Pulse pressure can predict mortality in advanced heart failure

Introduction Pulse pressure (PP) is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). PP rises markedly after the fifth decade of life. High PP is a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease and heart failure. The aim of this study was to assess whether PP can be used as a prognostic marker in advanced heart failure. Methods We retrospectively studied patients in NYHA class III–IV who were hospitalized in a single heart failure unit between January 2003 and August 2012. Demographic characteristics, laboratory tests, and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. PP was calculated as the difference between systolic and diastolic BP at admission, and the patients were divided into two groups (group 1: PP >40 mmHg and group 2: PP ≤40 mmHg). Median follow-up was 666±50 days for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and heart transplantation. Results During follow-up 914 patients in NYHA class III–IV were hospitalized, 520 in group 1 and 394 in group 2. The most important difference between the groups was in left ventricular dysfunction, which was greater in patients with lower PP. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, group 2 had higher mortality (38 vs. 24 patients, log-rank p=0.002). Conclusions PP is easily calculated, and enables prediction of cardiovascular death in patients with advanced heart failure.