Open AccessInitial Heart Rate and Systolic Blood Pressure Predict Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure Patients who are Evaluated for Cardiac Transplant
Author(s) -
Aranda Juan M.,
McIntyre Stephen E.,
Klodell Charles T.,
York Kaki M.,
Dragstedt Carl A.,
Chaille Peter J.,
Conti Jamie B.,
Pauly Daniel F.,
Hill James A.,
Schofield Richard S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20080
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , cardiology , hemodynamics , blood pressure , heart failure , heart transplantation , heart rate , hyponatremia
Abstract Background Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are currently not considered among common clinical indicators of prognosis in patients referred for heart transplant (Htx). We sought to determine whether an initial hemodynamic profile of HR and SBP could be used to predict outcomes in chronic heart failure patients evaluated for Htx. Methods We analyzed the medical records of patients evaluated for Htx and obtained demographic and clinical data collected at the initial transplant clinic visit or inpatient encounter. We assigned patients to groups based on their HR and SBP. Groups were compared after follow‐up for differences in freedom from death or Htx. Results From 1999 to 2003, 400 consecutive patients were considered by the local Htx medical review board. The median duration of follow‐up was 26 months (interquartile range 1 to 45 months). Patients with initial ≥ 90 beats per minute (bpm) and initial SBP < 100 mmHg ((n = 34) had worse New York Heart Association functional class (p=0.02), lower cardiac output ((p =0.02 ), and greater hyponatremia (>0.001;). These patients were more likely to be hospitalized at the time of referral (p >0.001) and more likely to have experienced death or Htx during follow‐up than patients with other hemodynamic profiles (p = 0.001). Conclusions A hemodynamic profile of HR and SBP can be used with other prognostic indicators to identify high‐risk patients at the time of initial evaluation for Htx. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.