Gargani, LunaPang, Peter S.Frassi, F.Miglioranza, M. H.Dini, F. L.Landi, P.Picano, E.2016-06-022016-06-022015Gargani, L., Pang, P. S., Frassi, F., Miglioranza, M. H., Dini, F. L., Landi, P., & Picano, E. (2015). Persistent pulmonary congestion before discharge predicts rehospitalization in heart failure: a lung ultrasound study. Cardiovascular Ultrasound, 13, 40. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12947-015-0033-41476-7120https://hdl.handle.net/1805/9762BACKGROUND: B-lines evaluated by lung ultrasound (LUS) are the sonographic sign of pulmonary congestion, a major predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of B-lines at discharge to predict rehospitalization at 6 months in patients with acute HF (AHF). METHODS: A prospective cohort of 100 patients admitted to a Cardiology Department for dyspnea and/or clinical suspicion of AHF were enrolled (mean age 70 ± 11 years). B-lines were evaluated at admission and before discharge. Subjects were followed-up for 6-months after discharge. RESULTS: Mean B-lines at admission was 48 ± 48 with a statistically significant reduction before discharge (20 ± 23, p < .0001). During follow-up, 14 patients were rehospitalized for decompensated HF. The 6-month event-free survival was highest in patients with less B-lines (≤ 15) and lowest in patients with more B-lines (> 15) (log rank χ(2) 20.5, p < .0001). On multivariable analysis, B-lines > 15 before discharge (hazard ratio [HR] 11.74; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.30-106.16) was an independent predictor of events at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent pulmonary congestion before discharge evaluated by ultrasound strongly predicts rehospitalization for HF at 6-months. Absence or a mild degree of B-lines identify a subgroup at extremely low risk to be readmitted for HF decompensation.en-USAttribution 3.0 United StatesHeart FailuremortalityultrasonographyPatient Dischargestatistics & numerical dataPatient ReadmissionPulmonary EdemaepidemiologyArticle