Table 2.
Baseline clinical characteristics of emergency department patients with acute heart failure syndromes by international region
| Clinical characteristic | USA, n = 122 | Western Europe, n = 78 | Eastern Europe, n = 293 | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Mean age (years, s.d.) | 63 (16) | 78 (11) | 68.8 (12) | <0.001 |
| Gender (male) | 67 (54.9%) | 38 (48.7%) | 172 (58.7%) | 0.272 |
| Race (white) | 45 (36.8%) | 74 (94.9%) | 293 (100%) | <0.001 |
| Co-morbidities | ||||
| Prior HF history | 96 (78.7%) | 53 (68.0) | 151 (51.4%) | <0.001 |
| Prior myocardial infarction | 32 (26.2%) | 15 (19.2%) | 79 (27.0%) | 0.373 |
| Valvular disease | 12 (9.8%) | 21 (26.9%) | 45 (15.4%) | 0.005 |
| LVEF < 40% | 51 (57.3%) | 7 (24.1%) | 56 (45.5%) | 0.007 |
| Asthma/COPD | 37 (30.3%) | 18 (23.1%) | 32 (10.9%) | <0.001 |
| Prior coronary bypass grafts | 21 (17.2%) | 10 (12.8%) | 9 (3.0%) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes (insulin dependent) | 37 (30.3%) | 21 (26.9%) | 26 (8.9%) | 0.032 |
| Renal insufficiency* | 38 (31.1%) | 25 (32.1%) | 70 (23.9%) | 0.173 |
| Current medications | ||||
| Beta-blocker | 84 (68.9%) | 39 (50.0%) | 159 (54.3%) | <0.001 |
| ACE inhibitor | 57 (46.7%) | 31 (39.7%) | 144 (49.1%) | 0.334 |
| Diuretic | 89 (73.0%) | 47 (60.3%) | 185 (63.1%) | 0.1 |
| Angiotensin II receptor blocker | 14 (11.5%) | 12 (15.4%) | 35 (12.0%) | 0.673 |
| Statins | 42 (34.4%) | 23 (29.5%) | 72 (24.6%) | 0.116 |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 6 (4.92%) | 6 (7.70%) | 41 (14.0%) | 0.016 |
| Digoxin | 11 (9.02%) | 8 (10.3%) | 77 (26.3%) | <0.001 |
| Coumadin | 23 (18.9%) | 15 (19.2%) | 43 (14.7%) | 0.444 |
| Pacemaker | 19 (15.6%) | 4 (5.1%) | 10 (3.4%) | <0.001 |
| Precipitating factors | ||||
| Acute coronary syndrome | 22 (18.0%) | 12 (15.4%) | 46 (15.7%) | 0.821 |
| Arrythmia | 10 (8.2%) | 15 (19.2%) | 58 (19.8%) | 0.013 |
| Medication non-adherence | 22 (18.0%) | 5 (6.4%) | 40 (13.7%) | 0.065 |
| Dietary non-adherence | 18 (14.8%) | 3 (3.9%) | 30 (10.2%) | 0.047 |
| Hypertension | 32 (26.2%) | 14 (18.0%) | 97 (33.1%) | 0.024 |
| Physical examination findings | ||||
| Jugular Venous distension | 35 (28.7%) | 33 (42.3%) | 140 (47.8%) | 0.002 |
| Rales | 61 (50.0%) | 69 (88.4%) | 197 (67.2%) | <0.001 |
| Peripheral oedema | 79 (64.7%) | 50 (64.1%) | 136 (46.4%) | <0.001 |
| Vital signs | ||||
| Heart rate (per minute, s.d.) | 85 (19) | 92 (24) | 92 (26) | 0.021 |
| Respiratory rate (per minute, s.d.) | 22 (6) | 26 (8) | 21 (6) | <0.0001 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg, s.d.) | 143 (36) | 149 (30) | 143 (34) | 0.3 |
| Temperature (°F, s.d.) | 97.6 (0.9) | 97.9 (1.3) | 97.9 (0.6) | 0.002 |
Data are presented as medians and ranges or proportions and percentages unless otherwise indicated.
*Renal insufficiency as documented in the medical record or per patient report.
HF, heart failure; LVEF, left ventricular ejection; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.