Differential Prognostic Impact of Clinical Congestion between Preserved versus Reduced Ejection Fraction in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Findings from the Japanese Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure Registry

Background Most patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) present with signs of congestion. Prognostic significance of clinical congestion may vary depending on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study aims to investigate the prognostic impact of congestion across different LVEF categories. Methods and Results Composite congestion scores (CCSs; 0–9) derived from the severity of edema, jugular venous pressure, and orthopnea, were analyzed on admission and at discharge in 3787 patients hospitalized for HF (LVEF ≥ 40%: n = 2347, LVEF < 40%: n = 1440). The median admission CCS was 4 in both LVEF strata ( P = .64). Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of the moderate (CCS 4–6) and severe congestion [7–9] groups relative to the mild congestion [0–3] group on admission for a composite of all-cause death or HF rehospitalization were 1.20 (1.04–1.39, P = .01) and 1.54 (1.27–1.86, P < .001) in the LVEF ≥ 40% stratum, and 1.20 (1.01–1.44, P = .04) and 0.82 (0.61–1.07, P = .14) in the LVEF < 40% stratum, respectively ( P interaction < .001). A total of 16% of the patients with LVEF ≥40% and 14% with LVEF <40% had residual congestion (CCS ≥ 1) at discharge, which was associated with a respective adjusted HR of 1.40 (1.18–1.65, P < .001) and 1.25 (0.98–1.58, P = .07) for postdischarge death or HF rehospitalization ( P interaction = 0.63). Conclusion The severity of clinical congestion on admission was associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with LVEF ≥ 40%, but not in those with LVEF < 40%. These findings warrant further studies to better understand the detailed profile of congestion across the LVEF spectrum.