[Influence of the degree of anaemia on the prognosis of older adults with heart failure (SPAN-HF study)]. / Influencia del grado de anemia en el pronóstico de los pacientes de edad avanzada con insuficiencia cardíaca (Estudio SPAN-HF).

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a sustained optimal haemoglobin value in the 3 months after admission for heart failure (HF) decompensation reduces morbidity and mortality during the 12 months after admission for acute HF. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of the 1408 patients older than 65 years included in the RICA registry divided into 3 groups: no anaemia (group A), recovered anaemia (group B), and persistent anaemia (group C), according to haemoglobin levels on admission, and 3 months after discharge. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed, comparing the groups using the log-rank test and a Cox regression model was performed to analyse survival. RESULTS: 578 (41.1%), 299 (21.2%) and 531 (37.7%) were included in groups A, B and C, respectively. We recorded a total of 768 deaths and readmissions. There were 23 (4%), 12 (4%) and 49 (9.2%), (p=.001) individuals who died due to HF and 154 (27%), 73 (24%) and 193 (36%) (P<.001) admissions for this pathology, respectively. Patients with persistent anaemia had a higher risk of death (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.61, P=.024) or readmission (1.92, 95% CI 1.16-3, 19; P=.012) due to HF. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent anaemia in the months after admission for HF increases morbidity and mortality in the subsequent year.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on inpatients with heart failure. GESAIC study results]. / Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en pacientes ingresados por insuficiencia cardiaca. Resultados del Grupo para el Estudio y Significado de la Anemia en la Insuficiencia Cardiaca (GESAIC).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical relevance of Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the same patient is not well established. We decided to study the prevalence of COPD in patients admitted due to HF, to define their clinical profile and the relationship with adrenergic beta-blockers (BB) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective cohort of inpatients with HF admitted in 15 Internal Medicine Services from October 2005 to March 2006. Diagnosis of COPD was established according to clinical criteria or spirometry. Data about neurohormonal treatment (before, during the admission, and at discharge) were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using Ji square test and T Student test. A logistic regression model was designed with data. P<0.05 being considered statistically significant. RESULTS: About 391 patients were included . CPOD was present in 25.1% of patients. In two thirds of patients, the COPD diagnosis was established by clinical criteria. Regarding GOLD, 23.5% of patients had moderate or severe COPD severity. Bivariate analysis showed that male (<0.05), poor Charlson's Index and overweight (p=0.04 both) had all relationship with COPD. The regression model indicated that only left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and BB treatment before admission had statistical significance (p=0.03 and p<0.001 respectively). At discharge, 27,6% of patients received BB. CONCLUSIONS: COPD in HF patients is common and most frequent patients are aged men high comorbidity and overweight. BB treatment is conditioned by LVEF, without relationship with COPD severity.

[Complementary treatment of acute heart failure in patients with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or anemia]. / Tratamiento complementario de la insuficiencia cardíaca aguda en el paciente con diabetes, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica o anemia.

Diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anemia are comorbidities with a high prevalence and impact in heart failure (HF). The presence of these comorbidities considerably worsens the prognosis of HF. Diabetic patients have a higher likelihood of developing symptoms of HF and both the treatment of diabetes and that of acute HF are altered by the coexistence of both entities. The glycemic targets in patients with acute HF are not well-defined, but could show a U-shaped relationship. Stress hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients with HF could also have a deleterious effect on the medium-term prognosis. The inter-relationship between COPD and HF hampers diagnosis due to the overlap between the symptoms and signs of both entities and complementary investigations. The treatment of acute HF is also altered by the presence of COPD. Anemia is highly prevalent and is often the direct cause of decompensated HF, the most common cause being iron deficiency anemia. Iron replacement therapy, specifically intravenous forms, has helped to improve the prognosis of acute HF.

Impact of weight loss on mortality in chronic heart failure: findings from the RICA Registry.

BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk of heart failure (HF), but a significant survival benefit in obese patients has been described once they have been diagnosed with HF. There is little information about the effects of weight loss among patients with HF. We aimed to assess the frequency of weight loss in patients with HF from the RICA Registry and whether weight loss is associated with mortality. METHODS: We investigated weight changes in 731 patients with HF and analysed the effect of weight loss of 5% or more of their baseline bodyweight during follow-up. RESULTS: 419 (57.3%) patients lost weight during follow-up but only 152 (20.8%) lost at least 5% of the baseline bodyweight. We did not find significant differences in demographic, clinical, functional and analytical parameters between patients with and without weight loss or 5% or more of their bodyweight. We observed a significant improvement in the mean NYHA functional class value and a non-significant improvement in the LVEF in all patients. A significant decrease in the natriuretic peptide levels was only observed in the patients who lost weight. Survival rates at 1year follow-up for patients with and without weight loss or 5% or more were 75.7% (95% CI: 67.1-84.3%) and 77.1% (95% CI: 72.8-81.4%), respectively (p=0.92). Re-admission rates for patients with and without weight loss were 52.7% (95% CI: 42.9-62.43%) and 50.0% (95% CI: 45.3-54.7%), respectively (p=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Significant weight loss occurred in 20.8% of patients with HF. Weight loss was not associated with mortality or readmission.