Open AccessPrognostic value of lung ultrasound in patients hospitalized for heart disease irrespective of symptoms and ejection fraction
Author(s) -
Gargani Luna,
Pugliese Nicola Riccardo,
Frassi Francesca,
Frumento Paolo,
Poggianti Elisa,
Mazzola Matteo,
De Biase Nicolò,
Landi Patrizia,
Masi Stefano,
Taddei Stefano,
Pang Peter S.,
Sicari Rosa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
esc heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.787
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 2055-5822
DOI - 10.1002/ehf2.13206
Subject(s) - medicine , ejection fraction , cardiology , heart failure , interquartile range , transthoracic echocardiogram , pulmonary hypertension , heart failure with preserved ejection fraction , subclinical infection , lung ultrasound , lung
Aims Lung ultrasound B‐lines are the sonographic sign of pulmonary congestion and can be used in the differential diagnosis of dyspnoea to rule in or rule out acute heart failure (AHF). Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of B‐lines, integrated with echocardiography, in patients admitted to a cardiology department, independently of the initial clinical presentation, thus in patients with and without AHF, and in AHF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF and HFpEF). Methods and results We enrolled consecutive patients admitted for various cardiac conditions. Patients were classified into three groups: (i) acute HFrEF; (ii) acute HFpEF; and (iii) non‐AHF. All patients underwent an echocardiogram coupled with lung ultrasound at admission, according to standardized protocols. We followed up 1021 consecutive inpatients (69 ± 12 years) for a median of 14.4 months (interquartile range 4.6–24.3) for death and rehospitalization for AHF. During the follow‐up, 126 events occurred. Admission B‐lines > 30, ejection fraction < 50%, tricuspid regurgitation velocity > 2.8 m/s, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion < 17 mm were independent predictors at multivariable analysis. B‐lines > 30 had a strong predictive value in HFpEF and non‐AHF, but not in HFrEF. Conclusions Ultrasound B‐lines can detect subclinical pulmonary interstitial oedema in patients thought to be free of congestion and provide useful information not only for the diagnosis but also for the prognosis in different cardiac conditions. Their added prognostic value among standard echocardiographic parameters is more robust in patients with HFpEF compared with HFrEF.