title: The prognostic importance of lung function in patients admitted with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to determine the prognostic importance for all-cause mortality of lung function variables obtained by spirometry in an unselected group of patients admitted with heart failure (HF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This was a prospective prognostic study performed as part of the EchoCardiography and Heart Outcome Study (ECHOS). This analysis included 532 patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of HF. All patients underwent spirometry and echocardiography and the diagnosis of HF was made according to established criteria. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) was 65% of the predicted value [95% confidence interval (CI) 63-67%], mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 71% of predicted (95% CI 69-72%), and FEV(1)/FVC was 0.72 (95% CI 0.71-0.73). FEV(1), FVC, and FEV(1)/FVC were all significant prognostic factors for all-cause mortality in univariate analyses. In a multivariate analysis, FEV(1) had independent prognostic value (hazard ratio 0.86 per 10% change, P < 0.001) after adjusting for demographic variables, known risk factors, ejection fraction, and self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary function provides significant prognostic information for all-cause mortality in patients admitted with HF. Spirometry therefore seems to be worth considering for all patients admitted with HF in order to identify patients at high risk.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kasper Karmark
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjaergaard
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akkan
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kober
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassager
authors.forename: Jorgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vestbo
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kjoller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013147:Spirometry