Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesCross-sectional study
Decongestion Strategies In Patients Presenting with Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure: A Worldwide Survey Among Physicians
- Cross-sectional study
- international web-based survey
- hypothetical clinical scenario
Authors' conclusion
There is substantial variability amongst physicians and between cardiologists and non-cardiologists in the management of patients with ADHF, with regard to clinical parameters used to tailor treatment, treatment goals, diuretic dosing and escalation strategies.
Study context
- Population
- Physicians from 60 countries treating acute decompensated HF
- Participants
- 641 physicians · 60 countries
- Exposure
- Cardiologists vs non-cardiologists
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Started IV furosemide at ≥2 times baseline oral dose
7%
Ultrasound used to assess congestion
20.4%
Spot urinary sodium infrequently or never measured
≥85%
Considered a patient with ongoing oedema as stabilized
A third
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Diuretic escalation by adding a thiazide
Considered patients with minimal congestion as stabilized
Targets for daily body weight loss and urine output
- Significant differences between cardiologists and non-cardiologists
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it