Acute cardiac care & resuscitation

Circulatory Support Escalation in Cardiogenic Shock: Outcomes and Predictors of Successful Escalation From an International, Multi-Center Cardiac Intensive Care Registry

Circ Heart FailPublished retrospective international registry

Main finding · Hospital mortalityResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 3.42 95% CI 2.21–3.35

Authors' conclusion

Circulatory support escalation is prevalent in patients treated for CS. Escalation is associated with a higher risk of hospital death, complications, and transition to heart replacement therapy, consistent with the intrinsically higher risk profile and expected trajectory of escalated patients. However, outcomes may differ according to the specific escalation strategy. Resorting to escalation in younger patients, in less severe CS stages, when the right ventricular function and urinary output are still preserved, is associated with a higher chance of subsequent survival.

Study context

Population
Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) treated in cardiac intensive care unitsconsecutive patients with CS, escalation required in 30%
Participants
602 patients
Exposure
Escalation vs no escalation of circulatory support
Outcome
Hospital mortality
Methodological details4 cardiac intensive care units, consecutive patients, multi-center
  • 4 cardiac intensive care units
  • Consecutive patients
  • Multi-center

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Adjusted odds ratio

3.42

95% CI 2.21–3.35

P < 0.001

By group

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeEscalationNo escalationAdjusted odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Transition to heart replacement therapies23%5%6.01 (3.31–11.27)P < 0.001
  • Transition to heart replacement therapies: adjusted for age, sex, chronic kidney disease, markers of CS severity on admission, CS cause, and admission source

Escalation strategies

Inotropes/vasopressors
36%
Intra-aortic balloon pump
39%
Impella
14%
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
11%
  • Share of escalated patients

Mediation of escalation–hospital death association by complications

Complications mediated
24% (95% CI, 9%-40%)

Discharged alive among escalated patients

Escalated patients successfully discharged alive
42%

Predictors of successful escalation

Age, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention B to C stage at escalation, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at escalation, and mean urinary output ≥1 mL/kg per hour in the 6 hours preceding escalation were independently associated with successful escalation
  • Adjusted for sex, chronic kidney disease, and markers of CS severity on admission and at time of escalation

Original publication

Circulatory Support Escalation in Cardiogenic Shock: Outcomes and Predictors of Successful Escalation From an International, Multi-Center Cardiac Intensive Care Registry. Circ Heart Fail. Published 24 April 2026. doi:10.1161/circheartfailure.125.014049

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