In advanced heart failure (AHF) clinical evaluation fails to detect subclinical HF deterioration in outpatient settings. The aim of the study was to determine whether the strategy of intensive outpatient echocardiographic monitoring, followed by treatment modification, reduces mortality and re-hospitalizations at 12 months. Methods: 214 patients with ejection fraction < 30% and >1 hospitalization during the last year underwent clinical evaluation and echocardiography at discharge and were divided into intensive (IMG; N = 143) or standard monitoring group (SMG; N = 71). In IMG, volemic status and left ventricular filling pressure were assessed 14, 30, 90, 180 and 365 days after discharge. HF treatment, particularly diuretic therapy, was temporarily intensified when HF deterioration signs and E/e’ > 15 were detected. In SMG, standard outpatient monitoring without obligatory echocardiography at outpatient visits was performed. Results: We observed lower hospitalization (absolute risk reduction [ARR]-0.343, CI-95%: 0.287–0.434, p < 0.05; number needed to treat [NNT]-2.91) and mortality (ARR-0.159, CI 95%: 0.127–0.224, p < 0.05; NNT-6.29) in IMG at 12 months. One-year survival was 88.8% in IMG and 71.8% in SMG (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In AHF, outpatient monitoring of volemic status and intracardiac filling pressures to individualize treatment may potentially reduce hospitalizations and mortality at 12 months follow-up. Echocardiography-guided outpatient therapy is feasible and clinically beneficial, providing evidence for the larger application of this approach.
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is considered a major healthcare problem with frequent decompensations, high hospitalization and mortality rates. In severe heart failure (HF), the symptoms are refractory to medical treatment and require advanced therapeutic strategies. Early recognition of HF sub- and decompensation is the cornerstone of the timely treatment intensification and, therefore, improvement of the prognosis. Echocardiography is the gold standard for the assessment of systolic and diastolic functions. It allows to obtain accurate and non-invasive measurements of the ventricular function in HF. In severely compromised HF patients, advanced cardiovascular ultrasound modalities may provide a better assessment of intracardiac hemodynamic changes and subclinical congestion. Particularly, cardiovascular and lung ultrasound allow to make a more accurate diagnosis of subclinical congestion in HFrEF. The aim of this review is to summarize the advantages and limitations of currently available ultrasound modalities in the ambulatory monitoring of patients with HFrEF.
The aim of our research was to evaluate mortality and rehospitalizations rates in patients with high risk subtype of heart failure (advanced HF) during 12 months of intensive monitoring after discharge on the basis of guidelines recommendations and personalized approach in treatment with frequent outpatient monitoring to reveal subcompensation/worsening of HF. Methods High risk advanced subtype of systolic HF was determined based on at least two hospitalizations during last year, severely reduced EF<30%, right and left atria hypertension echo patterns, pseudonormal/restrictive diastolic dysfunction, frequent outpatient deterioration of euvolemic state. Patients were randomized into two groups: 143 patients who underwent personalized intensive outpatient monitoring with care and 71 patients who underwent standard monitoring with regular guideline based treatment Intensive monitoring in ambulatory settings included frequent attending protocol of clinical evaluation (from OPTIMIZE -HF multicenter study), body mass, heart rate, GFR controls and additional echo evaluation of pressures in right and left atria at every outpatient visit, lung ultrasound with detection of B-lines. Results Cumulative number of CV and HF deaths was 11% (16 out of 143 in intensive monitoring group) and 36% (26 out of 71 patients) in standard monitoring group. Kaplan-Meier curve showed survival benefit in patients with personalized monitoring and treatment compared to those who were on standard care (Picture 1). Conclusions A strong trend towards decline in mortality and rehospitalizations, when personalized outpatient monitoring was implemented was observed (P<0,001) at 12 months in patients with advanced systolic heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival curves groups Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None
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