Point-of-care Lung Ultrasound can predict rehospitalization risk in HF

Point-of-care lung ultrasound can predict rehospitalization for heart failure (HF) at 6 months in patients with residual pulmonary congestion before discharge as per a study published in "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders." 

Greater than half of the cases admitted for acute heart failure are discharged with residual pulmonary congestion. Patients who were discharged with residual pulmonary congestion are associated with rehospitalization and death within 6 months after discharge. B-lines which are the major predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure are detected by the lung ultrasound as the sonographic manifestation of pulmonary congestion. So, researchers from Thailand performed a study to evaluate the prognostic value of B-lines at discharge for the prediction of rehospitalization and death at 6 months in patients with acute heart failure. 

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 A prospective cohort study was performed on 126 patients admitted to Ramathibodi Hospital for acute heart failure. The mean age of the patients was 69 ± 15 years. 24 hrs before discharge B-lines and the size of the inferior vena cava were assessed and the patients were followed up to 6 months post-discharge. 

Results: 

• The mean number of B-lines at discharge was 9 ± 9. 
• The rate of rehospitalization within 6 months was significantly higher in patients with a significant number of B-lines (≥ 12) than in patients with a non-significant number of B-lines (< 12).
• In the univariable analysis, the presence of ≥ 12 B-lines before discharge was an independent predictor of events at 6 months. 

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Thus, the researchers concluded that point-of-care lung ultrasound can predict rehospitalization for heart failure at 6 months in patients with residual pulmonary congestion before discharge. They further added that the presence of non-significant B-lines identifies a subgroup at low risk of rehospitalization for heart failure. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-022-02781-9

Rattarasarn, I., Yingchoncharoen, T. & Assavapokee, T. Prediction of rehospitalization in patients with acute heart failure using point-of-care lung ultrasound. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 22, 330 (2022).