Long-term Adverse Outcomes In Patients Research Articles

One-Year Outcomes of Emergency Department Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective, Multicenter Registry in China.

There is lack of data about patient characteristics, practice patterns, and long-term adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) attending emergency departments (EDs) in China. A total of 2016 patients from 20 representative EDs were included. During 1 year, all-cause mortality was 291 (14.6%) cases, stroke/noncentral nervous system systemic embolism rate was 159 (8.0%) cases, and major bleeding was 26 (1.3%) cases. Heart failure, the major cause of mortality, accounted for 43.0% of deaths. Of 375 (18.6%) patients who used warfarin at baseline, only 217 (57.9%) patients were still on anticoagulation therapy during 1-year follow-up. Compared with the patients who continued on warfarin, the mortality rate was higher in those who did not continue (15.9% vs 5.5%, P < .001). Patients seen in ED with AF appear to have a high incidence rate of long-term all-cause mortality and inadequate anticoagulation rate.

Design, methods, baseline characteristics and interim results of the Catheter Sampled Blood Archive in Cardiovascular Diseases (CASABLANCA) study

BackgroundThe ability to identify peri-procedural complications or predict short and long-term adverse outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac or peripheral angiography is imperfect. MethodsIn a prospective single-center trial, 1251 subjects undergoing coronary and peripheral angiographic procedures ± intervention between 2008 and 2011 were enrolled to evaluate the use of cardiac and renal biomarkers for identifying peri-procedural events and predicting short and long-term events. Blood samples were taken immediately before and after the procedure. Clinical and angiographic characteristics were recorded. The primary end point is peri-procedural combined end point of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: death, myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), stroke, transient ischemic attack, peripheral arterial complication and cardiac arrhythmia). Secondary end points are assessed at peri-procedural, 30-day and 1-year, and include MACE and individual end points as well as renal complications including acute kidney injury (AKI) and worsening of chronic kidney disease. Extended follow-up of up to 6 years has also been completed. ResultsData from the first 491 patients have been obtained with 190 patients experiencing at least one MACE at 1-year follow-up with the following number of patients experiencing at least one specified event; 80 deaths, 39 MI, 73 HF, 21 neurological events, 37 peripheral arterial complications and 59 arrhythmias; additionally there were 55 patients with AKI. ConclusionsThe CASABLANCA study will examine the role of novel biomarkers and metabolomics for predicting a wide range of cardiovascular, neurologic, and renal complications in patients undergoing angiography. Full results are expected in the latter half of 2014 (ClinicalTrials.Gov # NCT00842868).

The independent association of plateletcrit with long-term outcomes in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

PurposePlatelets play a key role in the genesis of thrombosis. Plateletcrit (PCT) provides complete information on total platelet mass. The relationship between PCT values and long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo primary angioplasty is not known. We sought to determine the effect of PCT values on the outcomes of primary angioplasty for STEMI. MethodsOverall, 2572 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age, 56.6 ± 11.8 years) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled retrospectively into the present study. Plateletcrit at admission was measured as part of the automated complete blood count. Patients were classified into 2 groups: high PCT (>0.237, n = 852) and nonhigh PCT (<0.237, n = 1720). Clinical characteristics and in-hospital and long-term (median, 21 months) outcomes of primary angioplasty were analyzed. ResultsA higher in-hospital shock rate was observed among patients with high PCT values compared with those with nonhigh PCT values (6.5 vs 3.8%, respectively; P = .003). The long-term cardiovascular prognosis was worse for patients with high PCT values (Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test; P = .007). We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the association between PCT and adverse clinical outcomes. High PCT values were also an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.061-3.22; P = .03). ConclusionHigh PCT values on admission are independently associated with long-term adverse outcomes in patients with STEMI who undergo primary angioplasty.

Abstract MP28: Heart Rate At Hospital Discharge Is Associated With Adverse Long Term Outcomes In Patients With Heart Failure

Background: Heart rate (HR) has been identified as a risk factor for adverse long-term outcomes in patients with and without heart disease. However, the relationship between discharge HR and outcomes in patients receiving guideline based therapy for HF remains unknown. Hypothesis: Heart rate at hospital discharge in patients with HF is an independent predictor of mortality and readmission rates at 1 year. Methods: Using the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure national quality assurance registry linked with Medicare data, long term outcomes for patients ≥65 years of age hospitalized from 2005-2011 were obtained. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to examine the relationship between 1-year outcomes (death or all cause readmission) and discharge HR. Heart rate was analyzed as a categorical (tertiles) or continuous variable. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between discharge HR and the risk of death or hospitalization by 1-year were obtained from logistic regression modeling. Results: The analysis sample was comprised of 45,672 patients with a valid link to Medicare data and 1 year outcome status. The mean age was 80 ±8 years; % male was 45.7; and the mean ejection fraction was 43.5 ±16. Median discharge HRs for the first, second and third tertiles significantly differed (61, 72 and 87 bpm, respectively, p &lt;0.0001). In univariable and multivariable analyses adjusted for clinical and hospital level variables there was a statistically significant relationship between 1 year outcomes and discharge HR (Table). Conclusion: In hospitalized patients with HF, HR at the time of discharge is an independent predictor of mortality. Despite optimal adherence to current guideline based therapy, the odds for all-cause mortality increased by 13% for every 10 beat increases in HR. The use of HR both as a prognostic variable, as well as potentially modifiable risk factor, may be of value in risk-stratification algorithms at discharge.

Previous coronary stents do not increase early and long-term adverse outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: A propensity-matched comparison

The aim of our study was to compare the early and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with and without previous coronary stents. Between September 2004 and September 2011, 269 patients with previous stents underwent first-time isolated off-pump CABG. These patients were compared with 897 patients without previous stent. A propensity score-matching analysis was performed to compare early and late outcomes between the groups. Mean follow-up time was 43.4 months after surgery. Patients with previous stents were more likely to be men (85.9% in the stent group vs 79.4% in the no-stent group; P=.022) and more likely to have prior myocardial infarction (60.2% vs 36.8%; P<.001). Mean number of anastomoses was lower in patients with previous stents than in patients without previous stents (4.0 vs 4.2; P=.037). There was no difference in the use of bilateral internal thoracic artery graft between the groups (88.8% vs 89.1%; P>.999). After propensity adjustment for preoperative characteristics, both operative death (0.7% vs 1.5%; P=.414) and the major complications rates (7.8% vs 7.5%; P=.869) were similar between the groups. The actuarial survival rate at 7 years was not different between the groups (87.2%±3.2% vs 84.8%±2.9%; P=.470). Furthermore, freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 7 years were similar between the groups (78.9%±3.8% vs 77.6%±3.3%; P=.811). Previous coronary stents do not increase early and long-term morbidity or mortality in patients undergoing off-pump CABG.

In-hospital daily insulin dose predicts long-term adverse outcome in patients with diabetes with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with successful primary percutaneous angioplasty.

IntroductionEarly initiation of reperfusion therapy including primary percutaneous coronary revascularization (PPCI) has been recognized as a crucial factor determining clinical outcomes in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. In unstable patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) the clear benefit from PPCI was proven. We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of factors describing glycometabolic state on admission in patients with T2D undergoing PPCI in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Material and methodsProspective analysis of clinical and laboratory variables (mean daily short acting exogenous insulin dose (DID), admission blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), microalbuminuria) was performed in 112 consecutive patients with T2D with STEMI who underwent PPCI. Women comprised 58% of the group.ResultsInsulin dosing was targeted to obtain a mean daily glucose level < 7.8 mmol/l. During 12-month follow-up 33 (29.5%) major adverse cardiac events (major adverse cardiac events (MACE) consisting of death, reinfarction, and repeated target vessel revascularization) were reported. Microalbuminuria was present in 68 (60.5%) patients. The mean HbA1c level was 7.9%. In the multivariate logistic regression model only DID > 44 IU remained an independent risk factor for MACE (p = 0.02, OR = 5.2).ConclusionsIn patients with diabetes with STEMI treated with PPCI, simple measurement of DID during hospitalization can add valuable prognostic information about the future risk of MACE.

Hyponatremia is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients due to worsening heart failure

Background and purposeHyponatremia is common and is associated with poor in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). However, it is unknown whether hyponatremia is associated with long-term adverse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics, clinical status on admission, and management during hospitalization according to the serum sodium concentration on admission, and determine whether hyponatremia was associated with in-hospital as well as long-term outcomes in 1677 patients hospitalized with worsening HF on index hospitalization registered in the database of the Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD). Methods and subjectsWe studied the characteristics and in-hospital treatment in 1659 patients hospitalized with worsening HF by using the JCARE-CARD database. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to serum sodium concentration on admission <135mEq/mL (n=176; 10.6%) or ≥135mEq/mL (n=1483; 89.4%). ResultsThe mean age was 70.7 years and 59.2% were male. Etiology was ischemic in 33.9% and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 42.4%. After adjustment for covariates, hyponatremia was independently associated with in-hospital death [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.453, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.265–4.755, p=0.008]. It was significantly associated also with adverse long-term (mean 2.1±0.8 years) outcomes including all-cause death (OR 1.952, 95% CI 1.433–2.657), cardiac death (OR 2.053, 95% CI 1.413–2.983), and rehospitalization due to worsening HF (OR 1.488, 95% CI 1.134–1.953). ConclusionsHyponatremia was independently associated with not only in-hospital but also long-term adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with worsening HF.

Comparison of Adverse Outcomes After Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Women Versus Men With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Previous studies have shown a relation between female gender and adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in correlates between genders for these long-term adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Gender differences were evaluated in the clinical outcomes of 6,929 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes from a large, contemporary PCI registry. Rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up, are reported. Independent correlates of adverse outcomes were identified using multivariate proportional-hazards regression analysis. Women were older (p <0.001); had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p <0.001), systemic hypertension (p <0.001), chronic renal insufficiency (p = 0.02), peripheral arterial disease (p <0.001), and congestive heart failure (p <0.001); had lower body surface areas (p <0.001); and had higher body mass indexes (p <0.001). Acute coronary syndrome presentation in women tended to be unstable angina pectoris with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III and IV symptoms, whereas men had more acute myocardial infarctions. At 1 year, the unadjusted rates of all-cause mortality (10.7% vs 7.5%, p <0.001) and major adverse cardiovascular events (16.4% vs 12.7%, p <0.001) were higher in women. There was a stark difference between the genders in independent correlates of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year. Moreover, the traditional correlates did not have the same impact in women as in men. In conclusion, although there are differences in clinical outcomes after PCI for women compared with men, there are different correlates for these adverse outcomes. These gender-based differences should be taken into account when women undergo contemporary PCI.

Prognostic Impact of Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction on Long-Term Adverse Outcome in Patients with Chest Pain and Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary endothelial dysfunction is known to be related with adverse cardiovascular outcome. We obtained a long-term follow-up of patients without significant coronary atherosclerosis, complaining of chest pain, in whom intra-coronary acetylene testing was performed in order to assess endothelial function. The study included 41 patient (35 with endothelial dysfunction, 6 with preserved endothelial function). Events considered as adverse outcome were cardiovascular death, acute myocardium-dial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary-aortic by-pass grafting, ischemic stroke and peripheral artery re-vascularization. A high cardiovascular event rate was observed in patients with and without endothelial dysfunction, 34,3% and 50% respectively. Adverse outcome was related not only to endothelial dysfunction but also to traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, evaluation of endothelial function or its determinants seems to be helpful in identifying a subgroup of patients at high risk.

An Elevated Ratio of Placental Growth Factor to Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 Predicts Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

To investigate the predictive values of placental growth factor (PlGF) and its endogenous antagonist, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), for the long-term prognosis of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Both PlGF and sFlt-1 play important roles in the pathological mechanisms of atherosclerosis. We recently demonstrated that the plasma levels of these molecules are correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. We enrolled 464 patients with stable CAD who consecutively underwent coronary angiography. Baseline blood samples were collected from the femoral artery immediately before coronary angiography (after the administration of 20 units of heparin), and the plasma levels of PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between these parameters and the occurrence of all-cause death (ACD) and total cardiovascular events (TCVE) during a median follow-up of 3.3 years. A total of 31 ACDs and 51 TCVEs occurred. Patients with higher PlGF/sFlt-1 ratios (>4.22×10(-2)) had a significantly higher risk of both ACD and TCVE than patients with lower ratios (<4.22×10(-2)) (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43 to 7.72, p=0.005, and HR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.03, p=0.008, respectively). A multivariate analysis showed the PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio to be an independent predictor for ACD, but not TCVE. The baseline PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio is an independent predictor of long-term adverse outcomes in patients with stable CAD.

Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing TAVI

Patients with severe aortic stenosis at increased surgical risk continue to experience compromised long-term survival despite successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We used time-related pathways in a multistate analysis to identify predictors of adverse long-term outcome in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation. In a cohort of 389 patients with a mean age of 82.4 ± 5.8 years and a STS score of 6.8 ± 5.3 undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation between 2007 and 2011, multistate analysis was used to estimate mortality and stroke taking into account intercurrent events including kidney injury and the composite of access site and bleeding complications (ABC). Transapical access emerged as a predictor of kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-4.47) and ABC (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.96), but had no impact on the risk of stroke or death. Body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) increased the risk of stroke or death (HR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.25-5.54). Age >80 years (HR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.11-8.92), body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) (HR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.33-12.70), prior stroke (HR, 16.42; 95% CI, 3.63-74.21), and presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline (HR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.87-9.97) increased the risk of stroke and death after an intercurrent event of ABC. A body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) was identified as a primary predictor of stroke and death after transcatheter aortic valve implantation during long-term follow-up, whereas transapical access emerged as a predictor of kidney injury and ABC. Age >80 years, body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2), prior stroke, and presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline increased the risk of stroke and death after an intercurrent event of ABC.

Prediction of Contrast‐Induced Nephropathy With Persistent Renal Dysfunction and Adverse Long‐term Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Using the Mehran Risk Score

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has been generally considered to be transient and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Mehran risk score could predict CIN with persistent renal dysfunction and long-term clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed the clinical data of 1041 AMI patients. The primary end point was defined as major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) including death, reinfarction, target vessel revascularization, heart failure requiring hospital admission, and stroke. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to risk scores: low (≤ 5, n = 596), moderate (6-10, n = 265), high (11-15, n = 111), and very high (≥16, n = 69). Among the 148 patients (14.2%) who developed CIN, persistent renal dysfunction was observed in 68 patients. Presence in high- or very high-risk groups was the most important independent risk factor of CIN with persistent renal dysfunction (odds ratio: 3.35, 95 confidence interval [CI]: 1.89-5.92, P < 0.001). Furthermore, patients in higher-risk groups experienced significantly more MACCE and mortality 2 years after PCI. Using multivariate analysis, significant increase in the hazard ratio (HR) for MACCE was noted in moderate- (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 0.97-2.03, P = 0.075), high- (HR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.22-3.15, P = 0.006), and very high-risk (HR 2.40, 95% CI: 1.36-4.21, p = 0.002) groups, compared with the low-risk group. The very high-risk group had approximately 6-fold increase in mortality over the low-risk group (HR: 6.22, 95% CI: 2.77-13.95, P < 0.001). Mehran risk score predicted CIN with persistent renal dysfunction and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with AMI.

Extent of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated with Both Short-Term and Long-Term Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

David H. Stone, MD,1 Philip P. Goodney, MD,1 Jeffrey Indes, MD,2 Jeffrey Kalish, MD,3 Andres Schanzer, MD,4 Randall De Martino, MD,1 Andrew Hoel, MD,1 Daniel B. Walsh, MD,1 Jack L. Cronenwett, MD,1 Brian W. Nolan, MD1. 1Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; 2Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn; 3Boston Medical Center, Boston, Mass; and 4University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass

PS118. Extent of COPD Is Associated with Short and Long-term Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective AAA Repair

PS118. Extent of COPD Is Associated with Short and Long-term Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective AAA Repair

Impact of culprit plaque volume and composition on myocardial microcirculation following primary angioplasty in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis

BackgroundAn impaired myocardial perfusion state after primary angioplasty is a strong predictor of long-term adverse outcomes in patients with STEMI. We assessed the relationship between culprit plaque characteristics and myocardial perfusion state after primary angioplasty in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MethodsA total of 101consecutive patients with de novo STEMI were divided into 3 groups according to the state of myocardial perfusion assessed by ST-segment elevation resolution (STR): Group A (complete: STR ≥70%, n=26), Group B (partial: STR<70% but ≥30%, n=55) and Group C (none: STR<30%, n=20). We analyzed plaque features by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) and assessed the relationship between culprit plaque characteristics and STR after primary angioplasty. ResultsTotal plaque volume was significantly higher in Group C than in Groups A and B (146.4±38.0mm3vs. 93.3±29.1mm3 and 105.8±31.5mm3, p<0.001, respectively). Necrotic core (NC) volume was also significantly higher in Group C than in Groups A and B (25.4±8.0mm3, vs. 11.9±6.3mm3 and 17.3±9.7mm3, p<0.001, respectively). Analysis of receiver-operating characteristic curves revealed that total plaque volume and NC volume had the best diagnostic accuracy of all the VH-IVUS parameters to predict STR<30%. The optimal cutoff values (sensitivity/specificity) were 123.4mm3 (75.0%/75.3%) for total plaque volume and 20.3mm3 (75.0%/74.1%) for NC volume. ConclusionsCulprit plaque with large plaque burden and high NC volume is closely associated with poor STR after revascularization.

Prognostic Value of Uric Acid in Patients With ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Coronary Intervention

Elevated uric acid (UA) levels have been associated with cardiovascular disease in epidemiologic studies. The relation between UA levels and long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention is not known. Data from 2,249 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups with high or low UA using upper limits of normal of 6 mg/dl for women and 7 mg/dl for men. There were 1,643 patients in the low-UA group (mean age 55.9 ± 11.6 years, 85% men) and 606 patients in the high-UA group (mean age 60.5 ± 12.6 years, 76% men). Serum UA levels were 8.0 ± 1.5 mg/dl in the high-UA group and 5.2 ± 1.0 mg/dl in the low-UA group (p <0.001). The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with high UA levels (9% vs 2%, p <0.001), as was the rate of adverse outcomes in patients with high UA. The mean follow-up time was 24.3 months. Cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, target vessel revascularization, heart failure, and major adverse cardiac events were all significantly higher in the high-UA group. In a multivariate analyses, high plasma UA levels were an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac events in the hospital (odds ratio 2.03, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 3.75, p = 0.006) and during long-term follow-up (odds ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 2.56, p = 0.03). In conclusion, high UA levels on admission are independently associated with in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The long-term prognostic value of myeloperoxidase on acute coronary syndrome–a meta-analysis

ObjectiveRecent studies have shown that myeloperoxidase (MPO) is involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, there were different results in various studies as to whether MPO could...

Long-term Prognostic Value of Myeloperoxidase on Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-analysis

Recent studies have shown that myeloperoxidase (MPO) is involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, there were different results in different studies as to whether MPO could predict the long-term adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. In this paper we aimed to investigate the long-term prognostic value of MPO in ACS. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the long-term prognosis of ACS patients with high MPO and low MPO levels. The literature was retrieved by formal searches of electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, OVID, and web of knowledge) from inception to July 2010. A total of eight clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis involving 3902 patients. The high MPO level group showed a poorer outcome than the low MPO level group(14.3 vs. 10.4%, risk ratio [RR] 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-2.37, p<0.00001). ACS patients with high MPO levels had a poor long-term prognosis.

Outcomes in patients with chest pain evaluated in a chest pain unit: The Chest Pain Evaluation in the Emergency Room study cohort

Limited data exist on the long-term outcomes of patients who undergo evaluation in a chest pain unit (CPU). Our study included patients with chest pain at intermediate risk for acute cardiovascular events enrolled in the CHEER study. The primary outcome included a composite of death, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, stroke, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The secondary outcome included a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, stroke, revascularization, and unstable angina. Data were obtained through a medical record review. We compared outcomes between groups randomized to the CPU versus admission, those admitted from the CPU versus dismissed home, and those who were admitted versus dismissed home after a cardiac stress test in the emergency department. The final analysis included 407 patients. Median surveillance length was 5.5 years. No differences in the primary outcome or secondary outcome existed between patients randomized to the CPU versus admitted to hospital (21.6% vs 20.2% and 29.9% vs 33.0%, respectively, P > .05 for all comparisons). Patients admitted from the CPU had higher rates of the secondary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio 2.26) than patients dismissed from the CPU. Patients admitted after a cardiac stress test in the CPU had higher rates of the secondary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio 2.42) than patients dismissed from the CPU. A CPU does not increase long-term adverse outcomes in patients with chest pain at intermediate risk for an acute event.

Renal Dysfunction in Acute Heart Failure

During treatment of acute heart failure (AHF), worsening renal function is often complicated and results in a complex clinical course. Furthermore, renal dysfunction is a strong independent predictor of long-term adverse outcomes in patients with AHF. Traditionally, the predominant cause of renal dysfunction has been attributed to impairment of cardiac output and relative underfilling of arterial perfusion. Recently, emerging data have led to the importance of venous congestion and elevated intra-abdominal pressure rather than confining it to impaired forward cardiac output as the primary driver of renal impairment. Relief of congestion is a major objective of AHF treatment but therapy is still based on the administration of loop diuretics. The results of the recently performed controlled studies for the assessment of new treatments to overcome resistance to diuretic treatment to protect kidneys from untoward effects have been mostly neutral. Better treatment of congestion in heart failure remains a major problem.