Insuficiencia cardiaca en octogenarios con fibrilación auricular: incidencia y factores de riesgo / Heart failure in older patients with atrial fibrillation: incidence and risk factors

Introducción y objetivos: La fibrilación auricular (FA) está interconectada con la insuficiencia cardiaca (IC). Sin embargo, los factores que pueden precipitar la aparición de IC en los pacientes con FA están escasamente descritos. Con este estudio, se pretende determinar la incidencia, los predictores y el pronóstico de la IC de nueva aparición en una población de pacientes ancianos con FA sin antecedentes de IC.MétodosPacientes con FA mayores de 80 años, sin antecedente de IC, identificados entre los años 2014 y 2018.ResultadosDurante 3,7 años, se siguió a 5.794 pacientes (edad, 85,2±3,8 años; el 63,2% mujeres). En el 33,3% de los casos (tasa de incidencia, 11,5/100 pacientes-año) apareció IC de novo, mayoritariamente con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo conservada. A partir de un análisis multivariante, se identificaron 11 factores de riesgo de aparición de la IC independientemente de su subtipo: enfermedad valvular significativa (HR=1,99; IC95%, 1,73-2,28), fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo reducida (HR=1,92; IC95%, 1,68-2,19), enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (HR=1,59; IC95%, 1,40-1,82), aumento de la aurícula izquierda (HR=1,47; IC95%, 1,33-1,62), enfermedad renal (HR=1,36; IC95%, 1,24-1,49), desnutrición (HR=1,33; IC95%, 1,21-1,46), anemia (HR=1,30; IC95%, 1,17-1,44), FA permanente (HR=1,15; IC95%, 1,03-1,28), diabetes mellitus (HR=1,13; IC95%, 1,01-1,27), por cada año de aumento de la edad (HR=1,04; IC95%, 1,02-1,05) y por cada kg/m2 del índice de masa corporal (HR=1,03; IC95%, 1,02-1,04). La presencia de IC prácticamente duplicó la mortalidad (HR=1,67; IC95%, 1,53-1,81).ConclusionesLa IC de nueva aparición en ancianos con FA fue muy frecuente y prácticamente duplicó la mortalidad. Se identificaron 11 factores de riesgo, lo cual amplía el ámbito de prevención primaria en esta entidad. (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to heart failure (HF). However, little has been published on the factors that may precipitate the onset of HF in AF patients. We aimed to determine the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of incident HF in older patients with AF with no prior history of HF.MethodsPatients with AF older than 80 years and without prior HF were identified between 2014 and 2018.ResultsA total of 5794 patients (mean age, 85.2±3.8 years; 63.2% women) were followed up for 3.7 years. Incident HF, predominantly with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, developed in 33.3% (incidence rate, 11.5-100 people-year). Multivariate analysis identified 11 clinical risk factors for incident HF, irrespective of HF subtype: significant valvular heart disease (HR, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.73-2.28), reduced baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (HR, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.68-2.19), chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (HR, 1.59; 95%CI, 1.40-1.82), enlarged left atrium (HR 1.47, 95%CI 1.33-1.62), renal dysfunction (HR 1.36, 95%CI 1.24-1.49), malnutrition (HR, 1.33; 95%CI, 1.21-1.46), anemia (HR, 1.30; 95%CI, 1.17-1.44), permanent AF (HR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.03-1.28), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.13; 95%CI, 1.01-1.27), age per year (HR, 1.04; 95%CI, 1.02-1.05), and high body mass index for each kg/m2 (HR, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.02-1.04). The presence of incident HF nearly doubled the mortality risk (HR, 1.67; 95%CI, 1.53-1.81).ConclusionsThe presence of HF in this cohort was relatively frequent and nearly doubled the mortality risk. Eleven risk factors for HF were identified, expanding the scope for primary prevention among elderly patients with AF. (AU)

Hypotension at heart failure discharge: Should it be a limiting factor for drug titration?

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment in Heart Failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; LVEF ≤40%) has shifted towards quadruple therapy. Maximum tolerated dose is the goal, yet no hypotension's cut-off point has been specified. In this work, we analyze the impact of intensive drug titration in clinical events, focusing on low blood pressure (BP) patients at hospital discharge. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of 713 patients with HFrEF discharged after an acute HF event (mean LVEF 30 ± 5%). Mean SBP was 112.4 ± 16.5 mmHg and 50.6% were discharged on triple therapy. We considered hypotension as a Systolic blood pressure (SBP) <100 mmHg (21.7% of patients, mean SBP was 112.4 ± 16.5 mmHg) and codified the intensity of drug therapy in 5 stages from untreated to very high therapy intensity. The impact of the intensity of treatment was analysed with a propensity score and increasing the intensity was associated in the whole cohort with a reduction of the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and HF readmission, (HR 0.69; CI95% 0.57-0.85, p < 0.001) and benefit in mortality was maintained for SBP < 100 mmHg (HR 0.42; CI95% 0.22-0.82; p = 0.011). Moreover, therapy intensity was clearly associated with lower risk of HF-hospitalization and death after the additional regression, considering SBP as a covariate, in the whole cohort (HR 0.70; CI95% 0.57-0.85; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective cohort analysis, patients with HFrEF and an acute-HF admission, intensive drug dose titration was related to better outcomes, even in patients with low blood pressure at hospital discharge. Therefore, hypotension is not a contraindication for NHB uptitration.