Objectives: To determine whether chest radiographs can contribute to prognosis in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Material And Methods: Consecutive patients with AHF were enrolled by the participating emergency departments. Radiographic variables assessed were the presence or absence of evidence of cardiomegaly and pleural effusion and the pulmonary parenchymal pattern observed (vascular redistribution, interstitial edema, and/or alveolar edema). We gathered variables for the AHF episode and the patient's baseline state. Outcomes were in-hospital and 1-year mortality; hospital stay longer than 7 days, and a composite of events within 30 days of discharge (revisit, rehospitalization, and/or death). Crude and adjusted hazard ratios were calculated for the 3 categories of radiographic variables. The variables were also studied in combination.

Results: A total of 2703 patients with a mean (SD) age of 81 (19) years were enrolled; 54.5% were women. Cardiomegaly was observed in 1711 cases (76.8%) and pleural effusion in 992 (36.7%). A pulmonary parenchymal pattern was observed in all cases, as follows: vascular redistribution in 1672 (61.9%), interstitial edema in 629 (23.3%) and alveolar edema in 402 (14.9%). The adjusted hazard ratios showed that cardiomegaly lacked prognostic value. However, the presence of pleural effusion was associated with a 23% (95% CI, 2%-49%) higher rate of the 30- day composite outcome; in-hospital mortality was 89% (30%-177%) higher in the presence of alveolar edema, and 1-year mortality was 38% (14%-67%) higher in association with vascular redistribution. The results for the variables in combination were consistent with the results for individual variables.

Conclusion: A diagnostic chest radiograph can also contribute to the prediction of adverse events. Pleural effusion is associated with a higher rate of events after discharge, and alveolar edema is associated with higher mortality.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pleural effusion
16
alveolar edema
16
acute heart
12
heart failure
12
vascular redistribution
12
chest radiographs
8
patients acute
8
radiographic variables
8
pulmonary parenchymal
8
parenchymal pattern
8

Similar Publications

Severe childhood SLE with refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia-a therapeutic challenge.

BMJ Case Rep

January 2025

Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, AIIMS Rishikesh, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

Paediatric Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitutes 10 to 20% of cases of SLE with more severe disease and higher mortality. We report a case of an adolescent girl with SLE with multisystem involvement who was started on hydroxychloroquine and oral prednisolone. However, due to persistent worsening of skin lesions and falling cell counts, pulsed dexamethasone was initiated which showed improvement in the skin lesions, cell counts, proteinuria and pleural effusion but there was a persistent fall in the haemoglobin.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to evaluate current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS), with a focus on the evolving role of multimodality imaging, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). The review also explores the potential benefits of advanced imaging in improving the accuracy and management of PPS.

Recent Findings: PPS, a common complication following cardiac surgery, presents with pleuritic chest pain, fever, and pericardial or pleural effusion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH), resulting from ruptured aneurysms, is a major contributor to stroke-related mortality and morbidity. Despite advances in healthcare, aSAH remains severe and often leads to complications such as cerebral vasospasm (CV), cerebral infarction, and delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND). Clazosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, has demonstrated potential in alleviating vasospasm and its associated outcomes, although evidence of its efficacy remains unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune condition characterized by infiltration of exocrine glands but, in rare cases, can have extraglandular involvement with pleural effusion being an exceedingly rare form. Here we present a case of Sjogren's pleuritis resulting in pleural effusion, a rare initial presentation for Sjogren's syndrome. A woman in her 20s presented to the emergency department after a recent hospitalization for pneumonia, pleural effusion, and pulmonary embolism.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!