Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
Congestion and renal function in patients with chronic heart failure
- Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) classified at a routine clinic visit as clinically congested, blind to a subsequent ultrasound assessment of congestion
Authors' conclusion
Patients with CHF often have clinical evidence of congestion, confirmed by ultrasound, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Patients with a low eGFR are more likely to be congested. Whether ultrasound assessment of congestion can improve the management of patients with CHF requires more attention.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) at a routine clinic visit
- Participants
- 342 patients
- Comparison
- relation between renal function and congestion, both clinically and by ultrasound
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) distribution
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | adjusted HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HF hospitalization or death | 2.16 (1.25–3.75) | P = 0.006 | ||
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Values | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both clinical and ultrasound evidence of congestion | eGFR <30 51% · eGFR 30-44 30% · eGFR 45-59 39% · eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m² 25% | ||
| Isolated ultrasound congestion | eGFR <30 19% · eGFR 30-44 29% · eGFR 45-59 34% · eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m² 26% | ||
| Isolated clinical congestion | eGFR <30 11% · eGFR 30-44 11% · eGFR 45-59 4% · eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m² 9% |
Heart failure (HF) hospitalization or death
- Congestion, especially when detected by both methods, was associated with a greater probability of heart failure (HF) hospitalization or death (adjusted HR: 2.16, 95% CI [1.25, 3.75]; P = .006 vs no congestion)
Original publication
Congestion and renal function in patients with chronic heart failure. ESC Heart Fail. Published 4 May 2026. doi:10.1093/eschf/xvag126
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it