Research Article: Prognostic significance and clinical determinants of residual dyspnoea at discharge in acute heart failure: a single-centre, prospective observational study
Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of residual (discharge) dyspnoea in acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Design Single-centre, prospective observational study. Setting Patients hospitalised for decompensated AHF in a single cardiology centre, in Poland. Participants All patients (n=202) who survived the hospitalisation with the primary diagnosis of AHF and were discharged from the hospital. Primary and secondary outcome measures 1-year all-cause mortality; and the composite endpoint of 1-year all-cause mortality and rehospitalisation for the HF (whichever occurred first). Results On admission, 159 (78.7%) AHF patients presented dyspnoea at rest, while residual resting dyspnoea at discharge was present in 16 patients (7.9%). There were 48 (24%) patients with moderate/severe exertional dyspnoea at discharge. In the multivariable model, the resting dyspnoea at discharge was related to a higher risk of both 1-year mortality and composite outcome, with HR (95%?CI) 8.0 (3.7 to 17.3) and 5.1 (2.6 to 10.2), respectively, both p<0.0001. Analogically, moderate or severe residual dyspnoea at discharge was related to the heightened risk of study both outcomes, with HR (95%?CI) 3.1 (1.8 to 5.4) and 1.8 (1.1 to 2.9), respectively, p<0.01. Conclusions Among AHF patients the residual dyspnoea at discharge was unexpectedly common and was associated with an unfavourable outcome during 1-year follow-up.
Introduction:
Dyspnoea and congestion are the most common clinical features of acute heart failure (AHF), and both have strong pathophysiological backgrounds in the development of the disease. As a result, they have become therapeutic targets and relief of dyspnoea and congestion during the treatment of AHF events are favourable clinical signs. 1 2 Residual congestion is a well-documented predictor of poor prognosis, but there are limited data available on residual dyspnoea at discharge and its clinical implications. 3–7…
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