Determinants and prognostic impact of heart failure complicating acute coronary syndromes: observations from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE).
BACKGROUND
Few data are available on the impact of heart failure (HF) across all types of acute coronary syndromes (ACS).


RESULTS
The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) is a prospective study of patients hospitalized with ACS. Data from 16 166 patients were analyzed: 13 707 patients without prior HF or cardiogenic shock at presentation were identified. Of these, 1778 (13%) had an admission diagnosis of HF (Killip class II or III). HF on admission was associated with a marked increase in mortality rates during hospitalization (12.0% versus 2.9% [with versus without HF], P<0.0001) and at 6 months after discharge (8.5% versus 2.8%, P<0.0001). Of note, HF increased mortality rates in patients with unstable angina (defined as ACS with normal biochemical markers of necrosis; mortality rates: 6.7% with versus 1.6% without HF at admission, P<0.0001). By logistic regression analysis, admission HF was an independent predictor of hospital death (odds ratio, 2.2; P<0.0001). Admission HF was associated with longer hospital stay and higher readmission rates. Patients with HF had lower rates of catheterization and percutaneous cardiac intervention, and fewer received beta-blockers and statins. Hospital development of HF (versus HF on presentation) was associated with an even higher in-hospital mortality rate (17.8% versus 12.0%, P<0.0001). In patients with HF, in-hospital revascularization was associated with lower 6-month death rates (14.0% versus 23.7%, P<0.0001; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.68, P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this observational registry, heart failure was associated with reduced hospital and 6-month survival across all ACS subsets, including patients with normal markers of necrosis. More aggressive treatment of these patients may be warranted to improve prognosis.
Steg
Philippe Gabriel
PG
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bichat-Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France. gabriel.steg@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr
Dabbous
Omar H
OH
Feldman
Laurent J
LJ
Cohen-Solal
Alain
A
Aumont
Marie-Claude
MC
López-Sendón
José
J
Budaj
Andrzej
A
Goldberg
Robert J
RJ
Klein
Werner
W
Anderson
Frederick A
FA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors