Study to Validate a Combined Lung Ultrasound and Blood Lactate Score to Predict Early Problems After Hospital Discharge in Adults With Acute Heart Failure

What this Trial Is About

Acute heart failure AHF is a major cause of hospital stays and is linked to high rates of rehospitalization or death within 30 days after discharge. Current risk assessments mainly focus on blood flow congestion in large vessels, but they do not fully capture small vessel and tissue-level problems that can continue despite clinical improvement. Lung ultrasound scores LUS help assess lung congestion, while blood lactate levels indicate tissue oxygen delivery and usage. Combining these two measures may better predict early complications after hospital discharge. This observational study includes adults hospitalized for acute heart failure who are clinically stable and expected to be discharged within 24 hours. At discharge, participants undergo lung ultrasound using a standardized 8-zone method to measure lung congestion, and blood lactate levels are measured at rest. Researchers collect clinical data including patient demographics, heart failure type, vital signs, lab tests, treatments, and hospitalization details to classify patients based on combined lung congestion and tissue perfusion scores. Participants are followed for 30 days after discharge through phone interviews and medical record review to track outcomes such as heart failure readmission, emergency visits, and death. The main outcome is a combined measure of rehospitalization or all-cause mortality within 30 days. Secondary outcomes include time to first event and all-cause readmission. This follow-up helps evaluate if the combined lung ultrasound and lactate score better predicts early adverse events compared to lung ultrasound alone.

Congestion and LActate at diScHarge in Acute Heart Failure