Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesSecondary analysis
Clinical Presentation, Biomarker Trajectories, and Outcomes in Women and Men Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure
- Secondary analysis of the RELAX-AHF-2 randomised trial
Authors' conclusion
During an AHF hospitalization, women received lower doses of loop diuretic agents and achieved less weight loss with slightly lower diuretic response compared with men, despite similar symptom relief and postdischarge outcomes. Early incident WRF was more frequent in women and was associated with worse 180-day outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF) enrolled in RELAX-AHF-240% women
- Participants
- 6,545 patients
- Comparison
- Women vs men
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Sex differences in phenotype and in-hospital course
EF
P < 0.001
| Outcome | Women | Men | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 78 years | 72 years | P < 0.001 |
| IV furosemide equivalent through day 5 | 200 mg | 240 mg | |
| Diuretic response at day 5 | −0.33 kg/40 mg furosemide | −0.36 kg/40 mg furosemide | P = 0.011 |
- Women vs Men: P < 0.001 — diuretic dose
- Lower relative weight loss in women
- P = 0.026
- Similar sign and symptom improvement by day 5
- all adjusted P > 0.05
Further findings
| Outcome | adjusted HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worsening renal function by day 5 | 1.24 (1.06–1.46) | P = 0.009 | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
180-day CV death and HF/renal failure (RF) rehospitalization, and HF/RF rehospitalization, in women with WRF
- Increased risk in women with WRF vs men and women without WRF
- adjusted P for interaction: P < 0.001
Other outcomes
- Similar incidence in women and men
- all P > 0.20
Original publication
Clinical Presentation, Biomarker Trajectories, and Outcomes in Women and Men Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure. JACC Heart Fail. Published 21 August 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2025.102524
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it