Prevalence of early stages of heart failure in an elderly risk population: The Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence of early stages of heart failure in an elderly risk population

T2 - The Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study

AU - Gaborit, Freja Stoltze

AU - Kistorp, Caroline

AU - Kümler, Thomas

AU - Hassager, Christian

AU - Tønder, Niels

AU - Køber, Lars

AU - Hansen, Pernille Mørk

AU - Kamstrup, Pia Rørbæk

AU - Faber, Jens

AU - Iversen, Kasper Karmark

AU - Schou, Morten

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Aims To describe the prevalence of heart failure (HF) stages in elderly outpatients with risk factors for HF but without known HF, and characterise the clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic findings in each stage. Background Early stages of HF are underdiagnosed; nevertheless, they are associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation and increased mortality. The prevalence of HF stages in elderly high-risk patients is unknown. Methods A total of 400 patients were consecutively included: ≥60 years old, ≥1 risk factor for HF (diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, hypertension), and without known or suspected HF. HF stages were defined as the following: Stage A (risk factor for HF, normal echocardiography), stage B (abnormal echocardiography, without symptoms of HF) and stage C (abnormal echocardiography, symptoms of HF, clinical signs/increased plasma aminoterminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] concentrations). Results After thorough examination 44.25% of patients were categorised as HF stage A, 37.5% were HF stage B and 18.25% HF stage C. Those with higher stages of HF were older (p<0.001) and more often had atrial fibrillation (p=0.006). The median plasma NT-proBNP concentrations (pg/mL) were 132.5 for HF stage A, 275.5 for HF stage B and 400.0 for HF stage C (p<0.001). Detectable plasma troponin-I was more frequent with abnormal echocardiography: HF stage A 9.7%, HF stage B 27.3% and HF stage C 30.1% (p<0.001). HF stage C reported higher score on the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (p<0.001). Conclusions In an elderly high-risk population without known or suspected HF, more than half were HF stage B or C. Higher stages of HF had increased plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP and troponin-I, besides a reduced quality of life. Focus on symptoms and signs of HF in this population are warranted.

AB - Aims To describe the prevalence of heart failure (HF) stages in elderly outpatients with risk factors for HF but without known HF, and characterise the clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic findings in each stage. Background Early stages of HF are underdiagnosed; nevertheless, they are associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation and increased mortality. The prevalence of HF stages in elderly high-risk patients is unknown. Methods A total of 400 patients were consecutively included: ≥60 years old, ≥1 risk factor for HF (diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, hypertension), and without known or suspected HF. HF stages were defined as the following: Stage A (risk factor for HF, normal echocardiography), stage B (abnormal echocardiography, without symptoms of HF) and stage C (abnormal echocardiography, symptoms of HF, clinical signs/increased plasma aminoterminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] concentrations). Results After thorough examination 44.25% of patients were categorised as HF stage A, 37.5% were HF stage B and 18.25% HF stage C. Those with higher stages of HF were older (p<0.001) and more often had atrial fibrillation (p=0.006). The median plasma NT-proBNP concentrations (pg/mL) were 132.5 for HF stage A, 275.5 for HF stage B and 400.0 for HF stage C (p<0.001). Detectable plasma troponin-I was more frequent with abnormal echocardiography: HF stage A 9.7%, HF stage B 27.3% and HF stage C 30.1% (p<0.001). HF stage C reported higher score on the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (p<0.001). Conclusions In an elderly high-risk population without known or suspected HF, more than half were HF stage B or C. Higher stages of HF had increased plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP and troponin-I, besides a reduced quality of life. Focus on symptoms and signs of HF in this population are warranted.

KW - echocardiography

KW - elderly

KW - heart failure

KW - hf stages

KW - high-risk populations

U2 - 10.1136/openhrt-2018-000840

DO - 10.1136/openhrt-2018-000840

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30997116

AN - SCOPUS:85062291646

SN - 2398-595X

VL - 6

JO - Open Heart

JF - Open Heart

IS - 1

M1 - e000840

ER -