Predicting hospitalization and mortality in patients with heart failure

BACKGROUND Prediction of events in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients is still difficult and available scores are often complex to calculate. Therefore, we developed and validated a simple-to-use, multidimensional prognostic index for such patients. METHODS A theoretical model was developed based on known prognostic factors of CHF that are easily obtainable: Body mass index (B), Age (A), Resting systolic blood pressure (R), Dyspnea (D), N-termInal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (I), Cockroft-Gault equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (C), resting Heart rate (H), and Exercise performance using the 6-min walk test (E) (the BARDICHE-index). Scores were given for all components and added, the sum ranging from 1 (lowest value) to 25 points (maximal value), with estimated risk being highest in patients with highest scores. Scores were categorized into three groups: a low (≤8 points); medium (9-16 points), or high (>16 points) BARDICHE-score. The model was validated in a data set of 1811 patients from two prospective CHF-cohorts (median follow-up 887days). The primary outcome was 5-year all-cause survival. Secondary outcomes were 5-year survival without all-cause hospitalization and 5-year survival without CHF-related hospitalization. RESULTS There were significant differences between BARDICHE-risk groups for mortality (hazard ratio=3.63 per BARDICHE-group, 95%-CI 3.10-4.25), mortality or all-cause hospitalization (HR=2.00 per BARDICHE-group, 95%-CI 1.83-2.19), and mortality or CHF-related hospitalization (HR=3.43 per BARDICHE-group, 95%-CI 3.01-3.92; all P