One in Four Early Cardiogenic Shock Patients Face Severe Outcomes, Study Finds - Video

A large-scale study presented at the SCAI 2025 Scientific Sessions has revealed that 26% of patients with early cardiogenic shock (CS) experienced worsening outcomes, including care escalation, CS deterioration, or in-hospital mortality. This stage of CS, known as Stage B, represents a phase where blood flow to vital organs is still functional but begins to decline, and the heart's ability to pump effectively is compromised.

The retrospective study, conducted across six hospitals in the Brown University Health system, followed 500 Stage B CS patients. Researchers found that 132 patients (26%) faced the primary composite endpoint of worsened CS, which included being transferred to a higher level of care or suffering from complications like acute kidney injury, bacteremia, and liver injury. These patients had significantly lower initial blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and urine output, along with higher rates of kidney and

liver damage.

"Despite being labeled 'early' cardiogenic shock, these patients are still at high risk for poor outcomes," said Dr. Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula, senior author of the study. "Early diagnosis and intervention could help improve these patients' chances."

The findings stress the need for better recognition of early CS symptoms and timely interventions to prevent deterioration in patient outcomes.

References: Babaev A, Frederick PD, Pasta DJ, Every N, Sichrovsky T, Hochman JS, for the NRMI Investigators Trends in management and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. JAMA. 2005;294:448–454. doi: 10.1001/jama.294.4.448. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]