acute heart failure (AHF)
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Introduction
A sudden cardiac event resulting in an acute decline in cardiac output, insufficient perfusion of tissues & acute pulmonary & systemic venous congestion.
Etiology
- myocardial ischemia or infarction
- cardiac arrhythmias
- ventricular septal defect
- uncontrolled, severe hypertension
- pulmonary embolism
- valvular failure
- acute dilated cardiomyopathy
- aortic dissection
- cardiac rupture
- cardiac tamponade
- high-output states
- NSAIDs may increase risk of acute on chronic heart failure[15]
Epidemiology
- 50% of hospitalizations for acute heart failure in patients with reduced LVEF[20]
Clinical manifestations
- pulmonary edema is the most common manifestation
- symptoms
- sudden, extreme dyspnea
- pink, frothy sputum
- diaphoresis
- signs
- symptoms
- hepatic congestion mimicking an intra-abdominal process
- less common
- associated with jugular venous distension & right heart failure
- older patients hospitalized with acute heart failure
- more likely to be female
- more likely to have diastolic heart failure
- more likely to have gradual onset of symptoms
- more likely to have atypical presentation
- heart failure may present as abdominal pain in children & adolescents due to reduced intestinal blood flow[26]
Laboratory
- complete blood count to rule out anemia
- serum urea nitrogen, serum creatinine
- BUN/creatinine to rule out renal failure
- arterial blood gas (ABG)
- urinalysis
- serum electrolytes
- serum potassium > 4.5 mEq/L may be associated with worse outcomes[22]
- low serum Mg+2, low serum Na+ portend poor prognosis[4]
- markers of myocardial infarction
- serum creatine kinase & serum CK-MB
- cardiac-specific troponin-I or troponin-C may predict higher mortality[5][17]
- arterial blood gas
- elevated serum BNP (ventricular pressure overload)
- measured upon hospital admission to determine prognosis in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure[17]
- NT-proBNP in serum best predictor of mortality[15]
Diagnostic procedures
- electrocardiogram
- arrhythmias
- conduction delays
- non-sepcific ST-T changes
- echocardiography
- mitral regurgitation
- ventricular septal defect
- focal wall motion abonormalities
- pericardial effusion
- radionuclide ventriculography
- cardiac catheterization
Radiology
- chest X-ray
- lung ultrasonography outperforms chest-X-ray[13]
Complications
- mortality among Medicare beneficiaries
- 1-year mortality for hospitalization survivors:
- 41% overall & 72% for high-risk admissions
- in hospital mortality 2.8% (2011-2016)[21]
- 1-year mortality for hospitalization survivors:
Differential diagnosis
- asthma
- COPD
- pneumonia
- pneumothorax
- pulmonary edema
- re-expansion
- high altitude
- neurogenic
- acute coronary syndrome
- dyspnea, but not chest pain associated with exacerbation of heart failure
- serum BNP may be elevated with acute coronary syndrome
- adult respiratory distress syndrome
- pulmonary embolism
- eclampsia
- heroin overdose
Management
- admit to hospital (CCU) most cases
- EHMRG scale may be used for assessment of hospitalization vs discharge from ED (see EHMRG scale for calculator)
- Barthel Index, serum creatinine & LV hypertrophy on EKG used in calculating score for predicting prognosis[19]
- treat volume overload [2]
- fluid & sodium restriction leads to increased thirst but not better outcomes[8]
- special case of right heart failure
- push normal saline even if central venous pressure elevated[2]
- avoid pressors until volume expansion produces pulmonary edema[2]
- oxygen
- ventilatory support for cardiogenic pulmonary edema[11][12]
- BiPAP is more effective than CPAP alone
- reduces the risk of endotracheal intubation & death
- BiPAP is more effective than CPAP alone
- ventilatory support for cardiogenic pulmonary edema[11][12]
- intravenous loop diuretic
- furosemide (Lasix) has poor & variable oral availability
- bumetanide (Bumex)
- no clear advantage of infusion vs bolus[6]
- initial IV dose should be at least the outpatient daily oral dose[2]
- increase diuretic dose to remove excess fluid[2][6]
- high-dose vs low-dose
- no outcome advantage
- tradeoff of renal toxicity vs symptom relief[6]
- earlier diuretic administration in the emergency department associated with lower mortality[18]
- diuretic resistance is > 240 mg furosemide equivalent daily[24]
- loop diuretic + metolazone 5 mg PO BID (metolazone not available IV)
- loop diuretic + tolvaptan 30 mg PO QD
- in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure, addition of tolvaptan to intravenous loop diuretic did not improve dyspnea despite greater weight loss & fluid loss[31]
- optimizing ACE inhibitor less important than removing excess fluid with diuretic[2]
- nitrates reduce preload & dilate coronary arteries
- sulingual nitroglycerin
- nitroglycerin or nitroprusside drip
- nitroprusside also reduces afterload
- useful when patients remain in heart failure after adequate diuresis[2]
- nitropaste
- hold for hypotension
- early nitrates plus hydralazine of no benefit over usual care[23]
- morphine reduces preload - hold for hypotension
- acetazolamide added to intravenous loop diuretic is associated with a higher rate of successful decongestion in patients with stage 3 chronic renal failure[32]
- worsening renal function occurs more frequently with acetazolamide, but this is not associated with adverse clinical outcomes[32]
- antiarrhythmic agents to control ventricular response to atrial fibrillation
- digoxin also improves cardiac contractility
- avoid increases in digoxin with acute renal failure
- diltiazem IV
- rapidly effective
- negative inotropic effect
- digoxin also improves cardiac contractility
- pressors for left heart failure (LV systolic dysfunction)
- norepinephrine (pressor of choice)
- heart failure with severe hypotension
- normal to low systemic vascular resistance
- vasoconstrictive, inotropic & chronotropic effects
- start 1-4 ug/min
- dopamine
- may be inferior to norepinephrine
- 5-10 ug/kg/min (inotropic & chronotropic)
- 10-20 ug/kg/min (vasoconstrictive)
- renal dose dopamine 2 ug/kg/min does not improve renal function in patients with acute heart failure[9]
- dobutamine
- may be inferior to norepinephrine
- better than milrinone in patients with renal insufficiency[2]
- preferable to adding metolazone for loop diuretic resistance
- refractory heart failure with poor cardiac output
- systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg
- inotropic effects
- decreased systemic vascular resistance
- start 2-5 ug/kg/min
- may be inferior to norepinephrine
- phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- amrinone
- milrinone
- load 50 ug/kg
- 0.375-0.75 ug/kg/min
- effects similar to dobutamine
- norepinephrine (pressor of choice)
- avoid beta-blockers & calcium channel blockers (both negative inotropes)
- avoid esmolol drip even with tachycardia[2]
- risk of negative intropic effect greater than benefit of slowing heart rate (even with short 1/2 life of esmolol)[2]
- avoid esmolol drip even with tachycardia[2]
- SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy throughout hospitalization regardless of LVEF[34]
- SGLT-2 inhibitors have little effect on blood pressure
- empagliflozin
- increases urine output 25% over 5 days without adverse renal effects[30]
- improves health-related quality of life at 90 days after acute heart failure; benefits begin at day 15[29]
- aldosterone antagonists have little effect on blood pressure
- initiate at any time during hospitalization & continue at discharge unless contraindicated[34]
- natriuretic hormone
- nesiritide 0.005 ug/kg/min does not improve renal function in patients with acute heart failure[9]
- intra-aortic balloon pump & left ventricular assist device
- cardiogenic shock resistant to inotropic agents
- stabilization prior to revascularization
- coronary angiography with revascularization
- dialysis for heart failure complicated by anuria
- right heart catheterization does not improve outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure[2]
- delay elective surgery until stabilization[25]
- intravenous iron with ferric carboxymaltose may benefit stabilized hospitalized patients with iron-deficiency[27]
- follow-up
- close observation after stabilization
- observe for recurrent heart failure, dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, drug toxicity
- telephone contact within 48 hours of discharge
- follow-up physician visit within 1 week after hospital discharge[2]
- early follow-up nurse home visit[2]
- intensive 3-month physical rehabilitation program focusing on strength, balance, mobility, & endurance started during hospitalization or shortly after discharge improves physical function[28]
- early & rapid uptitration of neurohormonal blockade[33]
- prognosis
- high mortality especially in the elderly
- 33% mortality within the 1st 3 months
- NT-proBNP in serum best short-term predictor of mortality[15]
- heart transplantation: median survival 11 years with normal quality of life[2]
More general terms
More specific terms
- acute diastolic heart failure
- acute right ventricular failure; cor pumonale
- cardiorenal syndrome
- high-output heart failure
Additional terms
References
- ↑ Saunders Manual of Medical Practice, Rakel (ed), WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1996, pg 241-42
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 16, 17, 18, 19. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022
- ↑ Diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure European Society of Cardiology (ESC) http://www.escardio.org/knowledge/guidelines
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gheorghiade M et al, Characterization and prognostic value of persistent hyponatremia in patients with severe heart failure in the ESCAPE trial. Arch Intern Med 2007, 167:1998 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17923601
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Peacock WF 4th, De Marco T, Fonarow GC et al, Cardiac troponin and outcome in acute heart failure. N Engl J Med 2008 May 15; 358:2117 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18480204 Free full text
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Felker GM et al for the NHLBI Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. Diuretic strategies in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 3; 364:797. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21366472
Fonarow GC. Comparative effectiveness of diuretic regimens. N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 3; 364:877. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21366480 - ↑ Lee DS et al. Prediction of heart failure mortality in emergent care: A cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jun 5; 156:767. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22665814
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Aliti GB et al. Aggressive fluid and sodium restriction in acute decompensated heart failure: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med 2013 May 20; <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23689381 <Internet> http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1689981
Cheitlin MD. Counterintuitive evidence concerning salt and water restriction in acute decompensated heart failure patients. JAMA Intern Med 2013 May 20 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23689640 <Internet> http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1690004 - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chen HH et al. Low-dose dopamine or low-dose nesiritide in acute heart failure with renal dysfunction: The ROSE Acute Heart Failure randomized trial. JAMA 2013 Dec 18; 310:2533 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24247300
- ↑ Silvers SM, Howell JM, Kosowsky JM, Clinical policy: Critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute heart failure syndromes. Ann Emerg Med. 2007 May;49(5):627-69. Epub 2007 Apr 3. Review. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17408803
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Yoshida M, Kadokami T, Momii H et al Enhancement of cardiac performance by bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation in heart failure. J Card Fail. 2012 Dec;18(12):912-8 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23207079
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Weng CL, Zhao YT, Liu QH, et al. Meta-analysis: Noninvasive ventilation in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(9):590-600 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439577
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Pivetta E et al. Lung ultrasound-implemented diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure in the ED: A SIMEU multicenter study. Chest 2015 Jul 1; 148:202 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25654562
- ↑ Fermann GJ, Collins SP. Initial management of patients with acute heart failure. Heart Fail Clin. 2013 Jul;9(3):291-301 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23809416
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Geriatric Review Syllabus, 9th edition (GRS9) Medinal-Walpole A, Pacala JT, Porter JF (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2016
Geriatric Review Syllabus, 10th edition (GRS10) Harper GM, Lyons WL, Potter JF (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2019 - ↑ Lazzarini V, Mentz RJ, Fiuzat M, Metra M, O'Connor CM. Heart failure in elderly patients: distinctive features and unresolved issues. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013 Jul;15(7):717-23. Review. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23429975 Free PMC Article
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Yancy CW et al 2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Failure Society of America. Circulation. 2017. copublished in J Am Coll of Cardiol http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/circulationaha/early/2017/04/26/CIR.0000000000000509.full.pdf
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Matsue Y, Damman K, Voors AA et al. Time-to-furosemide treatment and mortality in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017 Jun 27; 69:3042. <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28641794 <Internet> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109717371863
Januzzi JL Jr, Felker GM. Door-to-furosemide therapy in the ED: New quality metric or just a piece of the puzzle? J Am Coll Cardiol 2017 Jun 27; 69:3052 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28641795 <Internet> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109717373229 - ↑ 19.0 19.1 Miro O, Rossello X, Gil V et al. Predicting 30-day mortality for patients with acute heart failure in the emergency department: A cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2017 Oct 3; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28973663
Rahko PS. Acute heart failure in the emergency department: What is the prognosis? Ann Intern Med 2017 Oct 3; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28973163 - ↑ 20.0 20.1 Chang PP, Wruck LM, Shahar EP et al. Trends in hospitalizations and survival of acute decompensated heart failure in four US communities (2005-2014): ARIC Study Community Surveillance. Circulation. 2018 Jul 3;138(1):12-24. Epub 2018 Mar 8. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29519849 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.027551
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Parikh KS, Sheng S, Hammill BG et al. Characteristics of acute heart failure hospitalizations based on presenting severity. Circ Heart Fail 2019 Jan 11; 12:e005171 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30630340 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.118.005171
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Sullivan KF, Kashef MA Knee AB et al. Examining the "repletion index": The association between serum potassium and outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure. J Hosp Med 2019 Jul 24; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31339844 https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/204919/hospital-medicine/examining-repletion-reflex-association-between-serum
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Kozhuharov N, Goudev A, Flores D et al. Effect of a strategy of comprehensive vasodilation vs usual care on mortality and heart failure rehospitalization among patients with acute heart failure: The GALACTIC randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2019 Dec 17; 322:2292 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31846016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Cox ZL, Hung R, Lenihan DJ, Testani JM. Diuretic strategies for loop diuretic resistance in acute heart failure: The 3T trial. JACC Heart Fail 2019 Dec 11; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31838029
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 NEJM Knowledge+ Question of the Week. July 14, 2020 https://knowledgeplus.nejm.org/question-of-week/195/
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 NEJM Knowledge+ Question of the Week. August 25, 2020 https://knowledgeplus.nejm.org/question-of-week/5081/
Madriago E, Silberbach M. Heart failure in infants and children. Pediatr Rev 2010 Jan; 31:4 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20048034 Free article - ↑ 27.0 27.1 Ponikowski P et al. on behalf of the AFFIRM-AHF Investigators. Ferric carboxymaltose for iron deficiency at discharge after acute heart failure: A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet 2020 Nov 13; [e-pub]. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33197395 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32339-4/fulltext
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Kitzman DW, Whellan DJ, Duncan P et al. Physical rehabilitation for older patients hospitalized for heart failure. N Engl J Med 2021 May 16; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33999544 https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2026141
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Kosiborod MN et al. Effects of empagliflozin on symptoms, physical limitations and quality of life in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure - Results from the EMPULSE trial. Circulation 2022 Apr 4; [e-pub] PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35377706 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.059725
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Schulze PC et al. Effects of early empagliflozin initiation on diuresis and kidney function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (EMPAG-HF). Circulation 2022 Jun 29; PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35766022 Free article https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.059038
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 NEJM Knowledge+ Complex Medical Care
Felker GM, Mentz RJ, Cole RT et ak Efficacy and Safety of Tolvaptan in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Mar 21;69(11):1399-1406. Epub 2016 Sep 18. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27654854 Free article. Clinical Trial. - ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Meekers E, Dauw J, Martens P, et al. Renal Function and Decongestion With Acetazolamide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: The ADVOR Trial. Eur Heart J. 2023 Aug 25:ehad557. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37623428
Verbrugge FH, Martens P, Dauw J Natriuretic Response to Acetazolamide in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Volume Overload. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 May 23;81(20):2013-2024. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37197845 - ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Biegus J, Mebazaa A, Davison B et al Effects of Rapid Uptitration of Neurohormonal Blockade on Effective, Sustainable Decongestion and Outcomes in STRONG-HF. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Jul 23;84(4):323-336. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39019527 Clinical Trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S073510972407400X?via%3Dihub
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Writing Committee; Hollenberg SM, Stevenson LW, Ahmad T et al 2024 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Clinical Assessment, Management, and Trajectory of Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure Focused Update: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Aug 2:S0735-1097(24)07449-7. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39127954 https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.06.002