Trajectory of Decongestion and Mortality in Young Adults with Acute Heart Failure.

Although the prevalence of HF in young adults (age <50 years) is increasing, there are limited data on the trajectory of decongestion and short-term outcomes in young adults with acute heart failure (AHF). We pooled patients from 3 randomized trials of AHF conducted within the Heart Failure Network (the Diuretic Optimization Strategies trial, the Renal Optimization Strategies Trial, and the Cardiorenal Rescue Study in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure). The association between young age (<50 years and >50 years) and in-hospital changes in various measures of decongestion as well as short-term outcomes including risk for rehospitalization, and all-cause mortality was evaluated. Of 762 patients, 72 (10.3%) patients were young. Young adults were more likely to be African American (53.8% vs 19.3%), to have a lower rate of ischemic HF etiology (25.6% vs 60.4%, P <0.001), and a lower burden of hypertension, chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation. Young adults had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (median 20% vs 33%, P < 0.001); they had a higher admission weight (median 242.7 lbs vs 201.5 lbs, P < 0.001), but lower NT-pro BNP levels (median 3622 pg/mL vs 4676 pg/mL, P = 0.003). After covariate adjustment, there was no difference in the change in NT-pro BNP (P = 0.25), net fluid loss (P = 0.42), or renal function (P = 0.56) between young and older adults by 72 or 96 hours of randomization. There was no difference in orthodema congestion score or the composite clinical endpoint during the follow-up (all-cause mortality or any rehospitalization) (adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 2.51 (0.78-8.01), P = 0.12). In this pooled analysis of 3 clinical trial cohorts, compared with older adults, younger adults had a unique demographic and clinical profile. Despite these differences, there was no difference by age group in in-hospital decongestion or post-discharge readmission or mortality.