Cardiorenal Syndrome: Clinical Outcome Study

Over recent years, the field of medicine has been challenged by the twin epidemic of heart failure and renal insufficiency. The coexistence of the two problems in the same patient, referred to as cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), is defined as 'disorders of the heart and kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other. The mechanisms underlying this interaction are complex and multifactorial in nature.

Identify and classify patients admitted with cardiorenal syndrome into various subtypes and assess clinical outcome at discharge and at three months.

Ours was a longitudinal study of 50 patients admitted in ICU with CRS. They were classified as per RONCO classification (2008) into various subtypes. Outcomes was addressed as favourable for patients stable at discharge and at 3 months follow up, whereas outcome was termed non-favourable for patients who expired or initiated on hemodialysis.

Of 50 patients, two-third patients were males (66%), with mean age of males and females being 64.18 years and 64.64 years respectively. Majority of the patients had Type-1 CRS (46%) followed by twenty two percent Type-2, twenty six percent type-4 and six percent Type-5. There were no patients with type-3 CRS. At the end of the study, 24 (48%) patients were stable, 12 (24%) required dialysis and 14 (28%) patients had expired. The total non-favourable outcomes (dialysis / death) were higher with subtypes CRS-4 (n-11, 22%) and CRS-1 (n-8, 16%). Anemia, raised serum creatinine, low eGFR values, low ejection fraction were significant predictors of non-favourable outcome in our study.

CRS occurs in all age groups, more commonly in elderlies with a male preponderance. Prevalence of CRS-1 was higher followed by CRS-4. Prognosis was unfavourable in CRS-1, CRS-4 and CRS-5. Sepsis was predominant cause of death in patients with CRS-5 with hundred percent mortality during hospital stay. Risk factors like pre-existing renal impairment, anemia, reduced e GFR and low ejection fraction were significantly associated with worse outcomes. There is need for large scale population / community based studies to chart the prevalence of cardiorenal subtypes and prognosticate each individually.