Affiliation:
1. Institute of Cardiology, ASST Spedali Civili, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health University of Brescia Brescia Italy
2. Humanitas Research Hospital IRCCS Milan Italy
3. Department of Biomedical Sciences Humanitas University Milan Italy
4. Cardiovascular Department Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), University of Trieste Trieste Italy
5. Cardiac Intensive Care Unit IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Milan Italy
Abstract
AbstractAimsPatients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) (HFrEF), mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF), and preserved EF (HFpEF) may all progress to advanced HF, but the impact of EF in the advanced setting is not well established. Our aim was to assess the prognostic impact of EF in patients with at least one ‘I NEED HELP’ marker for advanced HF.Methods and resultsPatients with HF and at least one high‐risk ‘I NEED HELP’ criterion from four centres were included in this analysis. Outcomes were assessed in patients with HFrEF (EF ≤ 40%), HFmrEF (EF 41–49%), and HFpEF (EF ≥ 50%) and with EF analysed as a continuous variable. The prognostic impact of medical therapy for HF in patients with EF < 50% and EF > 50% was also evaluated. All‐cause death was the primary endpoint, and cardiovascular death was a secondary endpoint. Among 1149 patients enrolled [mean age 75.1 ± 11.5 years, 67.3% males, 67.6% hospitalized, median follow‐up 260 days (inter‐quartile range 105–390 days)], HFrEF, HFmrEF, and HFpEF were observed in 699 (60.8%), 122 (10.6%), and 328 (28.6%) patients, and 1 year mortality was 28.3%, 26.2%, and 20.1, respectively (log‐rank P = 0.036). As compared with HFrEF patients, HFpEF patients had a lower risk of all‐cause death [adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.94, P = 0.022], whereas no difference was noted for HFmrEF patients. After multivariable adjustment, a lower risk of all‐cause death (HRadj for 5% increase 0.94, 95% CI 0.89–0.99, P = 0.017) and cardiovascular death (HRadj for 5% increase 0.94, 95% CI 0.88–1.00, P = 0.049) was observed at higher EF values. Beta‐blockers and renin–angiotensin system inhibitors or sacubitril/valsartan were associated with lower mortality in both EF < 50% and EF ≥ 50% groups.ConclusionsAmong patients with HF and at least one ‘I NEED HELP’ marker for advanced HF, left ventricular EF is still of prognostic value.
Subject
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine