Infection in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure: In-Hospital Mortality and Outcome / Infecção em Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca Descompensada: Mortalidade Hospitalar e Evolução

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome, whose advanced forms have a poor prognosis, which is aggravated by the presence of comorbidities. Objective: We assessed the impact of infection in patients with decompensated HF admitted to a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in the city of São Paulo. Methods: This study assessed 260 patients consecutively admitted to our unit because of decompensated HF. The presence of infection and other morbidities was assessed, as were in-hospital mortality and outcome after discharge. The chance of death was estimated by univariate logistic regression analysis of the variables studied. The significance level adopted was P < 0.05. Results: Of the patients studied, 54.2% were of the male sex, and the mean age ± SD was 66.1 ± 12.7 years. During hospitalization, 119 patients (45.8%) had infection: 88 (33.8%) being diagnosed with pulmonary infection and 39 patients (15.0%), with urinary infection. During hospitalization, 56 patients (21.5%) died, and, after discharge, 36 patients (17.6%). During hospitalization, 26.9% of the patients with infection died vs 17% of those without infection (p = 0.05). However, after discharge, mortality was lower in the group that had infection: 11.5% vs 22.2% (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Infection is a frequent morbidity among patients with HF admitted for compensation of the condition, and those with infection show higher in-hospital mortality. However, those patients who initially had infection and survived had a better outcome after discharge.

Resumo Fundamento: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome cujas formas avançadas têm mau prognóstico, que é mais agravado pela presença de comorbidades. Objetivo: Avaliamos o impacto da infecção em pacientes com IC descompensada que internaram em hospital universitário terciário de São Paulo. Métodos: Estudamos 260 pacientes consecutivos que internaram em nossa unidade com IC descompensada. Avaliamos a presença de infecção e de outras morbidades. Avaliaram-se mortalidade hospitalar e evolução após a alta. A chance de óbito foi estimada pela análise de regressão logística univariada para as variáveis estudadas. Considerou-se P < 0,05 significativo. Resultados: Dos pacientes estudados, 54,2% eram homens, sendo a idade média ± DP de 66,1 ± 12,7 anos. Durante a internação, 119 pacientes (45,8%) apresentaram infecção: 88 (33,8%) tiveram diagnóstico de infecção pulmonar e 39 (15%), de infecção urinária. A mortalidade hospitalar ocorreu em 56 pacientes (21,5%) e, após a alta, 36 pacientes (17,6%) morreram no seguimento. Durante a internação, 26,9% do grupo com infecção morreu vs 17% do grupo sem infecção (p = 0,05). Entretanto, após a alta, a mortalidade foi menor no grupo com infecção: 11,5% vs 22,2% (p = 0,046). Conclusões: Infecção é uma comorbidade frequente entre os pacientes com IC internados para compensação, causando um aumento da mortalidade durante a hospitalização. Entretanto, após a alta, os pacientes inicialmente com infecção apresentaram melhor evolução.

Infection in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure: In-Hospital Mortality and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome, whose advanced forms have a poor prognosis, which is aggravated by the presence of comorbidities. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the impact of infection in patients with decompensated HF admitted to a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in the city of São Paulo. METHODS: This study assessed 260 patients consecutively admitted to our unit because of decompensated HF. The presence of infection and other morbidities was assessed, as were in-hospital mortality and outcome after discharge. The chance of death was estimated by univariate logistic regression analysis of the variables studied. The significance level adopted was P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the patients studied, 54.2% were of the male sex, and the mean age ± SD was 66.1 ± 12.7 years. During hospitalization, 119 patients (45.8%) had infection: 88 (33.8%) being diagnosed with pulmonary infection and 39 patients (15.0%), with urinary infection. During hospitalization, 56 patients (21.5%) died, and, after discharge, 36 patients (17.6%). During hospitalization, 26.9% of the patients with infection died vs 17% of those without infection (p = 0.05). However, after discharge, mortality was lower in the group that had infection: 11.5% vs 22.2% (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Infection is a frequent morbidity among patients with HF admitted for compensation of the condition, and those with infection show higher in-hospital mortality. However, those patients who initially had infection and survived had a better outcome after discharge.

Sensitive Troponin I Assay in Patients with Chest Pain - Association with Significant Coronary Lesions with or Without Renal Failure.

INTRODUCTION: Despite having higher sensitivity as compared to conventional troponins, sensitive troponins have lower specificity, mainly in patients with renal failure. OBJECTIVE: Study aimed at assessing the sensitive troponin I levels in patients with chest pain, and relating them to the existence of significant coronary lesions. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center, observational. This study included 991 patients divided into two groups: with (N = 681) and without (N = 310) significant coronary lesion. For posterior analysis, the patients were divided into two other groups: with (N = 184) and without (N = 807) chronic renal failure. The commercial ADVIA Centaur® TnI-Ultra assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) was used. The ROC curve analysis was performed to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cutoff point of troponin as a discriminator of the probability of significant coronary lesion. The associations were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: The median age was 63 years, and 52% of the patients were of the male sex. The area under the ROC curve between the troponin levels and significant coronary lesions was 0.685 (95% CI: 0.65 - 0.72). In patients with or without renal failure, the areas under the ROC curve were 0.703 (95% CI: 0.66 - 0.74) and 0.608 (95% CI: 0.52 - 0.70), respectively. The best cutoff points to discriminate the presence of significant coronary lesion were: in the general population, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 63.4%; specificity, 67%); in patients without renal failure, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 62.7%; specificity, 71%); and in patients with chronic renal failure, 0.515 ng/dL (sensitivity, 80.6%; specificity, 42%). CONCLUSION: In patients with chest pain, sensitive troponin I showed a good correlation with significant coronary lesions when its level was greater than 0.605 ng/dL. In patients with chronic renal failure, a significant decrease in specificity was observed in the correlation of troponin levels and severe coronary lesions.

Is There Any Relationship between TSH Levels and Prognosis in Acute Coronary Syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Some small studies have related higher levels of thyrotropin (TSH) to potentially worse prognosis in acute coronary syndromes. However, this relationship remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes in relation to the value of TSH at admission. METHODS: Observational and retrospective study with 505 patients (446 in group I [TSH ≤ 4 mIU/L] and 59 in group II [TSH > 4 mIU/L]) with acute coronary syndromes between May 2010 and May 2014. We obtained data about comorbidities and the medications used at the hospital. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause death. The secondary endpoint included combined events (death, non-fatal unstable angina or myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, bleeding and stroke). Comparisons between groups were made by one-way ANOVA and chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was determined by logistic regression. Analyses were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: Significant differences between groups I and II were observed regarding the use of enoxaparin (75.2% vs. 57.63%, p = 0.02) and statins (84.08% vs. 71.19%, p < 0.0001), previous stroke (5.83% vs. 15.25%, p = 0.007), combined events (14.80% vs. 27.12%, OR = 3.05, p = 0.004), cardiogenic shock (4.77% vs. 6.05%, OR = 4.77, p = 0.02) and bleeding (12.09% vs. 15.25%, OR = 3.36, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute coronary syndromes and TSH > 4 mIU/L at admission, worse prognosis was observed, with higher incidences of in-hospital combined events, cardiogenic shock and bleeding.

Is There Any Relationship between TSH Levels and Prognosis in Acute Coronary Syndrome? / Existe Alguma Relação entre Níveis de TSH e Prognóstico em Síndrome Coronariana Aguda?

Abstract Background: Some small studies have related higher levels of thyrotropin (TSH) to potentially worse prognosis in acute coronary syndromes. However, this relationship remains uncertain. Objective: To analyze the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes in relation to the value of TSH at admission. Methods: Observational and retrospective study with 505 patients (446 in group I [TSH ≤ 4 mIU/L] and 59 in group II [TSH > 4 mIU/L]) with acute coronary syndromes between May 2010 and May 2014. We obtained data about comorbidities and the medications used at the hospital. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause death. The secondary endpoint included combined events (death, non-fatal unstable angina or myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, bleeding and stroke). Comparisons between groups were made by one-way ANOVA and chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was determined by logistic regression. Analyses were considered significant when p < 0.05. Results: Significant differences between groups I and II were observed regarding the use of enoxaparin (75.2% vs. 57.63%, p = 0.02) and statins (84.08% vs. 71.19%, p < 0.0001), previous stroke (5.83% vs. 15.25%, p = 0.007), combined events (14.80% vs. 27.12%, OR = 3.05, p = 0.004), cardiogenic shock (4.77% vs. 6.05%, OR = 4.77, p = 0.02) and bleeding (12.09% vs. 15.25%, OR = 3.36, p = 0.012). Conclusions: In patients with acute coronary syndromes and TSH > 4 mIU/L at admission, worse prognosis was observed, with higher incidences of in-hospital combined events, cardiogenic shock and bleeding.

Resumo Fundamento: Estudos pequenos têm relacionado níveis mais elevados de hormônio tireoestimulante (TSH) a pior prognóstico em pacientes com síndrome coronariana aguda (SCA). Tal relação, no entanto, permanece incerta. Objetivo: Analisar os desfechos de pacientes com SCA, relacionando-os aos níveis de TSH medidos no setor de emergência. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo observacional incluindo 505 pacientes com SCA (446 no grupo I: TSH ± 4 mUI/L; 59 no grupo II: TSH > 4 mUI/L) entre maio de 2010 e maio de 2014. Dados sobre comorbidades e medicamentos usados foram obtidos. O desfecho primário foi mortalidade intra-hospitalar por todas as causas. O desfecho secundário incluiu eventos combinados (morte, angina instável não fatal ou infarto do miocárdio, choque cardiogênico, sangramento e acidente vascular encefálico). A comparação entre grupos foi realizada através de ANOVA de uma via e teste do qui-quadrado. A análise multivariada foi realizada por regressão logística, adotando-se o nível de significância de p < 0,05. Resultados: Diferenças significativas foram observadas entre os grupos I e II relacionadas ao uso de enoxaparina (75,2% vs. 57,63%; p = 0,02) e estatinas (84,08% vs. 71,19%; p < 0,0001), acidente vascular encefálico prévio (5,83% vs. 15,25%; p = 0,007), eventos combinados (14,80% vs. 27,12%, OR = 3,05; p = 0,004), choque cardiogênico (4,77% vs. 6,05%, OR = 4,77; p = 0,02) e sangramento (12,09% vs. 15,25%, OR = 3,36; p = 0,012). Conclusão: Em pacientes com SCA e TSH > 4 mUI/L à admissão hospitalar, observou-se pior prognóstico associado à maior incidência de eventos combinados intra-hospitalares, choque cardiogênico e sangramentos.

Sensitive Troponin I Assay in Patients with Chest Pain - Association with Significant Coronary Lesions with or Without Renal Failure / Troponinas I Sensíveis em Pacientes com Dor Torácica - Associação com Lesões Coronarianas Significativas e Variação em Insuficiência Renal Crônica

Abstract Introduction: Despite having higher sensitivity as compared to conventional troponins, sensitive troponins have lower specificity, mainly in patients with renal failure. Objective: Study aimed at assessing the sensitive troponin I levels in patients with chest pain, and relating them to the existence of significant coronary lesions. Methods: Retrospective, single-center, observational. This study included 991 patients divided into two groups: with (N = 681) and without (N = 310) significant coronary lesion. For posterior analysis, the patients were divided into two other groups: with (N = 184) and without (N = 807) chronic renal failure. The commercial ADVIA Centaur® TnI-Ultra assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) was used. The ROC curve analysis was performed to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cutoff point of troponin as a discriminator of the probability of significant coronary lesion. The associations were considered significant when p < 0.05. Results: The median age was 63 years, and 52% of the patients were of the male sex. The area under the ROC curve between the troponin levels and significant coronary lesions was 0.685 (95% CI: 0.65 - 0.72). In patients with or without renal failure, the areas under the ROC curve were 0.703 (95% CI: 0.66 - 0.74) and 0.608 (95% CI: 0.52 - 0.70), respectively. The best cutoff points to discriminate the presence of significant coronary lesion were: in the general population, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 63.4%; specificity, 67%); in patients without renal failure, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 62.7%; specificity, 71%); and in patients with chronic renal failure, 0.515 ng/dL (sensitivity, 80.6%; specificity, 42%). Conclusion: In patients with chest pain, sensitive troponin I showed a good correlation with significant coronary lesions when its level was greater than 0.605 ng/dL. In patients with chronic renal failure, a significant decrease in specificity was observed in the correlation of troponin levels and severe coronary lesions.

Resumo Fundamento: Apesar de apresentar maior sensibilidade em comparação às troponinas convencionais, as troponinas sensíveis apresentam menor especificidade, principalmente em pacientes com insuficiência renal. Objetivo: Avaliar os valores de troponina I sensível em pacientes com dor torácica, relacionando-os à presença de lesões coronarianas significativas. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, unicêntrico e observacional. Foram incluídos 991 pacientes, divididos em dois grupos: com (N = 681) ou sem lesão coronariana (N = 310). Para análise posterior, os pacientes foram separados em outros dois grupos: com (N = 184) ou sem insuficiência renal (N = 807). A troponina utilizada pertence ao kit comercial ADVIA Centaur® TnI-Ultra (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics). A análise foi feita por curva ROC para identificar a sensibilidade e a especificidade do melhor ponto de corte da troponina como discriminador de probabilidade de lesão coronariana. As associações foram consideradas significativas quando p < 0,05. Resultados: Cerca de 52% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino e a idade mediana da amostra foi de 63 anos. A área sob a curva ROC entre os valores de troponina e lesões coronarianas significativas foi de 0,685 (IC 95%: 0,65 - 0,72). Em pacientes sem e com insuficiência renal, as áreas sob a curva foram 0,703 (IC 95%: 0,66 - 0,74) e 0,608 (IC 95%: 0,52 - 0,70), respectivamente. Os melhores pontos de corte para discriminar a presença de lesão coronária significativa foram: 0,605 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 63,4%, especificidade de 67%) no grupo geral, 0,605 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 62,7% e especificidade de 71%) em pacientes sem insuficiência renal e 0,515 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 80,6% e especificidade de 42%) no grupo com insuficiência renal crônica. Conclusão: Na população avaliada de pacientes com dor torácica, a troponina I sensível apresentou boa correlação com lesões coronarianas significativas quando acima de 0,605 ng/dL. Em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica, observamos uma queda importante de especificidade na correlação dos valores com lesões coronarianas graves.