A prescription for a loop diuretic at discharge after hospitalization for decompensated heart failure was found to be associated with positive 30-day clinical outcomes in older patients, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The study included 7936 patients hospitalized for heart failure from the Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure registry, 70% of whom were prescribed loop diuretics at discharge. Matched patients (4382) had a mean age of 78±10 years (54% women; 11% African American).

The 30-day all-cause mortality occurred in 107 participants (4.9%) and 144 patients (6.6%) who received and did not receive loop diuretic at discharge, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.94; P =.016). Patients who were prescribed loop diuretics had a lower risk for readmission for heart failure at 30, but not 60, days (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.99; P =.037) but not for all-cause30-day readmission (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-1.01; P =.081).

“These findings provide new information that may strengthen guideline recommendations and improve short-term clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure,” noted the researchers.

Disclosures: Some of the study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

Benefits of Loop Diuretics After Hospitalization for Heart Failure

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