Table 2: Independent Predictors of Post-discharge Mortality in Randomised Controlled Trials.

RCT	Year of publication	Sample size	Prediction period	Independent predictor results from multivariate analysis
OPTIME-CHF[17]17	2004	949	60-day mortality	Age; NYHA functional class; SBP; BUN; sodium
ESCAPE[18]	2010	423	6-month mortality	BNP; cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mechanical ventilation during hospitalisation; blood urea nitrogen; serum sodium, age >70 years; daily loop diuretic, furosemide equivalents >240 mg; lack of betablocker; 6-min walk test
PROTECT[19]	2016	1990	90-day mortality	Age; COPD; SBP; WBC count; serum sodium; bicarbonate; BUN; uric acid
CHARM[20]	2007	7572	2-year mortality	Age; LVEF; diabetes-insulin treated; low BMI; male; NYHA Class IV; current smoker; cardiomegaly; prior HF hospitalisation within 6 months
ASCEND HF[21]	2015	7141	30-day and 180-day mortality	Age; BUN; baseline sodium, SBP>140 mmHg; baseline dyspnoea

ASCEND-HF = Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure; BMI = body mass index; BNP = brain natriuretic peptide; BUN = blood urea nitrogen; CHARM = Candesartan in Heart Failure-Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ESCAPE = Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness; HF = heart failure; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA = New York Heart Association; OPTIME-CHF = Outcomes of a Prospective Trial of Intravenous Milrinone for Exacerbations of Chronic Heart Failure; PROTECT = Placebo-controlled Randomized study of the selective A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist rolofylline for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and volume Overload to assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and renal function; RCT = randomised clincal trial; SBP = systolic blood pressure; WBC = white blood count.