History of Atrial Fibrillation and Trajectory of Decongestion in Acute Heart Failure

Ravi B. Patel*, Muthiah Vaduganathan, Aruna Rikhi, Hrishikesh Chakraborty, Stephen J. Greene, Adrian F. Hernandez, G. Michael Felker, Margaret M. Redfield, Javed Butler, Sanjiv J. Shah

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to characterize the course of decongestion among patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) by history of atrial fibrillation (AF) and/or atrial flutter (AFL). Background: AF/AFL and chronic heart failure (HF) commonly coexist. Little is known regarding the impact of AF/AFL on relief of congestion among patients who develop AHF. Methods: We pooled patients from 3 randomized trials of AHF conducted within the Heart Failure Network, the DOSE (Diuretic Optimization Strategies) trial, the ROSE (Renal Optimization Strategies) trial, and the CARRESS-HF (Cardiorenal Rescue Study in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) trial. The association between history of AF/AFL and in-hospital changes in various metrics of congestion was assessed using covariate-adjusted linear and ordinal logistic regression models. Results: Of 750 unique patients, 418 (56%) had a history of AF/AFL. Left ventricular ejection fraction was higher (35% vs. 27%, respectively; p < 0.001), and N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were nonsignificantly lower at baseline (4,210 pg/ml vs. 5,037 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.27) in patients with AF/AFL. After adjustment of covariates, history of AF/AFL was associated with less substantial loss of weight (−5.7% vs. −6.5%, respectively; p = 0.02) and decrease in NT-proBNP levels (−18.7% vs. −31.3%, respectively; p = 0.003) by 72 or 96 h. History of AF/AFL was also associated with a blunted increase in global sense of well being at 72 or 96 h (p = 0.04). There was no association between history of AF/AFL and change in orthodema congestion score (p = 0.67) or 60-day composite clinical endpoint (all-cause mortality or any rehospitalization; hazard ratio: 1.21; 95% confidence interval: 0.92 to 1.59; p = 0.17). Conclusions: More than half of the patients admitted with AHF had a history of AF/AFL. History of AF/AFL was independently associated with a blunted course of in-hospital decongestion. Further research is required to understand the utility of specific therapies targeting AF/AFL during hospitalization for AHF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)47-55
Number of pages9
JournalJACC: Heart Failure
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2019

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • atrial flutter
  • body weight
  • decongestion
  • heart failure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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