Citations

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Multicenter analyses describing the epidemiology of AKI in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) are scarce. Here, we describe the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes associated with AKI in a contemporary multicenter CICU population. Methods The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) is a collaboration of CICUs in North America coordinated by the TIMI Study Group (Boston, MA). We evaluated patient and hospital-level outcomes as a function of creatinine-only Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI stage within the CCCTN registry. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with in-hospital mortality. Results Among 21 603 admissions, the overall prevalence of AKI was 23.7%, which was composed of KDIGO stage 1: 12.7%, stage 2: 1.7%, and stage 3: 9.2%. A higher prevalence and severity of AKI were seen in patients with baseline kidney disease, hypertension, or diabetes and in admissions with heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest ( P < .001 for all). There was a stepwise increase in hospital mortality across AKI stages (stage 1: 23%, stage 2: 39%, stage 3: 42%; P < .0001). The increased risk of death associated with progressive AKI stage persisted after multivariate adjustment (adjusted OR: stage 1: 2.1, stage 2: 3.7, stage 3: 3.4). Conclusions AKI occurs in 1 in 4 admissions to the CICU, and a higher AKI stage is incrementally associated with in-hospital mortality, highlighting a need to develop strategies to mitigate AKI and its complications.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with short-term mortality among patients receiving microaxial flow pump (mAFP) therapy for acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS). Data Sources: We searched four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Scopus) from January 1, 2004, to January 1, 2025. Study Selection: We selected English-language studies that included adults with AMI-CS receiving mAFP and evaluated factors associated with short-term mortality. We excluded patients receiving concurrent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, as well as studies that solely included patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Data Extraction: Two authors performed citation screening and data extraction. For each factor evaluated in at least two studies, we performed meta-analyses of adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using a random-effects model. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations methodology. Data Synthesis: Our primary analysis included 18 studies, encompassing 20,617 patients. Median short-term mortality across studies was 50.7% (interquartile range 38.4–55.3%). Factors associated with short-term mortality based on high-certainty evidence included: increased age (aOR, 1.04 per year [95% CI, 1.03–1.05 per year] or ≥ 65 yr (aOR, 2.42 yr [95% CI, 0.77–7.64 yr]), female sex (aOR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.09–1.45]), higher body mass index (aOR, 1.05 per point [95% CI, 1.04–1.07 per point]), higher heart rate (aOR, 1.02 per beats/min [95% CI, 1.01–1.02 per beats/min]), higher serum creatinine (aOR, 1.35 per mg/dL [95% CI, 1.08–1.70 per mg/dL]), mechanical ventilation (aOR, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.82–3.53]), vasopressors (aOR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.11–2.08] for any vasopressors and aOR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.18–1.58] per each vasopressor), presentation with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (aOR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.11–2.26]), cardiac arrest (aOR, 2.85 [95% CI, 2.22–3.64]), and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (aOR, 5.36 [95% CI, 3.03–9.47]). Conclusions: We identified several prognostic factors associated with short-term mortality in AMI-CS patients receiving mAFP support. This work may help inform clinicians, patients, and families regarding utilization of mAFP in AMI-CS.

ABSTRACT Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a high morbidity and mortality condition worldwide frequently complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and decompensated heart failure (HF). Within the management of CS, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices play a critical role in maintaining hemodynamic stability, preserving end‐organ perfusion and bridging patients through to recovery, implantation of durable support or transplantation. Despite their use, optimal timing of initiation, as well as patient and device selection remain unclear. This review explores the current landscape of MCS devices, surrounding evidence and key distinctions between devices. With increasing acknowledgment for the heterogeneity of CS, understanding the strengths and limitations of each device remains crucial to improving outcomes in this high‐risk population.

Introduction: Among patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), high right atrial pressure (RAP) and low mean arterial pressure (MAP) are associated with in-hospital mortality. Pressure-adjusted heart rate (PAHR), defined as heart rate * RAP-to-MAP ratio (HR * [RAP/MAP]), integrates these parameters and has been used to identify cardiovascular dysfunction in critical illness. Higher PAHR values associate with higher surgical ICU mortality, but the prognostic significance of PAHR has not been assessed in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients with CS. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher PAHR values are associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with CS. Methods: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) is a multinational registry of CICUs coordinated by the TIMI Study Group. Among CS admissions (2018-2023) undergoing invasive hemodynamic assessment within 24h of CICU admission, we calculated PAHR (in bpm) and assessed its relationship with in-hospital mortality. Patients on temporary mechanical circulatory support were excluded. Odds ratios were adjusted for age, sex, vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), SCAI stage, and preceding cardiac arrest. Subgroup analyses stratifying by CS subtype were performed. Results: Among the 1411 CS admissions in the analysis cohort (mean age 61 years, 31% women), 18% had AMI-CS, 75% had HF-CS, and 7% had secondary CS. At the time of assessment (median 1.4h after CICU admission), 75% were on vasoactive support (median VIS 3.8). Median HR was 92 (Q1-Q3 77-109) bpm, RAP 15 (Q1-Q3 10-19) mmHg, MAP 75 (Q1-Q3 67-87) mmHg, and PAHR 17 (Q1-Q3 11-24) bpm. A stepwise gradient of higher in-hospital mortality with increasing PAHR values (p-trend <0.001; Fig ) was observed. In adjusted models, a higher PAHR was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (aOR per 10-bpm, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.15-1.58]), and had stronger prognostic associations with mortality than its individual hemodynamic components (Fig) . Conclusion: Higher PAHR is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality in CS patients. PAHR, a simple parameter which is readily calculable without needing a pulmonary artery catheter, may aid in identifying CS patients at higher risk of death.

Abstract Aims The Shock Academic Research Consortium (SHARC) recently proposed pragmatic consensus definitions to standardize classification of cardiogenic shock (CS) in registries and clinical trials. We aimed to describe contemporary CS epidemiology using the SHARC definitions in a cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) population. Methods and results The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) is a multinational research network of advanced CICUs coordinated by the TIMI Study Group (Boston, MA). Cardiogenic shock was defined as a cardiac disorder resulting in SBP &lt; 90 mmHg for ≥30 min [or the need for vasopressors, inotropes, or mechanical circulatory support (MCS) to maintain SBP ≥ 90 mmHg] with evidence of hypoperfusion. Primary aetiologic categories included acute myocardial infarction-related CS (AMI-CS), heart failure-related CS (HF-CS), and non-myocardial (secondary) CS. Post-cardiotomy CS was not included. Heart failure-related CS was further subcategorized as de novo vs. acute-on-chronic HF-CS. Patients with both cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic components of shock were classified separately as mixed CS. Of 8974 patients meeting shock criteria (2017–23), 65% had isolated CS and 17% had mixed shock. Among patients with CS (n = 5869), 27% had AMI-CS (65% STEMI), 59% HF-CS (72% acute-on-chronic, 28% de novo), and 14% secondary CS. Patients with AMI-CS and de novo HF-CS were most likely to have had concomitant cardiac arrest (P &lt; 0.001). Patients with AMI-CS and mixed CS were most likely to present in more severe shock stages (SCAI D or E; P &lt; 0.001). Temporary MCS use was highest in AMI-CS (59%). In-hospital mortality was highest in mixed CS (48%), followed by AMI-CS (41%), similar in de novo HF-CS (31%) and secondary CS (31%), and lowest in acute-on-chronic HF-CS (25%; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion SHARC consensus definitions for CS classification can be pragmatically applied in contemporary registries and reveal discrete subpopulations of CS with distinct phenotypes and outcomes that may be relevant to clinical practice and future research.

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background Hyperoxemia (a high PaO2, i.e. &gt;200-300 mmHg) has been associated with adverse outcomes in general critical care settings as well as in acute cardiovascular care conditions. The association between hyperoxemia and mortality has not been characterized in the heterogeneous population admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). We aimed to examine the association between hyperoxemia on CICU admission with in-hospital mortality. Methods We retrospectively analyzed Mayo Clinic CICU patients from January 2007 to April 2018. PaO2 closest on admission was analyzed as a continuous variable (per 100 mmHg) and categorized as: 60-100 mmHg (51.9%), 101-150 mmHg (28.6%), 151-200 mmHg (10.6%), 201-300 mmHg (6.4%), and &gt;300 mmHg (2.5%). Those without PaO2 on admission and those with hypoxemia were excluded. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality evaluated using logistic regression, after adjusting for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, M-CARS, and use of IMV and NIPPV. Results A total of 3,368 patients were included (median 70.3 years, 39.4% women). Admission diagnoses included ACS (37.0%, with 19.8% STEMI), HF (67.8%), shock (33.0%) and cardiac arrest (25.3%). Median admission PaO2 was 99 (IQR 78, 136) mmHg, with no difference in median PaO2 between hospital survivors and inpatient deaths (99 versus 98, p = 0.38). A J-shaped relationship was observed between admission PaO2 and in-hospital mortality (Figure A), with slightly higher mortality below 100 mmHg and incrementally higher mortality above this threshold (esp. at &gt;200 mmHg). The incremental association between higher PaO2 and mortality (adjusted OR 1.17 per 100 mmHg higher, 95% CI 1.01-1.34, P = 0.03) was focused in the highest PaO2 group (i.e., &gt;300 mmHg; Figure B). Conclusion Hyperoxia (esp. PaO2 &gt;300 mmHg) on CICU admission is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, demonstrating a J-shaped association with an inflection point of lowest mortality around 100 mmHg. Further studies are warranted to assess if specific oxygen targets influence outcomes in critically ill cardiac patients.

BACKGROUND: Associations of early changes in vasoactive support with cardiogenic shock (CS) mortality remain incompletely defined. METHODS: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network is a multicenter registry of cardiac intensive care units. Patients admitted with CS (2018–2023) had vasoactive dosing assessed at 4 and 24 hours from cardiac intensive care unit admission and quantified by the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS). Prognostic associations of VIS at both time points, as well as change in VIS from 4 to 24 hours, were examined. Interaction testing was performed based on mechanical circulatory support status. RESULTS: Among 3665 patients, 82% had a change in VIS <10, with 7% and 11% having a ≥10-point increase and decrease from 4 to 24 hours, respectively. The 4 and 24-hour VIS were each associated with cardiac intensive care unit mortality (13%–45% and 11%–73% for VIS <10 to ≥40, respectively; P trend <0.0001 for each). Stratifying by the 4-hour VIS, changes in VIS from 4 to 24 hours had a graded association with mortality, ranging from a 2- to >4-fold difference in mortality comparing those with a ≥10-point increase to ≥10-point decrease in VIS ( P trend <0.0001). The change in VIS alone provided good discrimination of cardiac intensive care unit mortality (C-statistic, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.70–0.75]) and improved discrimination of the 24-hour Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (0.72 [95% CI, 0.69–0.74] to 0.76 [95% CI, 0.74–0.78]) and the clinician-assessed Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions shock stage (0.72 [95% CI, 0.70–0.74] to 0.77 [95% CI, 0.75–0.79]). Although present in both groups, the mortality risk associated with VIS was attenuated in patients managed with versus without mechanical circulatory support (odds ratio per 10-point higher 24-hour VIS, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.23–1.49] versus 1.84 [95% CI, 1.69–2.01]; P interaction <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Early changes in the magnitude of vasoactive support in CS are associated with a gradient of risk for mortality. These data suggest that early VIS trajectory may improve CS prognostication, with the potential to be leveraged for clinical decision-making and research applications in CS.