Key result
Isolated loop-diuretic use in patients with atrial fibrillation and no known heart failure was associated with a 42% higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.42) compared to those without heart failure or loop-diuretic use.
Why the study?
Patients with AF complicated by HF have a poor prognosis, but whether long-term loop-diuretic therapy without a known HF diagnosis associates with worse outcomes was unclear.
Does isolated loop diuretic use indicate undiagnosed heart failure and predict higher mortality and heart failure hospitalization in patients with incident atrial fibrillation?
Cohort (n=124,256)
Does isolated loop diuretic use indicate undiagnosed heart failure and predict higher mortality and heart failure hospitalization in patients with incident atrial fibrillation?
Hazard Ratio: 1.42 (95% CI 1.37–1.47)
p-value: p=<0.0005
Isolated loop diuretic use in patients with atrial fibrillation is a strong marker for undiagnosed heart failure and is associated with significantly increased risks of mortality and heart failure hospitalization, particularly in women.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
May flag undiagnosed HF in AF patients for closer monitoring; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Zakeri et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=124,256). Isolated loop-diuretic use vs. No heart failure or loop-diuretic use was evaluated on All-cause mortality (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.37-1.47, p=<0.0005). Isolated loop-diuretic use in patients with atrial fibrillation and no known heart failure was associated with a 42% higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.42) compared to those without heart failure or loop-diuretic use.
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