Associations between serum electrolyte and short-term outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

IntroductionThere is a dearth of comprehensive studies on the association between serum electrolyte and adverse short-term prognosis of Chinese patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Patients and methodsA total of 5166 patients with ADHF were divided into four serum electrolyte-related study populations (potassium (n = 5145), sodium (n = 5135), chloride (n = 4966), serum total calcium (STC) (n = 4143)) under corresponding exclusions. Different logistic regression models were utilized to gauge the association between these electrolytes or the number of electrolyte abnormalities and the risk of a composite of all-cause mortality or 30-day heart failure (HF) readmission.ResultsIn multivariable adjusted analysis, patients with potassium below 3.5 mmol/L (odds ratios (ORs) 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.07-1.95), 4.01-4.50 mmol/L (OR: 1.29, CI: 1.02-1.62), 4.51-5.00 mmol/L (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.08-1.90) and above 5.00 mmol/L (OR: 1.74, CI: 1.21-2.51) had an increased risk of outcome when compared with potassium at 3.50-4.00 mmol/L. Sodium levels were inversely related to the risk of a composite outcome (< 130 mmol/L: OR: 2.73 (95% CI, 1.81-4.12); 130-134 mmol/L: OR, 1.97 (CI, 1.45-2.68); 135-140 mmol/L: OR, 1.45 (CI, 1.17-1.81); p for trend < 0.001) in comparison with sodium at 141-145 mmol/L. Chloride < 95 mmol/L corresponded to a higher risk of a composite outcome with an OR of 1.65 (95% CI, 1.16-2.37) in contrast to chloride levels at 101-105 mmol/L. In addition, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for a composite outcome comparing the STC < 2.00 and 2.00-2.24 vs. 2.25-2.58 mmol/L were 0.98 (0.69-1.43) and 1.13 (0.89-1.44), respectively. Besides that, the number of electrolyte abnormalities was positively related to the risk of a composite outcome (N = 1, OR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13-1.73; N = 2, OR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.85-3.42; N = 3, OR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.45-4.19; p for trend < 0.001) in comparison with N = 0.ConclusionsA deviation of potassium levels from 3.50 to 4.00 mmol/L, lower sodium levels and hypochloremia were associated with poorer short-term prognosis of ADHF. Furthermore, the number of electrolyte abnormalities positively correlated with adverse short-term prognosis of patients with ADHF. Key MessagesADHF patients with baseline serum potassium at first half part of normal range (3.50-4.00 mmol/L) may herald the lowest risk of recent cardiovascular events.Serum sodium and chloride levels exhibit discrepancies in terms of risk of short-term adverse events of ADHF patients.The number of electrolyte abnormalities is a significant predictor of poor short-term prognosis in patients with ADHF.

Automated summary

This study investigates the association between serum electrolyte and adverse short-term prognosis in Chinese patients with ADHF. The findings suggest that deviations from normal potassium levels, lower sodium levels, hypochloremia, and the number of electrolyte abnormalities are associated with poorer short-term prognosis in ADHF patients.