Point-of-care lung ultrasound assessment for risk stratification and therapy guiding in COVID-19 patients: a prospective noninterventional study.

BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound is feasible for assessing lung injury caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the prognostic meaning and time-line changes of lung injury assessed by lung ultrasound in COVID-19 hospitalised patients are unknown. METHODS: Prospective cohort study designed to analyse prognostic value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 patients by using a quantitative scale (lung ultrasound Zaragoza (LUZ)-score) during the first 72 h after admission. The primary end-point was in-hospital death and/or admission to the intensive care unit. Total length of hospital stay, increase of oxygen flow and escalation of medical treatment during the first 72 h were secondary end-points. RESULTS: 130 patients were included in the final analysis; mean±sd age was 56.7±13.5 years. Median (interquartile range) time from the beginning of symptoms to admission was 6 (4-9) days. Lung injury assessed by LUZ-score did not differ during the first 72 h (21 (16-26) points at admission versus 20 (16-27) points at 72 h; p=0.183). In univariable logistic regression analysis, estimated arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction ratio (PAFI) (hazard ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99; p=0.027) and LUZ-score >22 points (5.45, 1.42-20.90; p=0.013) were predictors for the primary end-point. CONCLUSIONS: LUZ-score is an easy, simple and fast point-of-care ultrasound tool to identify patients with severe lung injury due to COVID-19, upon admission. Baseline score is predictive of severity along the whole period of hospitalisation. The score facilitates early implementation or intensification of treatment for COVID-19 infection. LUZ-score may be combined with clinical variables (as estimated by PAFI) to further refine risk stratification.

Prognostic Impact of Induced Natriuresis in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Its Association with Intraabdominal Pressure and Other Congestion Markers: A Multimodal Approach to Congestion Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Congestion is an essential issue in patients with heart failure (HF). Standard treatments do not usually achieve decongestion, and various strategies have been proposed to guide treatment, such as determination of natriuresis. After starting treatment with loop diuretics, we postulate that initial natriuresis might help treatment titration, decongestion, and improve prognosis. METHODS: It was a prospective and observational study. Patients admitted with the diagnosis of HF decompensation were eligible. An assessment of congestion was performed during the first 48 h. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included. A poor diuretic response was observed in 39.8%. After the first 48 h, patients with a greater diuretic response on admission (NaU > 80 mmol/L) showed fewer pulmonary b lines (12 vs. 15; p = 0.084), a lower IVC diameter (18 mm vs. 22 mm; p = 0.009), and lower IAP figures (11 mmHg vs. 13 mmHg; p = 0.041). Survival analysis tests demonstrated significant differences showing a higher proportion of all-cause mortality (ACM) and HF rehospitalization in the poor-diuretic-response group (log-rank test = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Up to 40% of the patients presented a poorer diuretic response at baseline, translating into worse outcomes. Patients with an optimal diuretic response showed significantly higher abdominal decongestion at 48 h and a better prognosis regarding ACM and/or HF rehospitalizations.

Utility of plasma CA125 as a proxy of intra-abdominal pressure in patients with acute heart failure.

AIMS: Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is now considered a potential contributor to organ damage and disease progression in acute heart failure (AHF). In this work, we aimed to determine if antigen carbohydrate 125 (CA125) is associated with IAP and to identify a cutpoint of CA125 useful for ruling out intra-abdominal hypertension (defined as IAP ≥ 12 mmHg). METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively evaluated a cohort of 53 patients admitted with AHF in which IAP was measured within the first 24-h of admission. The mean age was 80 ± 8 years, 31 (58.5%) were female, and 31 (58.5%) had left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%. The median plasma levels of NT-proBNP and CA125 were 3830 pg/mL (2417-8929) and 45.8 U/mL (29.8-114.0), respectively. The median of IAP was 15 mmHg (11-17), and 39 (73%) patients had an IAP ≥ 12 mmHg. The diagnostic performance of CA125 for identifying an IAP ≥ 12 mmHg was tested using the receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The cut-off for CA125 of 17.1 U/mL showed a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 50%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.71. After multivariate adjustment, CA125 remained non-linearly and positively associated with higher IAP (P-value = 0.003), explaining almost 28% of the model's variability (R2: 27.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AHF and intra-abdominal hypertension had higher CA125 plasma levels. A baseline concentration of CA125 below 17.1 U/mL will increase the odds of identifying a subset of patients with normal IAP.

Comparative analysis of chest radiography and lung ultrasound to predict intra-hospital prognosis of patients admitted for acute SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (COVID-19). / Análisis comparativo de la radiografía de tórax y la ecografía pulmonar para predecir el pronóstico intrahospitalario de pacientes ingresados por neumonía secundaria a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

BACKGROUND: Point of care lung ultrasound (POCUS) has been recently used to assess prognosis in COVID-19 patients. However, there are no data comparing POCUS and chest-X ray, a technique widely used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis in stable COVID-19 patients. Schalekamp radiological lung scale and LUZ-Score ultrasound scale were compared. Primary end-point was in-hospital death and/or need for Intensive Care Unit admission. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients were included. Median Schalekamp scale was 2 (2) and median LUZ-Score scale was 21 (10). No significant correlation was observed between both techniques. Patients with a LUZ-Score ≥21points at admission had worse lung function and higher concentrations of LDH, CRP and Interleuquine-6. Schalekamp scale failed to identify patients at a higher risk at admission for the primary end-point. Addition of POCUS to a previous clinical model, improved risk prediction (AUC 0.805 [95%CI: 0.662-0.948]; P=<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chest X-ray and POCUS showed no correlation at admission in this analysis. Only POCUS identified a group of patients with greater clinical and analytical involvement. POCUS improved, previous clinical model, while chest X-ray did not add relevant predictive information for the primary endpoint.

Comparative analysis of chest radiography and lung ultrasound to predict intra-hospital prognosis of patients admitted for acute SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (COVID-19).

Background: Point of care lung ultrasound (POCUS) has been recently used to assess prognosis in COVID-19 patients. However, there are no data comparing POCUS and chest-X ray, a technique widely used. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis in stable COVID-19 patients. Schalekamp radiological lung scale and LUZ-Score ultrasound scale were compared. Primary end-point was in-hospital death and/or need for Intensive Care Unit admission. Results: A total of 138 patients were included. Median Schalekamp scale was 2 (2) and median LUZ-Score scale was 21 (10). No significant correlation was observed between both techniques. Patients with a LUZ-Score ≥ 21 points at admission had worse lung function and higher concentrations of LDH, CRP and Interleuquine-6. Schalekamp scale failed to identify patients at a higher risk at admission for the primary end-point. Addition of POCUS to a previous clinical model, improved risk prediction (AUC 0.805 [95% CI: 0.662-0.948]; P = <0.001). Conclusions: Chest X-ray and POCUS showed no correlation at admission in this analysis. Only POCUS identified a group of patients with greater clinical and analytical involvement. POCUS improved, previous clinical model, while chest X-ray did not add relevant predictive information for the primary endpoint.

Antecedentes: La ecografía torácica es una técnica novedosa para estratificar el riesgo de los pacientes COVID-19. Sin embargo, no existen datos que comparen dicha técnica con la radiografía de tórax, una técnica ampliamente utilizada en esta enfermedad. Pacientes y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo en pacientes estables COVID-19. Se compararon la escala de daño pulmonar radiológica de Schalekamp y ecográfica de LUZ-Score. El objetivo primario fue la muerte intrahospitalaria o la necesidad de ingreso en la UCI para tratamiento con ventilación mecánica. Resultados: Se reclutaron 138 pacientes. La mediana de la escala de Schalekamp fue de 2 (2) y la del LUZ-Score de 21 (10). No se objetivó una correlación significativa entre ambas escalas. Los pacientes con un LUZ-Score ≥ 21 puntos al ingreso presentaron peor función pulmonar y mayores concentraciones de LDH, PCR e interleucina-6. La escala radiológica de Schalekamp no logró identificar a una población de mayor riesgo. Únicamente la adición de la ecografía pulmonar a un modelo de valoración clínica mejoró de manera significativa el área bajo la curva para el objetivo primario (ABC 0,805 [IC 95%: 0,662−0,948]; p ≤ 0,001). Conclusiones: No se objetivó una correlación entre la afectación radiológica y la ecográfica. Únicamente la ecografía pulmonar identificó un subgrupo de pacientes con una mayor afectación clínico-analítica. La ecografía pulmonar mejoró el modelo de predicción clínico, mientras que la radiografía de tórax no añadió información relevante.

Cystatin C and NT-proBNP as prognostic biomarkers in Fabry disease.

Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A gene. It is characterized by the deposition of the incompletely metabolized substrate globotriaosylceramide in several cell types and multisystem involvement. Major morbidity results from renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular pathology, mediated by endothelial dysfunction. We examined the potential utility of Cystatin C and natriuretic peptides as biomarkers in FD, and evaluated serum levels in 89 FD patients with varying degrees of disease severity. The results revealed that as a prognostic marker, Cystatin C is a good and cost effective indicator of early renal dysfunction and/or heart failure in FD. It is also more useful than serum creatinine in detecting mild renal damage and small decreases in glomerular filtration. In addition, the natriuretic peptide NT-proBNP, was elevated in patients with FD and cardiac involvement, and found to be an adequate detection marker, not only of cardiac involvement, but also of diastolic dysfunction.

[Cystatin C: a protein for heart failure]. / La cistatina C: una proteína para la insuficiencia cardíaca.

Cystatin C (CysC) is an antiprotease useful for measuring kidney function. Beyond such property, it carries significant prognostic information in several fields of cardiovascular diseases. We review data that support CysC as a prognostic factor in cardiovascular diseases among healthy elderly, hypertensive and heart failure patients. In addition, it has been speculated that CysC may be an early marker of ventricular remodelling, primarily involved in its pathogenesis, as a local antiprotease. Its role in physiopathology and clinical issues of cardiovascular pathology is yet to be elucidated.

Epidemiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Results from the RICA Registry. / Epidemiología de la insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada: resultados del Registro RICA.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There is great interest in better characterizing patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF). The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, progression over time and to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with HF-PEF. METHODS: From the National Registry of Heart Failure (RICA, prospective multicentre cohort study) we analysed patients consecutively admitted for HF in Internal Medicine wards over a period of 11 years (2008-2018). RESULTS: 4752 patients were included, 2957 (62.2%) with preserved ejection fraction. This prevalence remained constant from 2008 to 2019. Compared to patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) patients with HF-PEF are older, more are female, there is a higher prevalence of hypertensive and valvular aetiology, they have a profile of different comorbidities and worse functional status. A high proportion of patients receive disease-modifying treatment for IC-REF (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and beta-blockers). The overall mortality after one-year follow-up was 24% and 30% in the HF-PEF and the HF-REF, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of death was higher in patients with HF-REF compared to HF-PEF (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: [1.43-2.36]). The length of hospital stay was also lower in the HF-PEF patients but there were no differences in re-hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Sixty percent of patients in the RICA registry have preserved ejection fraction. These patients have a higher comorbidity burden and a worse functional status, but lower mortality compared with HF-REF patients.

Early Measurement of Blood sST2 Is a Good Predictor of Death and Poor Outcomes in Patients Admitted for COVID-19 Infection.

Although several biomarkers have shown correlation to prognosis in COVID-19 patients, their clinical value is limited because of lack of specificity, suboptimal sensibility or poor dynamic behavior. We hypothesized that circulating soluble ST2 (sST2) could be associated to a worse outcome in COVID-19. In total, 152 patients admitted for confirmed COVID-19 were included in a prospective non-interventional, observational study. Blood samples were drawn at admission, 48-72 h later and at discharge. sST2 concentrations and routine blood laboratory were analyzed. Primary endpoints were admission at intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. Median age was 57.5 years [Standard Deviation (SD: 12.8)], 60.4% males. 10% of patients (n = 15) were derived to ICU and/or died during admission. Median (IQR) sST2 serum concentration (ng/mL) rose to 53.1 (30.9) at admission, peaked at 48-72 h (79.5(64)) and returned to admission levels at discharge (44.9[36.7]). A concentration of sST2 above 58.9 ng/mL was identified patients progressing to ICU admission or death. Results remained significant after multivariable analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of sST2 for endpoints was 0.776 (p = 0.001). In patients admitted for COVID-19 infection, early measurement of sST2 was able to identify patients at risk of severe complications or death.

Prognostic value of malnutrition in patients with acute heart failure and its influence on the interpretation of markers of systemic venous congestion. / Valor pronóstico de la desnutrición en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda y su influencia en la interpretación de marcadores de congestión venosa sistémica.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is frequent in patients with heart failure (HF) and contributes to increased systemic congestion, but also hinders its correct assessment, especially during decompensations. Estimating the degree of malnutrition and its relationship with systemic congestion is important to optimize treatment during decompensations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study in patients with acute HF. The population was stratified according to CONUT (Controlling Nutritional Status) and PNI (Prognostic Nutritional Index) nutrition indices in order to analyse their relationship with objective parameters of congestion and the prognostic value of malnutrition. RESULTS: 309 patients were included. More than half presented some degree of malnutrition upon admission. The degree of congestion was significantly higher in malnourished patients, with a higher proportion of «comet tail artifacts¼ and a higher relative plasma volume. NT-proBNP concentrations, both on admission and at discharge, were also significantly higher in malnourished patients, regardless of the scale used. The univariate analysis identified the CONUT and PNI index as factors associated with one-year mortality from any cause (HR 1.62 [1.22-2.14]; p = 0.001) and PNI (HR 65 [0.53-0.80]; p = < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A higher degree of malnutrition (determined by means of the CONUT and PNI indices) in patients with acute HF was associated with a higher presence of objective parameters of congestion and a higher one-year all-cause mortality.

Multiple Approaches at Admission Based on Lung Ultrasound and Biomarkers Improves Risk Identification in COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification of COVID-19 patients is fundamental to improving prognosis and selecting the right treatment. We hypothesized that a combination of lung ultrasound (LUZ-score), biomarkers (sST2), and clinical models (PANDEMYC score) could be useful to improve risk stratification. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study designed to analyze the prognostic value of lung ultrasound, sST2, and PANDEMYC score in COVID-19 patients. The primary endpoint was in-hospital death and/or admission to the intensive care unit. The total length of hospital stay, increase of oxygen flow, or escalated medical treatment during the first 72 h were secondary endpoints. RESULTS: a total of 144 patients were included; the mean age was 57.5 ± 12.78 years. The median PANDEMYC score was 243 (52), the median LUZ-score was 21 (10), and the median sST2 was 53.1 ng/mL (30.9). Soluble ST2 showed the best predictive capacity for the primary endpoint (AUC = 0.764 (0.658-0.871); p = 0.001), towards the PANDEMYC score (AUC = 0.762 (0.655-0.870); p = 0.001) and LUZ-score (AUC = 0.749 (0.596-0.901); p = 0.002). Taken together, these three tools significantly improved the risk capacity (AUC = 0.840 (0.727-0.953); p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The PANDEMYC score, lung ultrasound, and sST2 concentrations upon admission for COVID-19 are independent predictors of intra-hospital death and/or the need for admission to the ICU for mechanical ventilation. The combination of these predictive tools improves the predictive power compared to each one separately. The use of decision trees, based on multivariate models, could be useful in clinical practice.

The influenza virus NS1A binding protein gene modulates macrophages response to cytokines and phagocytic potential in inflammation.

Macrophages show remarkable phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental signals. Although it is generally less considered, cytoskeletal changes in macrophages influence their phenotype, including phagocytosis and secretion of soluble cytokines. Influenza virus NS1A-binding protein (Ivns1abp) belongs to the Kelch family of proteins that play a central role in actin cytoskeleton dynamics by directly associating with F-actin and by protecting against actin derangement. Due to its role in cytoskeleton preservation, the Ivns1abp gene might be a critical regulator of the macrophage phenotype and function under inflammatory conditions. In this study, we determine that the modulation of the Ivns1abp gene in macrophages could modify resistance to macrophages against inflammation and maintain functional phagocytosis. Our results indicate that inflammatory insults inhibit the Ivns1abp gene, whereby phagocytosis is inhibited and the ability of macrophages to induce proliferation and repair of damaged cells is compromised. Furthermore, our results show that inflammatory insults alter the activity of the transcription factor c-myc, a factor which directly modulates the expression of the Ivns1abp gene. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a central role of lvns1abp in promoting and preserving a reparative macrophage phenotype and resistance to this inflammatory environment.

Combining heart rate and systolic blood pressure to improve risk stratification in older patients with heart failure: Findings from the RICA Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are independent prognostic variables in patients with heart failure (HF). We evaluated if combining HR and SBP could improve prognostic assessment in older patients. METHODS: Variables associated with all-cause mortality and readmission for HF during 9months of follow-up were analyzed from the Spanish Heart Failure Registry (RICA). HR and SBP values were stratified in three combined groups. RESULTS: We evaluated 1551 patients, 82years and 56% women. Using HR strata of <70 and ≥70bpm we found mortality rates of 9.8 and 13.6%, respectively (hazard ratio 1.0 and 1.35). For SBP≥140, 120-140 and <120mmHg, mortality rates were 8.2, 10.4 and 20.3%. respectively (hazard ratio 1.0, 1.34 and 2.76). Using combined strata of HR<70bpm and SBP≥140mmHg (n=176; low-risk), HR<70 and SBP<140+HR≥70 and SBP<120 (n=1089; moderate-risk) and HR≥70 and SBP<120 (n=286; high-risk) we found mortality rates of 4.5%, 11.0% and 24.0%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression for all-cause mortality shows for low-, middle- and high-risk groups was 1 (reference), 1.93 (95% CI: 0.93-3.99, p=0.077) and 4.32 (95% CI: 2.04-9.14, p<0.001). BMI, NYHA, MDRD, hypertension and sodium were also independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The combination provides better risk discrimination than use of HR and SBP alone and may provide a simple and reliable tool for risk assessment for older HF patients in clinical practice.

Influence of blood pressure at the beginning of decompensations in the prognosis of patients with heart failure. / Influencia de la presión arterial al inicio de las descompensaciones en el pronóstico de pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An inverse relationship has been described between blood pressure and the prognosis in heart failure (HF). The characteristics of this relationship are not well unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if this relationship is maintained in a non-selected cohort of patients with HF and if it can be modified by treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of cohorts including patients hospitalized for decompensated HF in Internal Medicine departments and followed as outpatients in a monographic consultation. Patients were classified according to their levels of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Clinical characteristics, all-cause mortality and readmissions after the first, third and sixth month of follow-up were analysed. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-one patients were included after their admission to the hospital for acute HF. Mean patient age was 79.5 years(SD 8.09); 115 patients were male. No significant differences between SBP quartiles and basal characteristics were found. Patients with lower SBP (Q1) had higher mortality rates (20%, P<.05). No significant differences between mortality/readmissions and DBP were found. However, the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher all-cause mortality rates for the group of patients with lower SBP and DBP (log-rank=0.011 and 0.041, respectively). The pharmacological treatment did not differ significantly between both study groups. CONCLUSION: For non-selected patients suffering HF, higher SBP upon the admission is associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality rates during follow-up. Pharmacological treatment of HF does not seem to influence this inverse relationship between SBP at admission and patient mortality.

Usefulness of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure Regardless of Ejection Fraction.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a role in the improvement of cardiac function and remodeling. Their serum levels are strongly related with mortality in chronic systolic heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to study prognostic value of HGF in acute HF, interaction with ejection fraction, renal function, and natriuretic peptides. We included 373 patients (age 76 ± 10 years, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 46 ± 14%, 48% men) consecutively admitted for acute HF. Blood samples were obtained at admission. All patients were followed up until death or close of study (>1 year, median 371 days). HGF concentrations were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (human HGF immunoassay). The predictive power of HGF was estimated by Cox regression with calculation of Harrell C-statistic. HGF had a median of 1,942 pg/ml (interquartile rank 1,354). According to HGF quartiles, mortality rates (per 1,000 patients/year) were 98, 183, 375, and 393, respectively (p <0.001). In Cox regression analysis, HGF (hazard ratio1SD = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.1, p = 0.002) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; hazard ratio1SD = 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.6, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of mortality. Interaction between HGF and LVEF, origin, and renal function was nonsignificant. The addition of HGF improved the predictive ability of the models (C-statistic 0.768 vs 0.741, p = 0.016). HGF showed a complementary value over NT-proBNP (p = 0.001): mortality rate was 490 with both above the median versus 72 with both below. In conclusion, in patients with acute HF, serum HGF concentrations are elevated and identify patients at higher risk of mortality, regardless of LVEF, ischemic origin, or renal function. HGF had independent and additive information over NT-proBNP.

Epidemiología de la insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada: resultados del Registro RICA / Epidemiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Results from the RICA Registry

Introducción y objetivos: La caracterización de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) con fracción de eyección preservada (IC-FEp) sigue teniendo interés. El objetivo fue conocer la prevalencia, las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la IC-FEp, y sus cambios en los últimos años.MétodosAnalizamos el Registro RICA, de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna; estudio de cohorte multicéntrico y prospectivo de pacientes ingresados por IC, consecutivamente en servicios de medicina interna, durante un periodo de 11 años (2008-2018).ResultadosSe incluyeron 4.752 pacientes, 2957 (62,2%) con IC-FEp, proporción que se mantuvo constante durante todo el periodo. En comparación con los pacientes con IC y fracción de eyección reducida (IC-FEr), los pacientes con IC-FEp tienen: mayor edad, predominio de sexo femenino, etiología hipertensiva y valvular, distinto perfil de comorbilidades y peor capacidad funcional (menor índice de Barthel). La mayoría de pacientes recibía un tratamiento similar al de la IC-FEr (inhibidores del sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona y betabloqueantes). La mortalidad global al año de seguimiento fue del 24% en la IC-FEp y del 30% en la IC-FEr. En el análisis multivariante el riesgo de muerte fue superior en los pacientes con IC-FEr (HR: 1,84; IC 95%: [1,43-2,36]); la estancia hospitalaria fue inferior en la IC-FEp y no hubo diferencias en las re-hospitalizaciones. (AU)

Introduction and objectives: There is great interest in better characterizing patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF). The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, progression over time and to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with HF-PEF.MethodsFrom the National Registry of Heart Failure (RICA, prospective multicentre cohort study) we analysed patients consecutively admitted for HF in Internal Medicine wards over a period of 11 years (2008-2018).Results4752 patients were included, 2957 (62.2%) with preserved ejection fraction. This prevalence remained constant from 2008 to 2019. Compared to patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) patients with HF-PEF are older, more are female, there is a higher prevalence of hypertensive and valvular aetiology, they have a profile of different comorbidities and worse functional status. A high proportion of patients receive disease-modifying treatment for IC-REF (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and beta-blockers). The overall mortality after one-year follow-up was 24% and 30% in the HF-PEF and the HF-REF, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of death was higher in patients with HF-REF compared to HF-PEF (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: [1.43-2.36]). The length of hospital stay was also lower in the HF-PEF patients but there were no differences in re-hospitalizations. (AU)