Cardiogenic shock in general intensive care unit: a nationwide prospective analysis of epidemiology and outcome

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening disease burdened by a mortality up to 50%. The epidemiology has changed with non-ischaemic aetiologies being predominant, although data were mainly derived from patients admitted to dedicated acute cardiac care. We report the epidemiology and outcome of patients with CS admitted to general intensive care unit (ICU).

Prospective multicentric epidemiological study including 314 general ICU adhering to the GiViTI nationwide registry from 2011 to 2018, excluding cardiac arrest. The primary endpoint of the study was mortality. The association between clinical factors and mortality was evaluated using a logistic regression model. The odds ratios (ORs) of the covariates quantify their association with mortality during hospitalization. A total of 11 052 patients admitted to general ICU {incidence 2.17%; median age 72 [interquartile range (66-81)], 38.7% were women} with CS were included. Forty-seven per cent of patients had more than three organ insufficiency at the time of admission. The most common CS aetiologies were left heart failure (LHF, 5247-47.5%); acute myocardial infarction (3612-32.6%); right heart failure (RHF, 515-4.6%); and biventricular failure (532-4.8%). A total of 85.5% were mechanically ventilated during the ICU hospitalization. The overall ICU mortality was 44.8%, increasing to 53.4% during the hospitalization in the index hospital and to 54.3% at the latest hospital. Right heart failure-cardiogenic shock patients exhibited the highest mortality risk [OR: 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.94-1.50); P < 0.001], followed by biventricular CS [OR 1.04, 95% CI (0.82-1.32)]. Respiratory failure [OR 1.13 (95% CI 1.08-1.19)], coagulation disorder [1.17 (95% CI 1.1-1.24)], renal dysfunction [OR 1.55 (95% CI 1.50-1.61)], and neurological alteration [OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.39-1.50)] were associated with worsen outcome along with severe hypotension [systolic blood pressure < 70 mmHg-OR 2.35, 95% CI (2.06-2.67)], increasing age [OR 2.21 95% CI (2.01-2.42)], and longer ICU stay prior to admission (two-fold increase for each 4.7 days).

In the general ICU, the aetiology of CS, excluding cardiac arrest, remains characterized mostly by LHF with RHF-CS burdened by higher mortality. Multiorgan failure at admission and longer hospital stay before ICU admission predispose to worsen outcome.