Decongestion discriminates risk for one-year mortality in patients with improving renal function in acute heart failure

Aims Improving renal function (IRF) is paradoxically associated with worse outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF), but outcomes may differ based on response to decongestion. We explored if the relationship of IRF with mortality in hospitalized AHF patients differs based on successful decongestion.Methods and results We evaluated 760 AHF patients from AKINESIS for the relationship between IRF, change in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and 1-year mortality. IRF was defined as a >= 20% increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) relative to admission. Adequate decongestion was defined as a >= 40% decrease in last measured BNP relative to admission. IRF occurred in 22% of pat…