Abstract 12495: Modes of In-Hospital Death in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock (CS): An Analysis From the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN)

Abstract

Introduction: Mortality from cardiogenic shock (CS), a syndrome of multi-organ system dysfunction, remains high. However, data regarding how patients with CS expire are limited and may have implications for designing clinical trials, identifying therapeutic strategies, and improving outcomes. Aim: We sought to describe primary modes of in-hospital death among patients admitted with CS to cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). Methods: CCCTN is a multi-national research network of advanced CICUs coordinated by the TIMI Study Group (Boston, MA). Using standardized definitions, site investigators classified the direct mode of in-hospital death for patients with CS. Categories included 8 possible modes of cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV death ( Fig ). Subgroups defined by cardiac arrest prior to CICU admission and use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) were explored. Results: Among 1098 CS cases captured from 10/2021-09/2022, 358 (32.6%) died during the index hospitalization with a median time to death of 4.3 (Q1-Q3, 1.1-10.9) days from CICU admission. Among the deaths, 50%, 41%, and 9% occurred in the context of HF-CS, AMI-CS, and secondary CS, respectively. Overall, mode of death was CV in 82% of cases ( Fig A ). Refractory CS was the dominant mode of death (66%), followed by arrhythmia (13%), anoxic brain injury (6%), and respiratory failure (5%; Fig A ). Compared to patients without preceding cardiac arrest, those with cardiac arrest prior to CICU admission were more likely to die from anoxic brain injury (10% vs. 1%; p<0.01; Fig B ). Compared to patients managed without MCS, those with MCS were more likely to die from refractory shock (p<0.01), either cardiogenic (74% vs. 61%) or non-cardiogenic (6% vs. 3%; Fig C ). Conclusions: Most in-hospital deaths in patients with CS are related to direct CV causes, particularly refractory CS. However, there is potentially important heterogeneity in mode of death across subgroups defined by preceding cardiac arrest and use of MCS.