Key result
First-time acute HF is linked to ~68% higher odds of preceding respiratory infection vs. recurrent HF.
Why the study?
The rates and clinical characteristics of symptomatic respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary infections in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure were not well described.
Cross-Sectional (n=335)
No
Symptomatic infections, particularly respiratory infections, are highly prevalent in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and may act as a trigger, especially for first-time presentations.
Infection rates in acute HF; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before informing practice.
Objectives: To estimate the rates of symptomatic respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary infections in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in a large tertiary care cardiology hospital and patients hospitalized due to non-infective causes of heart failure were invited to participate. Trained research assistants collected data using a semi-structured questionnaire. Patients’ medical records were also reviewed. Results: A total of 335 patients were recruited in the study and of them around two thirds (65.7%, 220/335) had the first-time heart failure and one third (34.5%, 115/335) had recurrent heart failure. Acute myocardial infarction rate was significantly higher in first-time heart failure patients, compared to recurrent heart failure patients (p value <0.001). Among all heart failure cases, 140 (41.8%) had symptoms of respiratory infections, 36 (10.7%) had symptoms of diarrhoea, 32 (9.5%) had symptoms of urinary infection, 77 (23.0%) had influenza like illness and 81 (24.2%) had fever during last 2 weeks. Rates of symptomatic respiratory infection, influenza like illness and fever were consistently higher in first-time heart failure patients, however, only respiratory infection during last week was significantly associated with first-time acute heart failure (OR 1.68, 95% CI, 1.02-2.77). Conclusion: This study showed high rates of respiratory and other symptomatic infections in acute heart failure patients. Like other precipitating factors, infections may trigger acute heart failure directly in elderly people. Elderly people should use influenza vaccines to protect from influenza and influenza like illness.
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Chughtai et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Acute heart failure (n=335). First-time acute heart failure vs. Recurrent acute heart failure was evaluated on Symptoms of respiratory infection during the last 1 week (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02-2.77). First-time acute heart failure was significantly associated with a higher rate of respiratory infection during the preceding week compared to recurrent heart failure (OR 1.68).
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