Early and short-term intensive management after discharge for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: a randomized study (ECAD-HF).

AIMS: Hospitalization for acute heart failure (HF) is followed by a vulnerable time with increased risk of readmission or death, thus requiring particular attention after discharge. In this study, we examined the impact of intensive, early follow-up among patients at high readmission risk at discharge after treatment for acute HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hospitalized acute HF patients were included with at least one of the following: previous acute HF < 6 months, systolic blood pressure ≤ 110 mmHg, creatininaemia ≥ 180 µmol/L, or B-type natriuretic peptide ≥ 350 pg/mL or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide ≥ 2200 pg/mL. Patients were randomized to either optimized care and education with serial consultations with HF specialist and dietician during the first 2-3 weeks, or to standard post-discharge care according to guidelines. The primary endpoint was all-cause death or first unplanned hospitalization during 6-month follow-up. Among 482 randomized patients (median age 77 and median left ventricular ejection fraction 35%), 224 were hospitalized or died. In the intensive group, loop diuretics (46%), beta-blockers (49%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (39%) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (47%) were titrated. No difference was observed between groups for the primary endpoint (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% confidence interval 0.74-1.26), nor for mortality at 6 or 12 months or unplanned HF rehospitalization. Additionally, no difference between groups according to age, previous HF and left ventricular ejection fraction was found. CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk HF, intensive follow-up early post-discharge did not improve outcomes. This vulnerable post-discharge time requires further studies to clarify useful transitional care services.

Heart rate per se impacts cardiac function in patients with systolic heart failure and pacing: a pilot study.

AIMS: This study was designed to compare the specific effects of two heart rates (HR), 55 and 75 b.p.m., in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with chronic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 90% of paced QRS, were included in a randomized cross-over trial of two 3-month periods where pacing rate was set at either 55 or 75 b.p.m. At the end of each period, patients were examined and radionuclide ventriculography, echocardiography, and blood sampling were performed for centralized and blinded analysis. Two patients did not complete the study because of early worsening while paced at 75 b.p.m. Twelve patients completed the study. Compared with 75 b.p.m., pacing at 55 b.p.m. was associated with a higher LVEF [+4.7% (2.6-6.7), P < 0.001], lower B-type natriuretic peptide levels [-91 pg/mL (-148 to -33), P < 0.01], lower systolic pulmonary artery pressure (41 +/- 10 vs. 47 +/- 10 mmHg, P = 0.02) and lower NYHA (New York Heart Association) class (2.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.5, P = 0.03). The baseline pacing rate prior to inclusion had no effect on results. CONCLUSION: HR per se may impact cardiac function and low HR might be beneficial in patients with systolic HF compared with intermediate HR.

Noninvasively determined radial dP/dt is a predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The left ventricular (LV) developed pressure is a marker of contractility, associated with a poor prognosis during systolic heart failure. The maximal first derivative or slope of the radial pulse wave (Rad dP/dt) has been proposed as a marker of LV systolic function. This study sought to assess the prognostic value of the baseline dP/dt of the radial pulse in patients with heart failure. METHODS: The Rad dP/dt was noninvasively measured by applanation tonometry, and its effect on mortality was analyzed by using multivariate Cox regression models. We studied 310 consecutive patients. Mean follow-up was 327 +/- 187 days, and 64 patients died or were transplanted during this period. RESULTS: Death or transplantation was associated with New York Heart Association class III or IV, low systolic or mean blood pressure, low LV ejection fraction, and low Rad dP/dt (634.6 +/- 373.3 vs 730.2 +/- 367.4 mm Hg/s for patients who survived without transplantation, P < .02). A Rad dP/dt <440 mm Hg/s was associated with death or transplantation before and after adjustment for confounding variables (OR [95% CI] 2.19 [1.33-3.58] and 2.88 [1.29-6.38], respectively, P < .01 for both). This relationship was independent of pulse pressure and no significant interaction was found between the Rad dP/dt and the pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the Rad dP/dt, proposed as a noninvasive peripheral marker of LV systolic function, is an independent predictor of death or transplantation in patients with HF regardless of LV ejection fraction.

Non-invasive radial pulse wave assessment for the evaluation of left ventricular systolic performance in heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular (LV) developed pressure (dP/dt) is a classical index of myocardial contractility related to prognosis during heart failure. We sought to assess the reproducibility and feasibility of use of the maximal first derivative of the radial pulse, Rad dP/dt, as a peripheral criterion of ventricular contractility in patients with heart failure. METHODS: We assessed 50 consecutive, patients with heart failure using aplanation tonometry to record the radial pulse wave and calculate Rad dP/dt. Echocardiography, Doppler flow and tissue Doppler imaging were used to record classical parameters of LV function: LV ejection fraction (LVEF), Tei index, dP/dt on mitral regurgitation (MR dP/dt) and peak systolic velocity (S'). Total systemic vascular resistance (TSVR) was calculated by use of the Doppler calculated cardiac output. Preload was assessed by the E/Ea ratio. Feasibility was tested in an ongoing prospective mortality study (n=310). RESULTS: The Bland and Altman representation of repeated measurements of the Rad dP/dt showed good agreement. Feasibility was greater than 99% for a successful assessment on the right arm during the first attempt. The Rad dP/dt correlated with the LVEF, S' or Tei index as usual parameters of impaired contractility but not preload (E/Ea) or afterload (TSVR) parameters. MR dP/dt and Rad dP/dt were closely related (r=0.75, p<0.001). The ability of the arterial dP/dt to characterize LVEF was not modified by adjustment for arterial viscoelastic properties. CONCLUSION: The maximal dP/dt of the radial pulse appears to be a valuable and reproducible peripheral criterion of LV systolic performance.

Biomarker-based strategy for screening right ventricular dysfunction in patients with non-massive pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin I measurements in predicting right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in non-massive pulmonary embolism. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University-affiliated emergency unit, cardiology and pneumology departments. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven patients admitted because of acute pulmonary embolism, without shock on admission, completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples and echocardiography were obtained on admission for subsequent and independent assessment of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponin I levels as well as RVD. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Echocardiographic RVD was diagnosed in 36 patients and was severe in 13 on admission. BNP and troponin I levels were higher in patients with RVD than in those with no RVD [62 (27-105) vs. 431 (289-556) pg/ml for BNP, p<0.001; 0.01 (0-0.09) vs. 0.16 (0.03-0.32) microg/l for troponin I, p=0.005]. The area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC) for diagnosing RVD was 0.93 for BNP and 0.72 for troponin I. The troponin I level increased further when RVD was severe, compared with moderate, and the AUC was 0.91 for identifying severe RVD. Diagnoses of RVD and severe RVD were ruled out by BNP100 pg/ml and troponin I >0.10 microg/l. CONCLUSION: In hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism, BNP/troponin I measurement is helpful on admission, especially for ruling out RVD, i.e. patients with in-hospital high-risk.

Predischarge B-type natriuretic peptide assay for identifying patients at high risk of re-admission after decompensated heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the value of serial B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay for predicting post-discharge outcome of patients admitted for decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: Patients hospitalized for decompensated CHF are frequently re-admitted. Thus, identification of high-risk patients before their discharge is a major issue that remains challenging. B-type natriuretic peptide measurement could be useful. METHODS: Serial BNP measurements were performed from admission to discharge in two samples of consecutive patients. Survivors were monitored for six months; the main end point combined death or first re-admission for CHF. RESULTS: Among the 105 survivors of the derivation study, all serial BNP values, percentage change in BNP levels, and predischarge Doppler mitral pattern correlated with the outcome. In contrast, clinical variables and left ventricular ejection fraction were poorly predictive. The predischarge BNP assay had the best discriminative power (area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve = 0.80) and remained the lone significant variable in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.14 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.28], p = 0.027). Among the 97 survivors of the validation study, the predischarge BNP assay was also the most predictive parameter (area under the ROC curve = 0.83). The risk of death or re-admission increased in stepwise fashion across increasing predischarge BNP ranges (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for baseline covariables, the HRs were 5.1 [95% CI 2.8 to 9.1] for BNP levels between 350 and 700 ng/l and 15.2 [95% CI 8.5 to 27] for BNP levels >700 ng/l, compared with BNP <350 ng/l. CONCLUSIONS: High predischarge BNP assay is a strong, independent marker of death or re-admission after decompensated CHF, more relevant than common clinical or echocardiographic parameters and more relevant than changes in BNP levels during acute cares.

Comparative value of Doppler echocardiography and B-type natriuretic peptide assay in the etiologic diagnosis of acute dyspnea.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the accuracy of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay with Doppler echocardiography for the diagnosis of decompensated congestive left-heart failure (CHF) in patients with acute dyspnea. BACKGROUND: Both BNP and Doppler echocardiography have been described as relevant diagnostic tests for heart failure. METHODS: One hundred sixty-three consecutive patients with severe dyspnea underwent BNP assay and Doppler echocardiogram on admission. The accuracy of the two methods for etiologic diagnosis was compared on the basis of the final diagnoses established by physicians who were blinded to the BNP and Doppler findings. RESULTS: The final etiologic diagnosis was CHF in 115 patients. Twenty-four patients (15%) were misdiagnosed at admission. The BNP concentration was 1,022 +/- 742 pg/ml in the CHF subgroup and 187 +/- 158 pg/ml in the other patients (p < 0.01). A BNP cutoff of 300 pg/ml correctly classified 88% of the patients (odds ratio [OR] 85 [19 to 376], p < 0.0001), but a high negative predictive value (90%) was only obtained when the cutoff was lowered to 80 pg/ml. The etiologic value of BNP was low in patients with values between 80 and 300 pg/ml (OR 1.85 [0.4 to 7.8], p = 0.4) and also in patients who were studied very soon after onset of acute dyspnea. Among the 138 patients with assessable Doppler findings, a "restrictive" mitral inflow pattern had a diagnostic accuracy for CHF of 91% (OR 482 [77 to 3,011], p < 0.0001), regardless of the BNP level. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside BNP measurement and Doppler echocardiography are both useful for establishing the cause of acute dyspnea. However, Doppler analysis of the mitral inflow pattern was more accurate, particularly in patients with intermediate BNP levels or "flash" pulmonary edema.