External validation of the ACUTE HF score for risk stratification in acute heart failure

Int J Cardiol. 2022 Oct 18:S0167-5273(22)01641-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.10.130. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The ACUTE HF score is a simple risk score that predicts the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (HF) using clinical and echocardiographic parameters. As this score was developed for a small European population, we aimed to validate this score in an external population.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective observational cohort analysis included patients hospitalized with acute HF during 2015-2019. Of 744 patients, 703 patients with available ACUTE HF scores were analyzed (75 ± 13 years; 61% male; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 49 ± 17%). Approximately one-third (34.4%) of the patients had reduced LVEF (<40%), and 51.4% exhibited preserved LVEF (≥50%). During a median follow-up of 452 days, primary and secondary outcomes were observed in 110 and 204 patients, respectively. The ACUTE HF score successfully stratified patients for primary (all-cause mortality) and secondary endpoints (a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization) in Kaplan-Meier analyses (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that the score was significantly independently associated with both primary and secondary endpoints after adjusted by covariates (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: We validated the risk prediction ability of ACUTE HF score in an Asian population. This score may be applicable in clinical practice.

PMID:36270497 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.10.130