Table 1.
Main Characteristics of Patients with Cardiac Asthma and Classical CPE
| Characteristics | Classical CPE | Cardiac asthma |
| N = 137 | N = 75 | |
| Demographic data | ||
| Age (years) | 82 ± 9 | 83 ± 8 |
| Male | 62 (45%) | 40 (53%) |
| Past medical history | ||
| Tobacco user > 20 pack/year | 47 (34%) | 44 (59%)* |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 (23%) | 17 (23%) |
| Hypertension | 125 (91%) | 62 (83%) |
| COPD | 22 (16%) | 35 (47%)* |
| Asthma | 8 (6%) | 6 (8%) |
| Venous thrombo-embolic disease | 7 (5%) | 7 (9%) |
| Heart failure | 57 (42%) | 27 (36%) |
| Ischemic cardiac disease | 57 (42%) | 34 (45%) |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 14 (10%) | 18 (24%)* |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 21 (15%) | 14 (19%) |
| Previous medications | ||
| Beta-blockers | 27 (20 %) | 17 (23%) |
| Diuretics | 86 (63%) | 48 (64%) |
| Nitrates | 63 (46%) | 24 (32%) |
| ACE inhibitors | 64 (47%) | 27 (36%) |
| Inhaled bronchodilators | 19 (14%) | 36 (48%)* |
| Home oxygen | 3 (2%) | 12 (16%)* |
| Symptoms and physical exam at admission | ||
| Heart rate (/min) | 93 ± 21 | 93 ± 21 |
| Ventilatory rate (/min) | 29 ± 6 | 29 ± 6 |
| Systolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 144 ± 32 | 155 ± 30 |
| Diastolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 78 ± 18 | 82 ± 20 |
| Clinical signs of acute ventilatory failure | 116 (85%) | 58 (78%) |
| Crackles with pulmonary auscultation | 121 (88%) | 52 (69%)* |
| Signs of RV failure | 93 (68%) | 45 (60%) |
| Arterial blood gas | ||
| pH | 7.43 ± 0.06 | 7.38 ± 0.08* |
| pH < 7.35 | 11 (8%) | 20 (27%)* |
| PaCO2 (mmHg) | 41 ± 11 | 47 ± 15* |
| PaCO2 ≥ 45 mmHg | 31 (23%) | 32 (42%)* |
| PaO2 (mmHg) | 67 ± 25 | 67 ± 18 |
| Bicarbonates (mmol/L) | 26 ± 5 | 27 ± 6 |
| Biological analysis | ||
| Creatinine clearance (mL/min) | 40 (30–58) | 44 (31–57) |
| Treatments received in the emergency room | ||
| Oxygen | 133 (97%) | 74 (99%) |
| Diuretics | 89 (65%) | 52 (69%) |
| Vasodilators | 26 (19%) | 19 (25%) |
| Nebulized β2-Agonist | 1 (1%) | 29 (39%)* |
| Nebulized Ipratropium Bromide | 4 (3%) | 19 (25%)* |
Data are mean ± SD, median [interquartile 25–75%], or number of patients (percentage) or extremes. CPE: cardiogenic pulmonary edema; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ACE inhibitors denotes angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers; RV: right ventricular signs including jugular venous pressure or abdominal jugular reflux or lower-extremity edema; signs of acute ventilatory failure included: orthopnea, abdominal respiration, use of accessory muscles; PaO2: partial oxygen pressure; SaO2: arterial oxygen saturation; PaCO2: partial carbon dioxide pressure; SpO2: peripheral oxygen saturation; Creatinine clearance was estimated using the Cockcroft formula; nebulized β2-agonists included terbutaline or salbutamol administration. *p < 0.05.