Diagnostic scores predict morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection...

To investigate the prognostic value of diagnostic scores for heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Consecutive patients with HFpEF admitted for unequivocal decompensated HF treated with intravenous loop diuretics were evaluated (n = 443; mean age 78 ± 12 years; 60% women). The HFA-PEFF and H₂ FPEF scores were calculated for all patients with echocardiography data available within 1 year and the population was stratified according to HFA-PEFF scores 2-4 (n = 79), 5 (n = 93), or 6 (n = 271) and H₂ FPEF score probabilities <90% (n = 80), 90-95% (n = 61), and 96-100% (n = 293). HF readmission rates (95% confidence intervals) increased from 28.9 (22.7-35.0) per 100 patient-years in HFA-PEFF 2-4 to 46.0 (38.5-53.5) in HFA-PEFF 5 and 45.0 (40.1-49.8) in HFA-PEFF 6. Similarly, HF readmission rates increased with increasing H₂ FPEF probability: <0.90 [31.8 (25.3-38.2) per 100 patient-years], 0.90-0.95 [41.5 (32.9-50.1)], and 0.96-1.00 [45.9 (41.2-50.6]. Median survival was 65 months (36-89 months) in HFA-PEFF score 2-4, 45 months (26-59 months) in HFA-PEFF score 5, and 28 months (22-42 months) in HFA-PEFF score 6 (P < 0.001), while the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for all-cause mortality was 1.16 (1.02-1.32) per 0.10 increase in H₂ FPEF probability.

Among patients hospitalized with HFpEF, higher HFpEF probability according to diagnostic scores is associated with increased risk of subsequent HF readmissions and all-cause mortality.