Background: There are few data regarding the impact of prior heart failure (P-HF) on the presentation, course and outcomes of acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
Methods and results: We prospectively analyzed all ACS patients admitted in all cardiology wards in Israel during February and March, 2004. Of the 2098 patients, 156(7.4%) had P-HF. These patients were older (75 [66.5-81] versus 63 [53-74] years, (P<0.001)) and more often female (38.5% versus 25.0%, P<0.001)), with a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease risk factors, prior cardiac disease and procedures, and other co-morbidities. They more often presented with atypical angina and heart failure and less with ST-elevation (18.6% versus 51.3%, p<0.0001). In-hospital heart failure developed more frequently (15.4% versus 6.1%, p = 0.00001), including cardiogenic shock (7.1% versus 2.9%, p = 0.005), as did persistent atrial fibrillation (6.4% versus 0.7%, p<0.001), but not ischemic complications. After adjustment for differences, P-HF was not independently associated with 30 day or six-month mortality, but at one-year follow-up, it was (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.0-2.5). P-HF was also independently associated with increased incidence of heart failure upon admission or thereafter in-hospital (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 2.8-6.6).
Conclusions: P-HF ACS patients had high-risk features, lower incidence of ST-elevation, and higher one-year adjusted mortality. P-HF was also independently associated with in-hospital heart failure, suggesting they should be monitored vigilantly.