Decompensated heart failure (HF) is a complex and debilitating syndrome, which constitutes a severe emergency condition with high morbidity and mortality. Kidneys play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of HF and, in the context of decompensations, acute kidney injury (AKI) has a bilateral cause-and-effect relationship, which can significantly worsen prognosis. However, the interaction between AKI and decompensated HF is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of AKI in patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF and to analyze its prognostic impact during hospitalization. This prospective single-center observational study included patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF in a tertiary-level teaching hospital, between July 2017 and January 2020. Patients who developed AKI during hospitalization were compared with those who did not develop it, until hospital discharge or death. AKI was defined as a serum creatinine increase greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/dl in 48 hours, a 1.5-fold increase in baseline creatinine in seven days or urinary volume <0.5 ml/kg/h for six hours, according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. The endpoints analyzed were death, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and length of hospital stay. The Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and unpaired student t tests were used. Ninety-nine patients were included, with a mean age of 65.4±14 years, of which 47 (47.5%) were male and 52 (52.5%) were female. Reduced ejection fraction (EF) was observed in 77.8% of patients, whilst 22.2% had a diagnosis of HF with preserved EF. Decompensation clinical classifications were dry and warm=7 (7.1%), wet and warm=72 (72.7%), wet and cold=15 (15.1%) and dry and cold=5 (5.1%). The average left ventricular ejection fraction was 38.3%±15. AKI occurred in 22 patients (22.2%). Comparison between patients who evolved with and without AKI showed higher mortality (36.4% vs 10.4%, p=0.004) and need for IMV (54.5% vs 13%, p=0.0001) in the first group. There was no significant difference regarding the length of hospitalization (22.9±19 vs 18.8±16 days, p=0.26). Our results pointed to the occurrence of AKI was frequent in patients with decompensated HF requiring hospitalization, affecting approximately one out of five patients. This complication was significantly associated with increased mortality and the need for IMV during hospitalization.

Introduction: The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is an inexpensive method to objectively evaluate physical capacity or limitation and stratify prognosis in patients with Heart Failure (HF). Since the clinical perception of symptoms may be adapted or compromised, regular evaluation from medical interviews often fails to determine functional classification. This study aimed to assess the correlation between New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA-FC) and the distance walked in the 6MWT. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study that included patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction followed up at an outpatient service of a teaching hospital, from August 2018 to April 2019. Patients in NYHA-FC I, II, or III were included. We compared NYHA-FC subjectively obtained during the consultation with the 6MWT performed after medical consultation, and the correlation between these two parameters was assessed. Results: The study included 70 patients with HF, 41 (58.6%) of whom were female. The mean age was 61.2 ± 12.7 years. The most prevalent etiologies were dilated idiopathic cardiomyopathy (35.7%) followed by ischemic cardiomyopathy (25.7%). The mean ejection fraction was 34.1% ± 9.8%. The average distance walked in the 6MWT by NYHA-FC I patients was 437.8 ± 95.8 meters, . Functional class measured by the 6MWT was different than that estimated by NYHA-FC in 34 patients (48.6%), 23 (32.9%) for a higher functional class and 11 (15.7%) for a lower one (p = 0.07). Pearson's correlation coefficient between NYHA-FC and the 6MWT was −0.55. Conclusion: There was a moderate correlation between the subjective NYHA-FC and the 6MWT.

Introduction: Decompensated heart failure (HF) is a complex and debilitating syndrome, which constitutes a severe emergency condition with high morbidity and mortality. The kidneys play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of HF and, in the context of decompensations, acute kidney injury (AKI) has a bilateral cause-and-effect relationship, which can significantly worsen prognosis. However, the interaction between AKI and decompensated HF is poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to assess the occurrence of AKI in patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF and to analyze its prognostic impact during hospitalization. Methods: Prospective single-center observational study that included patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF in a tertiary-level teaching hospital, conducted between July 2017 and January 2020. Patients who developed AKI during hospitalization were compared with those who did not develop it, until hospital discharge or death. AKI was defined as a serum creatinine increase greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/dl in 48 hours, a 1.5-fold increase in baseline creatinine in seven days or urinary volume &lt;0.5 ml/kg/h during six hours, according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. The endpoints analyzed were death, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and length of hospital stay. The Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and unpaired student t tests were used. Results: Ninety-nine patients were included, with a mean age of 65.4 &plusmn; 14 years, of which 47 (47.5%) were male and 52 (52.5%) were female. Reduced ejection fraction was observed in 77.8% of patients, whilst 22.2% had a diagnosis of HF with preserved EF. The decompensation clinical classifications were: dry and warm = 7 (7.1%), wet and warm = 72 (72.7%), wet and cold = 15 (15.1%) and dry and cold = 5 (5.1%). The average left ventricular ejection fraction was 38.3% &plusmn; 15. AKI ocurred in 22 patients (22.2%). Comparison between patients who evolved with and without AKI showed higher mortality (36.4% vs 10.4%, p = 0.004) and the need for IMV (54.5% vs 13%, p = 0.0001) in the first group. There was no significant difference regarding the length of in-hospital stay (22.9 &plusmn; 19 vs 18.8 &plusmn; 16 days, p = 0.26). Conclusions: The occurrence of AKI was frequent in patients with decompensated HF requiring hospitalization, affecting approximately one out of five patients. This complication was significantly associated with increased mortality and the need for IMV during hospitalization.

Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple and low-cost method that allows assessment of functional capacity in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the prognostic role of 6MWT in HF remains uncertain. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the 6MWT as a predictor of mid-term adverse outcomes in patients with HF with mid-range and reduced ejection fraction. Methods: Prospective single-center cohort study that included patients with HF with an ejection fraction under 50% at a specialized outpatient HF service. Patients underwent the 6MWT on admission and were compared according to the distance walked: Group I walked &ge;350 meters and group II &lt;350 meters. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for HF decompensation in one-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the components of the primary outcome in an isolated analysis. Results: Sixty patients were included, 43.3% male, with a mean age of 61.1 &plusmn; 12.9 years and ejection fraction 34.3 &plusmn; 10.1%. 52 patients (86.7%) were on guideline-directed triple therapy for HF. The average distance walked in the 6MWT was 395.1 &plusmn; 98.8 meters, with 40 patients (66.7%) in group I and 20 (33.3%) in group II. The primary outcome in groups I and II were, respectively, 15,0% and 35,0% (p=0.05). One-year mortality was 5.0% vs 15.0% (p=0.18) and the hospitalization rate was 10.0% vs 20.0% (p=0.28). Conclusions: There was no association of distance &lt;350 meters in the 6MWT with the primary outcome in patients with HF. Despite the higher occurrence of outcomes in group II, the difference was not statistically significant in this analysis. On a selective basis, the 6MWT may be a useful tool for prognostic stratification in HF, if combined with other methods.

Decompensated heart failure (HF) is a complex and debilitating syndrome, which constitutes a severe emergency condition with high morbidity and mortality. Kidneys play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of HF and, in the context of decompensations, acute kidney injury (AKI) has a bilateral cause-and-effect relationship, which can significantly worsen prognosis. However, the interaction between AKI and decompensated HF is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of AKI in patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF and to analyze its prognostic impact during hospitalization. This prospective single-center observational study included patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF in a tertiary-level teaching hospital, between July 2017 and January 2020. Patients who developed AKI during hospitalization were compared with those who did not develop it, until hospital discharge or death. AKI was defined as a serum creatinine increase greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/dl in 48 hours, a 1.5-fold increase in baseline creatinine in seven days or urinary volume <0.5 ml/kg/h for six hours, according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. The endpoints analyzed were death, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and length of hospital stay. The Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and unpaired student t tests were used. Ninety-nine patients were included, with a mean age of 65.4±14 years, of which 47 (47.5%) were male and 52 (52.5%) were female. Reduced ejection fraction (EF) was observed in 77.8% of patients, whilst 22.2% had a diagnosis of HF with preserved EF. Decompensation clinical classifications were dry and warm=7 (7.1%), wet and warm=72 (72.7%), wet and cold=15 (15.1%) and dry and cold=5 (5.1%). The average left ventricular ejection fraction was 38.3%±15. AKI occurred in 22 patients (22.2%). Comparison between patients who evolved with and without AKI showed higher mortality (36.4% vs 10.4%, p=0.004) and need for IMV (54.5% vs 13%, p=0.0001) in the first group. There was no significant difference regarding the length of hospitalization (22.9±19 vs 18.8±16 days, p=0.26). Our results pointed to the occurrence of AKI was frequent in patients with decompensated HF requiring hospitalization, affecting approximately one out of five patients. This complication was significantly associated with increased mortality and the need for IMV during hospitalization.