| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2959248 | Journal of Cardiac Failure | 2015 | 7 Pages |
•Biomarker-guided care is safe in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.•Patients who experienced serious adverse events (SAEs) were less likely to be taking β-blockers.•Patients with SAEs had less improvement in quality of life and left ventricular remodeling.•A risk score to predict the occurrence of SAEs was developed.
BackgroundSerious adverse events (SAEs) from heart failure (HF) therapy are frequent; however, techniques to identify at-risk patients are inadequate. Furthermore, the relationship between SAEs, quality of life (QOL), and cardiac structure are unknown.Methods and Results151 symptomatic patients with systolic HF were followed for a mean of 10 months. In this post hoc analysis, treatment-related SAEs included acute renal failure, dizziness, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypotension, and syncope. At 1 year, 21 treatment-related SAEs occurred. No difference in SAEs existed between the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)–guided arm and the standard of care arm (P = .20). At baseline, patients who suffered SAEs were less likely to be receiving beta-blockers (85.7% vs 97.7%; P = .009) and had worse functional class and lower chloride levels. Patients who experienced SAEs had less improvement in their Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire scores and had a trend toward reduced echocardiographic reverse remodeling over the follow-up period. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to develop a risk score for SAE prediction; patients in the highest risk quartile had the shortest time to first cardiovascular event (P = 0.01).ConclusionsNT-proBNP–guided HF care is safe. Experiencing treatment-related SAEs is associated with worse QOL and potentially reduced reverse remodeling. A risk score to prospectively predict SAEs in aggressive HF management was developed.
