Causes of death and re-hospitalization in cardiogenic shock

In cardiogenic shock, causes of death usually are cardiac. However, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome may influence outcome.

SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries in cardiogenic shocK? (SHOCK) Trial patients (n = 302) were analyzed regarding cause of death and re-hospitalization.

Deaths (n = 180) occurred < or =30 days in 86% and >30 days in 14%. Known causes of death < or =30 days were cardiac in 88% (37% arrhythmic) and non-cardiac in 12% (29% septic). Non-cardiac deaths < or =30 days occurred later (206 [91,394] versus 41 [15,156] h, P<0.01) and were more frequently associated with signs of inflammation (43 versus 12%, P = 0.01) than cardiac deaths < or =30 days. Known causes of in-hospital death >30 days (n = 19) were cardiac in 58% and non-cardiac in 42%. Among deaths < or =30 days systemic vascular resistance index was higher (2,666+/-1,063 versus 2,090+/-731 dynes.sec.cm(-5) m(2), P = 0.05) than among deaths >30 days. Among the 116 survivors of the initial hospitalization with data available, 52 (45%) were readmitted, most of which due to heart failure (n = 22, 42%) and myocardial ischemia (n = 16, 31%).

In CS, early deaths < or =30 days are mainly cardiac. Non-cardiac deaths are associated with signs of inflammation. In survivors of the initial hospitalization, re-hospitalizations are due to heart failure and myocardial ischemia.