Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure

Abstract Aims Signs of congestion are a treatment target in patients with heart failure (HF), as they affect patients' well‐being, and congestion scores are associated with the risk of early readmission. However, which individual sign of congestion has the strongest association with quality of...

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Main Authors: Geert H.D. Voordes, Adriaan A. Voors, Hailun Qin, Jozine M. terMaaten, Kevin Damman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:ESC Heart Failure
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15277
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author Geert H.D. Voordes
Adriaan A. Voors
Hailun Qin
Jozine M. terMaaten
Kevin Damman
author_facet Geert H.D. Voordes
Adriaan A. Voors
Hailun Qin
Jozine M. terMaaten
Kevin Damman
author_sort Geert H.D. Voordes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aims Signs of congestion are a treatment target in patients with heart failure (HF), as they affect patients' well‐being, and congestion scores are associated with the risk of early readmission. However, which individual sign of congestion has the strongest association with quality of life (QoL) and HF rehospitalization remains uncertain. Methods and Results We included 1551 HF patients hospitalized for worsening HF. QoL was assessed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire‐23 (KCCQ‐23) on the same day as physical examination. We performed linear and Cox regression to find associations of signs of HF to QoL and 60 day HF rehospitalization. All analyses were externally validated in a similar independent cohort. Patients with worse QoL were older and more often female and had more comorbidities and signs of HF. In multivariable regression analyses, peripheral oedema and orthopnoea (standardized beta −0.210, P < 0.001 and standardized beta −0.206, P < 0.001, respectively) had the strongest association with worse QoL. Elevated jugular venous pressure (JVP) was the only multivariable adjusted congestive sign associated with a higher risk of 60 day HF rehospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.64 (1.03–2.60), P = 0.038]. QoL was significantly associated with 60 day HF rehospitalization [HR 1.09 (1.04–1.14), per 5‐unit Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) decrease; P < 0.001]. The presence or absence of signs of congestion did not modify the association between QoL and 60 day HF rehospitalization. Conclusions Peripheral oedema and orthopnoea showed the strongest association with QoL in patients admitted for HF. JVP had the strongest association with the risk of 60 day rehospitalization. Clinically, it is important to distinguish between individual signs due to the discrepancy of their impact on outcome.
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spelling doaj-art-719e625f17214a5484bb186e3a1c898b2025-08-20T03:51:44ZengWileyESC Heart Failure2055-58222025-08-011242477248610.1002/ehf2.15277Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failureGeert H.D. Voordes0Adriaan A. Voors1Hailun Qin2Jozine M. terMaaten3Kevin Damman4Department of Cardiology University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsDepartment of Cardiology University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsDepartment of Cardiology University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsDepartment of Cardiology University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsDepartment of Cardiology University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsAbstract Aims Signs of congestion are a treatment target in patients with heart failure (HF), as they affect patients' well‐being, and congestion scores are associated with the risk of early readmission. However, which individual sign of congestion has the strongest association with quality of life (QoL) and HF rehospitalization remains uncertain. Methods and Results We included 1551 HF patients hospitalized for worsening HF. QoL was assessed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire‐23 (KCCQ‐23) on the same day as physical examination. We performed linear and Cox regression to find associations of signs of HF to QoL and 60 day HF rehospitalization. All analyses were externally validated in a similar independent cohort. Patients with worse QoL were older and more often female and had more comorbidities and signs of HF. In multivariable regression analyses, peripheral oedema and orthopnoea (standardized beta −0.210, P < 0.001 and standardized beta −0.206, P < 0.001, respectively) had the strongest association with worse QoL. Elevated jugular venous pressure (JVP) was the only multivariable adjusted congestive sign associated with a higher risk of 60 day HF rehospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.64 (1.03–2.60), P = 0.038]. QoL was significantly associated with 60 day HF rehospitalization [HR 1.09 (1.04–1.14), per 5‐unit Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) decrease; P < 0.001]. The presence or absence of signs of congestion did not modify the association between QoL and 60 day HF rehospitalization. Conclusions Peripheral oedema and orthopnoea showed the strongest association with QoL in patients admitted for HF. JVP had the strongest association with the risk of 60 day rehospitalization. Clinically, it is important to distinguish between individual signs due to the discrepancy of their impact on outcome.https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15277heart failurecongestionquality of liferehospitalizationsigns and symptomsbiomarkers
spellingShingle Geert H.D. Voordes
Adriaan A. Voors
Hailun Qin
Jozine M. terMaaten
Kevin Damman
Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
ESC Heart Failure
heart failure
congestion
quality of life
rehospitalization
signs and symptoms
biomarkers
title Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
title_full Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
title_fullStr Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
title_full_unstemmed Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
title_short Signs of congestion, quality of life and short‐term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
title_sort signs of congestion quality of life and short term rehospitalization in patients with heart failure
topic heart failure
congestion
quality of life
rehospitalization
signs and symptoms
biomarkers
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15277
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