Heart failure after acute coronary syndrome: identify to treat better!

INTRODUCTION

The development of heart failure (HF) following acute coronary syndromes (ACS) significantly worsens short- and long-term prognosis. The present study aimed to identify clinical characteristics, detectable at admission for ACS, that could predict HF development during hospitalization, and to evaluate its impact on in-hospital mortality.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study that included 601 patients consecutively admitted with ACS. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data at admission were collected and HF was defined as maximum Killip class II or III. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of HF and, additionally, in-hospital death.

RESULTS

29.3% of the population developed HF, mostly older patients (69.52+/-11.9 years vs. 61.81+/-12.4 years, p<0.0001), women, hypertensive, diabetic and non-smokers. On admission, this subgroup of patients presented with higher heart rate and glycemia, and lower glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin. The percentage of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) was significantly higher in the group of patients with HF (74.4% versus 48.7%, p<0.0001); however, no significant differences were found in the type of ACS or its location. In the present study, we found that patients with HF were stratified less invasively (less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention). The development of HF was associated with longer hospitalization and higher in-hospital mortality (7.4% versus 2.1%, p=0.004) on univariate analysis, but not on multivariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, only age (OR=1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.06), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.77; 95% CI 1.05-2.96), glycemia (OR=1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.08), eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 (OR=2.90, 95% CI 1.73- 4.84), heart rate (OR=1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04) and LVSD (OR=2.48, 95% CI 1.59-3.85) were independent predictors of HF.

CONCLUSIONS

HF is a frequent complication in ACS and is associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Identifying risk of HF development on admission, through easily acquired clinical characteristics (older age, diabetes and/or elevated glycemia, renal failure and higher heart rate), will certainly influence immediate therapeutic choices and permit an individualized approach to each patient.