Ambient Temperature and the Frequency of Subsequent Heart Failure Decompensations in an Emergency Department

Background/Objectives: The impact of cold temperature on heart failure (HF) decompensations in continental climate zones is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between daily temperature and the subsequent frequency of HF decompensations in an emergency department (ED) in Eastern Austria. Methods: A systematic retrospective medical chart review of all admissions to the ED of a tertiary care center within 12 months was conducted. Maximal daily temperature and further meteorological data were obtained from the National Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Results: Among 32.028 ED admissions, there were 1.248 HF decompensations. Median maximal daily temperature ranged from 4.3 °C in January to 28.7 °C in August, and the frequency of decompensations ranged from 65 in August to 143 in January. Maximal daily temperature correlated negatively with the number of decompensations on the subsequent day (beta = −0.07 [95% confidence interval, −0.09 to −0.05], p < 0.001). The association remained significant in a multivariate linear regression model adjusted for other meteorological parameters (adjusted beta = −0.07 [−0.10 to −0.04], p < 0.001). Moreover, it was present across HF with preserved (n = 375; beta = −0.08 [−0.14 to −0.03], p = 0.004) and reduced (n = 331; beta = −0.08 [−0.13 to −0.02], p = 0.005) ejection fraction, but not with mildly reduced ejection fraction (n = 160; beta = −0.03 [−0.07 to 0.01], p = 0.200). Conclusions: In a European continental climate zone region, lower temperature was associated with a linear increase in subsequent HF decompensations. The sequelae of climate change on HF decompensations may burden healthcare systems in the future and should be systematically investigated in further studies.