Abstract
Introduction: ACPE is a common cause of admission to the Emergency Department (ED). We previously retrospectively studied the effect on the outcome of blood pressure (BP) on admission.
Aim: To prospectively confirm the relationship between “normotension” on admission and worse outcome in ACPE patients.
Methods: Prospective, observational, multicentric, web-based study on patients admitted to the ED with ACPE. Data were collected from 13 italian EDs. Normotension was defined as Mean Arterial BP (MAP)≤107 mmHg. Patients with MAP≤65 mmHg on admission were excluded.
Results: From May 2009 to October 2010,460 patients were enrolled. Nine hypotensive patients were excluded. Mean age was 80 years (SD±10 years), 245 males (54%). “Normotensive” patients were 41% (185/451). Clinical and laboratory data are showed in table 1. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 8% (34/451). In-hospital mortality in normotensive patients was significantly higher than in hypertensive patients, 12% (22/185) vs 4% (12/266) (p<0.01). We also found that the risk factor “normotension” maintained its statistical significance in a multivariable analysis when compared with the other significant risk factors (Age, PaCO2 and Hemoglobin) detected in our population in the univariate analysis.
Conclusion: We prospectively confirmed that “normotension” on presentation is a significant and indipendent risk factor for mortality in patients with ACPE.
- © 2011 ERS