Table 3.
Distribution of clinical and ultrasound parameters considering B-lines at discharge.
| Parameter | B-Lines at Discharge ≤ 15 (n = 106) |
B-Lines at Discharge > 15 (n = 102) |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | |||
| Age, years | 75.9 (69.6–82.5) | 75.9 (68.2–84.3) | 0.7 |
| Female gender | 37 (35) | 38 (37) | 0.6 |
| BSA (m2) | 1.95 (1.88–2.01) | 1.88 (1.81–1.94) | 0.1 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.6 (24.4–32.7) | 26.6 (25.5–29.4) | 0.3 |
| Family history of CVD | 18 (17) | 22 (21) | 0.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 (37) | 36 (36) | 0.9 |
| Arterial hypertension | 90 (85) | 81 (79) | 0.4 |
| Dyslipidaemia | 40 (38) | 40 (39) | 0.1 |
| CAD | 38 (36) | 42 (41) | 0.7 |
| Prior MI | 34 (32) | 39 (38) | 0.5 |
| Prior coronary revascularization | 37 (35) | 38 (37) | 0.7 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 32 (30) | 34 (33) | 0.7 |
| In-hospital evaluation | |||
| NYHA class II at admission | 40 (38) | 35 (34) | 0.4 |
| NYHA class III at admission | 35 (33) | 34 (33) | 0.9 |
| NYHA class IV at admission | 31 (29) | 34 (33) | 0.5 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 1.20 (0.90–1.41) | 1.30 (1.08–1.69) | 0.06 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) at admission | 57.9 (47.9–80.1) | 55.1 (40.9–70.1) | 0.1 |
| NT-proBNP (pg/mL) at admission | 3434 (1618–7127) | 5989 (2997–9470) | 0.005 |
| NT-proBNP (pg/mL) at discharge * | 1680 (1267–2999) | 3166 (2585–6724) | 0.0007 |
| Admission chest X-ray | |||
| Vascular congestion | 92 (87) | 91 (89) | 0.7 |
| Interstitial edema | 71 (67) | 83 (81) | 0.02 |
| Alveolar edema | 6 (6) | 19 (19) | 0.01 |
| Unilateral pleural effusion | 13 (12) | 36 (35) | 0.001 |
| Bilateral pleural effusion | 8 (7) | 9 (9) | 0.9 |
| In-hospital diuresis (L) | 10.5 (7.3–14.7) | 9.5 (7.5–14.5) | 0.7 |
| Intravenous furosemide (mg) | 340 (190–555) | 335 (160–500) | 0.6 |
| Intravenous inotropes | 8 (7) | 9 (9) | 0.7 |
| Hospital length of stay (days) | 7 (5–11) | 8 (5–15) | 0.3 |
| Home medications | |||
| Beta-blockers | 71 (67) | 73 (71) | 0.4 |
| ACE inhibitor/ARB | 76 (72) | 74 (73) | 0.8 |
| MRA | 68 (64) | 71 (71) | 0.4 |
| Furosemide | 101 (95) | 99 (97) | 0.9 |
| Furosemide dose (mg/die) | 50 (25–75) | 75 (50–125) | 0.1 |
| Thiazide/thiazide-like diuretics | 12 (11) | 13 (13) | 0.7 |
| Digoxin | 22 (21) | 24 (24) | 0.6 |
| Calcium-channel blockers | 21 (20) | 14 (14) | 0.2 |
| Amiodarone | 5 (5) | 8 (7) | 0.6 |
| Statins | 24 (23) | 26 (26) | 0.8 |
| Oral anticoagulants | 30 (28) | 33 (32) | 0.7 |
| Antiplatelet drugs | 16 (15) | 17 (17) | 0.6 |
| Echocardiography at admission | |||
| EDV (mL/m2) | 163 (97–201) | 170 (113–216) | 0.2 |
| ESV (mL/m2) | 97 (71–124) | 111 (82–145) | 0.1 |
| LV ejection fraction (%) | 40 (30–50) | 34.5 (25–55) | 0.6 |
| LVMi (g/m2) | 146 (104–157) | 148 (113–170) | 0.5 |
| Relative wall thickness | 0.34 (0.31–0.40) | 0.33 (0.30–0.42) | 0.8 |
| LAVi (mL/m2) | 41.4 (32.6–53.9) | 44.5 (35.2–57.6) | 0.002 |
| Mitral regurgitation | 28 (27) | 43 (42) | 0.03 |
| Mitral stenosis | 4 (4) | 8 (8) | 0.2 |
| Aortic regurgitation | 5 (5) | 5 (5) | 0.9 |
| Aortic stenosis | 10 (9) | 7 (7) | 0.4 |
| E-wave (cm/s) | 100 (89–130) | 93 (83–119) | 0.4 |
| A-wave (cm/s) | 50 (42–88) | 66 (49–81) | 0.4 |
| E/A ratio | 1.61 (1.07–2.16) | 1.90 (1.12–2.77) | 0.4 |
| Restrictive pattern § | 29 (28) | 25 (24) | 0.8 |
| RA minor axis (cm/m2) | 2.3 (2.1–2.5) | 2.4 (2.1–2.7) | 0.3 |
| RVOT PLAX diameter (mm) | 28 (25–31) | 27 (24–32) | 0.9 |
| TAPSE (mm) | 18 (16–22) | 16 (14–19) | 0.02 |
| PASP (mmHg) | 34.9 (24.5–42.2) | 50.4 (40.2–61.6) | 0.04 |
| TAPSE/PASP (mm/mmHg) | 0.57 (0.40–0.69) | 0.38 (0.27–0.45) | 0.03 |
| IVC expiratory diameter (mm) | 17.6 (16–19.2) | 22.1 (19.1–25.2) | 0.009 |
| Dilated IVC without collapse | 56 (53) | 77 (75) | 0.001 |
| Lung ultrasound | |||
| B-lines at admission | 28 (15–44) | 43 (22–63) | 0.01 |
| B-lines at discharge | 6 (3–8) | 28 (19–45) | <0.0001 |
| ΔB-lines | −22 (−36–−8) | −7 (−23–−6) | <0.0001 |
| ΔB-lines% (%) | −81 (−90–−60) | −26 (−42–−26) | <0.0001 |
| Decongestion rate (ΔB-lines/day) | −4 (−7–−2) | −2 (−4–0) | <0.0001 |
| Outcomes at 180 days | |||
| Cardiovascular death | 0 | 5 (5) | 0.005 |
| Re-hospitalization for HF | 7 (7) | 29 (28) | <0.0001 |
| Composite end-point | 7 (7) | 31 (30) | <0.0001 |