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Abstract Aims Early diuresis and natriuresis are commonly used to assess the efficacy of decongestive therapy following an acute heart failure episode. There is limited knowledge regarding which parameter better predicts adverse clinical outcomes, especially in the outpatient setting. This study investigated the prognostic value of both metrics in predicting 30-day adverse clinical events in an ambulatory worsening heart failure (WHF) scenario. Methods and results This is a post-hoc analysis of the SALT-HF trial involving 167 patients with ambulatory WHF randomized to receive intravenous furosemide with or without hypertonic saline solution. Early diuretic response was assessed through 3-h urine output and 3-h urinary sodium (uNa+) levels following intravenous (IV) diuretic infusion. We analysed their association with 30-day adverse events (defined as death, heart failure hospitalization, or the need for outpatient IV diuretics) using logistic regression analysis. Both exposures were examined along the continuum and dichotomized in their median. The discriminative ability between the exposures and endpoints was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC-ROC). Results The median age of participants was 81 years, predominantly male (69.5%). Patients with lower 3-h urinary sodium and diuresis were older and exhibited reduced kidney function and haemoglobin levels. At 30 days, 50 (29.9%) of the sample experienced the composite endpoint. Multivariate analyses revealed that lower 3-h uNa+ was associated with a higher risk of 30-day adverse events (P = 0.008). Conversely, 3-h diuresis did not significantly predict 30-day adverse outcomes (P = 0.424). There was a trend towards a higher AUC-ROC for the inverse of 3-h natriuresis compared with 3-h diuresis: 0.680 versus 0.601, P = 0.092. Conclusions In patients with ambulatory WHF treated with IV furosemide, 3-h urinary sodium predicted 30-day outcomes whereas 3-h diuresis did not.

Aims Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) plus intravenous (IV) loop diuretic appears to enhance the diuretic response in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF). The efficacy and safety of this therapy in the ambulatory setting have not been evaluated. We aimed to describe the design and baseline characteristics of the SALT‐HF trial participants. Methods and results ‘Efficacy of Saline Hypertonic Therapy in Ambulatory Patients with HF’ (SALT‐HF) trial was a multicenter, double‐blinded, and randomized study involving ambulatory patients who experienced worsening heart failure (WHF) without criteria for hospitalization. Enrolled patients had to present at least two signs of volume overload, use ≥ 80 mg of oral furosemide daily, and have elevated natriuretic peptides. Patients were randomized 1:1 to treatment with a 1‐h infusion of IV furosemide plus HSS (2.6–3.4% NaCl depending on plasmatic sodium levels) versus a 1‐h infusion of IV furosemide at the same dose (125–250 mg, depending on basal loop diuretic dose). Clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters were collected at baseline and after 7 days, and a telephone visit was planned after 30 days. The primary endpoint was 3‐h diuresis after treatment started. Secondary endpoints included (a) 7‐day changes in congestion data, (b) 7‐day changes in kidney function and electrolytes, (c) 30‐day clinical events (need of IV diuretic, HF hospitalization, cardiovascular mortality, all‐cause mortality or HF‐hospitalization). Results A total of 167 participants [median age, 81 years; interquartile range (IQR), 73–87, 30.5% females] were randomized across 13 sites between December 2020 and March 2023. Half of the participants (n = 82) had an ejection fraction >50%. Most patients showed a high burden of comorbidities, with a median Charlson index of 3 (IQR: 2–4). Common co‐morbidities included diabetes mellitus (41%, n = 69), atrial fibrillation (80%, n = 134), and chronic kidney disease (64%, n = 107). Patients exhibited a poor functional NYHA class (69% presenting NYHA III) and several signs of congestion. The mean composite congestion score was 4.3 (standard deviation: 1.7). Ninety per cent of the patients (n = 151) presented oedema and jugular engorgement, and 71% (n = 118) showed lung B lines assessed by ultrasound. Median inferior vena cava diameter was 23 mm, (IQR: 21–25), and plasmatic levels of N‐terminal‐pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and antigen carbohydrate 125 (CA125) were increased (median NT‐proBNP 4969 pg/mL, IQR: 2508–9328; median CA125 46 U/L, IQR: 20–114). Conclusions SALT‐HF trial randomized 167 ambulatory patients with WHF and will determine whether an infusion of hypertonic saline therapy plus furosemide increases diuresis and improves decongestion compared to equivalent furosemide administration alone.