Patient Characteristics, Treatment and Outcome in Non-Ischemic vs. Ischemic Cardiogenic Shock

: Aim: Evidence on non-ischemic cardiogenic shock (CS) is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in patient characteristics, use of treatments and outcomes in patients with non-ischemic vs. ischemic CS.

Patients with CS admitted between October 2009 and October 2017 were identified and stratified as non-ischemic/ischemic CS based on the absence/presence of acute myocardial infarction. Logistic/Cox regression models were fitted to investigate the association between non-ischemic CS and patient characteristics, use of treatments and 30-day in-hospital mortality.

A total of 978 patients were enrolled in this study; median age was 70 (interquartile range 58, 79) years and 70% were male. Of these, 505 patients (52%) had non-ischemic CS. Patients with non-ischemic CS were more likely to be younger and female; were less likely to be active smokers, to have diabetes or decreased renal function, but more likely to have a history of myocardial infarction; and they were more likely to present with unfavorable hemodynamics and with mechanical ventilation. Regarding treatments, patients with non-ischemic CS were more likely to be treated with catecholamines, but less likely to be treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or percutaneous left-ventricular assist devices. After adjustment for multiple relevant confounders, non-ischemic CS was associated with a significant increase in the risk of 30-day in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.24, p < 0.01).

In this large study, non-ischemic CS accounted for more than 50% of all CS cases. Non-ischemic CS was not only associated with relevant differences in patient characteristics and use of treatments, but also with a worse prognosis. These findings highlight the need for effective treatment strategies for patients with non-ischemic CS.