Kidney function trajectories before and after hospitalization for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Worsening kidney function is a key prognostic factor in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, associations between kidney function trajectories and HF-related events remain unclear.

Longitudinal changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after a HF-related event, defined as HF hospitalization or HF death, were examined using individual patient data from two clinical trials (EPHESUS and EMPHASIS-HF) and a real-world cohort (BARCELONA).

HF-related events occurred in 14.1% of 8587 patients [EPHESUS/EMPHASIS-HF; median follow-up 17.1 (12.4-22.7) months] and 33.8% of 2048 patients [BARCELONA; median 47.0 (18.8-90.6) months]. In EPHESUS and EMPHASIS-HF, patients who experienced an HF-related event had a steeper decline in eGFR in the year preceding the event (average -4.83 mL/min/1.73 m²/year) compared with those who did not have an HF-related event (-1.18 mL/min/1.73 m²/year). Over the 1 year following an HF-related event, eGFR continued to decline, though at a slower rate (average -3.45 mL/min/1.73 m²/year). Similar kidney function trajectories were observed in BARCELONA (average eGFR decline -1.35 mL/min/1.73 m²/year in patients without HF event vs -5.77 mL/min/1.73 m²/year 1 year before an event and -3.04 mL/min/1.73 m²/year over the year after an event). Worsening New York Heart Association class paralleled steeper eGFR decline prior to HF events.

In HFrEF, kidney function decline may precede a HF hospitalization or death by up to 1 year, linking to symptomatic congestion. Monitoring eGFR slopes rather than relying solely on specific cut-off values may allow early detection of at-risk patients.