Impact of Clinical Ultrasound in Patients With Heart Failure Treated in Home Hospitalization

AHF remains a leading cause of death in industrialized countries. Despite advances in medical treatment, an estimated 250,000-300,000 AHF patients are hospitalized in the United States each year for symptoms caused by low cardiac output. Although the events that cause acute decompensation are multifactorial, the common pathway associated with decreased ventricular function are autonomic dysfunction and fluid retention. It has been previously suggested that an estimated 50%-66% of CHF hospitalizations may be preventable with improved monitoring of fluid volume status. In Spain, more than 10% of discharged patients are readmitted within 30 days. AHF is one of the most frequent reasons for readmission, mainly because of congestion-related symptoms. The size and shape of the inferior vena cava and the presence of B lines have proven to be effective to estimate volume overload and to guide diuretic treatment in AHF on a hospital setting. At the same time, technology is quickly evolving and new approaches for clinical care are arising.

The aim of this study is two compare SC-guided therapy vs CU-guided therapy in AHF patients admitted on a HAH. We designed an open label clinical trial, in which patients are randomized into two groups: "ultrasound group" who undergoes CU together with SC and "control group" who undergoes SC only. Diuretic treatment will be tailored according to the findings of the SC together with the CU or according to the findings of the SC respectively. A total of 140 patients will be recruited, 70 patients on each arm. The outcome variables are readmission for AHF and other causes, mortality for AHF and other causes, and the combined event of readmission for AHF and mortality for AHF at one month and two months. The CU protocol will include both lung ultrasound and inferior vena cava measurement and will be performed with an ultraportable device (IVIZ-Sonosite). Standard care will involve physical examination and basic complementary tests.

The way patients end up admitted to HAH are transferences from the emergency room, from the internal medicine ward, from the clinics and from primary care. During admission, daily visits are carried out by the nursing staff (except when clinical stability and no need to intravenous treatment infusions) and every two days by the medical team. Admission in the HAH is always voluntary and patients can decide to return to hospital during HAH stay. In the HAH unit, there is a 24-hour telephone service coordinated by a specialized nurse on call.