del RCP fue 1.05 ± 0.21 minutos y la duración de las mismas fue 11.19 ± 8.91 minutos, el tiempo promedio de intubación de la vía aérea se calculó en 3.76 ± 1.9 minutos. El tiempo promedio para la primera descarga eléctrica (desfibrilación) se estimó en 3.67 ± 1.91 minutos y el tiempo medio de inicio del uso de drogas para la reanimación del paciente con la dosis empleada fue 2.71 ± 1.3 minutos. Respecto a la supervivencia inmediata se dio en 85.7 por ciento de pacientes y el porcentaje de recuperación de la circulación...

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intra-hospital CPR maneuvers in patients with cardiac arrest treated at the Adult Emergency HASS during the period July 2013-June 2014. Methodology: Observational, analytical, comparative, prospective, cross-sectional study. We worked with a total of 42 patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. It was considered as "Effective" to CPR survival was achieved when quality of life with / without neurological sequel considered good cerebral performance or Moderate cerebral disability. For statistical analysis of quantitative variables measures of central tendency and dispersion were used; and qualitative analysis, absolute and relative frequencies. Results: The main demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who received Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers: 61.9 per cent were male and the average age was 66.45 years, the main event site studied, was in shock trauma (64.3 per cent), interventions most used for cardiopulmonary resuscitation were chest compression and the use of intravenous drugs (95.2 per cent); also the most frequent immediate cause to arrest was respiratory depression in 64.3 per cent and the most common initial cardiac rhythm was a systole in 66.7 per cent. The average time to onset of CPR was 1.05 ± 0.21 minutes and the duration was 11.19 ± 8.91 minutes, the average time of intubation airway was 3.76 ± 1.9 minutes. The average time to first shock (defibrillation) was estimated at 3.67 ± 1.91 minutes and the mean time of onset of drug use in the resuscitation of the patient with the dose used was 2.71 ± 1.3 minutes. The immediate survival was in 85.7 per cent of patients and the percent recovery of spontaneous circulation notwithstanding less than 20 minutes was 19.4 per cent, between 20 minutes-24 hours was 44.4 per cent and greater than 24 hours was 36.1 per cent. Survival to 24 hours RCP was 33.3 per cent, while immediate survival at 7 days was 14.3 per cent. 66.7 per cent died...