Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in acute heart failure: invasive hemodynamic parameters and clinical outcomes.

There are limited data regarding the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARBs) in acute heart failure (AHF). The purpose is to determine the patterns of ACEi/ARB use at the time of admission and discharge in relation to invasive hemodynamic data, mortality, and heart failure (HF) readmissions. This is a retrospective single-center study in patients with AHF who underwent right heart catheterization between January 2010 and December 2016. Patients on dialysis, evidence of shock, or incomplete follow up were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors associated with continuation of ACEi/ARB use on discharge and its relation to mortality and HF readmissions. The final sample was 626 patients. Patients on ACEi/ARB on admission were most likely continued on discharge. The most common reasons for stopping ACEi/ARB were worsening renal function (WRF), hypotension, and hyperkalemia. Patients with ACEi/ARB use on admission had a significantly higher systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), but lower cardiac index (CI). Patients with RA pressures above the median received less ACEi/ARB (P = 0.025) and had significantly higher inpatient mortality (P = 0.048). After multivariate logistic regression, ACEi/ARB use at admission was associated with less inpatient mortality; OR 0.32 95% CI (0.11 to 0.93), and this effect extended to the subgroup of patients with HFpEF. Patients discharged on ACEi/ARB had significantly less 6-month HF readmissions OR 0.69 95% CI (0.48 to 0.98). ACEi/ARB use on admission for AHF was associated with less inpatient mortality including in those with HFpEF.

Renal implications of pulmonary arterial capacitance in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Worsening renal function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is associated with poor outcomes. Pulmonary arterial capacitance is a novel right heart catheterization derived hemodynamic metric representing pulmonary arterial tree distensibility and right ventricle afterload. Given the strong association between heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and kidney function, the goal of this study is to investigate the correlation between Pulmonary arterial capacitance and long-term renal function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In this retrospective single center study, data from 951 patients with the diagnosis of heart failure, who underwent right heart catheterization were analyzed. Eight hundred and one patients with reduced ejection fraction, end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis, acute myocardial infarction, and severe structural valvular disorders, were excluded. Pulmonary arterial capacitance was calculated as the stroke volume divided by pulmonary artery pulse pressure (mL/mmHg). Hemodynamic and clinical variables including baseline renal function were obtained at the time of the right heart catheterization, and renal function was also obtained at 3-5 years after right heart catheterization. The final cohort consisted of 150 subjects with a mean age 68 ( ± 14.2) years, 93 (62%) were female. The mean value for Pulmonary arterial capacitance was 2.82 ( ± 2.22) mL/mm Hg and the mean Glomerular Filtration Rate was 60.32 mL/min/l.73 m² ( ± 28.36). After multivariate linear regression analysis (including baseline Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate as one of the variates), only age and Pulmonary arterial capacitance greater than 2.22 mL/mm Hg were predictors of long term Glomerular Filtration Rate. Pulmonary arterial capacitance as a novel right heart catheterization index could be a predictor of long-term renal function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.