Prognostic Value of Both Plasma Volume Status and Nutritional Status in Patients With Severely Decompensated Acute...

Plasma volume status (PVS) has been evaluated recently as a prognostic marker of acute heart failure (AHF). However, whether evaluating PVS alone is sufficient remains unclear.

Of 675 patients with AHF screened, 601 were enrolled. The PVS, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (lower = worse), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score (higher = worse) were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to PVS value (low- or high-PVS group) and were further subdivided into 4 groups (low- or high-PVS/CONUT group and low- or high-PVS/PNI group).

A Kaplan-Meier curve showed a significantly lower survival rate in the high-PVS group than in the low-PVS group, the high-PVS/high-CONUT group than in the high-PVS/low-CONUT group, and the high-PVS/low-PNI group than in the high-PVS/high-PNI group. A multivariate Cox regression model showed that high PVS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.642; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.049-2.570) and high PVS/high CONUT (HR, 2.076; 95% CI, 1.147-3.757) and high PVS/low PNI (HR, 2.094; 95% CI, 1.166-3.761) were independent predictors of 365-day mortality.

An adverse outcome was predicted by the evaluation of PVS; furthermore, a malnutrition status with a high PVS leads to an adverse outcome. The simultaneous evaluation of nutrition status and PVS is essential to predict an AHF outcome.