To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with new-onset acute heart failure (AHF) and acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF).

Patients with heart failure (HF) admitted to Beijing Hospital during January 2009 to December 2017 with follow-up records were retrospectively enrolled. According to the duration of heart failure, the patients were divided into new-onset AHF group (duration of HF<1 month) and ADCHF group (duration of HF ≥1 month). Clinical data were collected and endpoint events (all-cause death and cardiovascular death) were recorded. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the log-rank method was used to compare survival between different groups. The multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the end-point events in patients with new-onset AHF and ADCHF.

The study enrolled 562 patients,292 (52.0%) with new-onset AHF and 270 (48.0%) with ADCHF. Patients with new-onset AHF were more likely to have coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, higher diastolic blood pressure and higher troponin I levels(χ²=12.999,15.018,t=-2.088,Z=-2.727; all P<0.05). Patients with ADCHF were more likely to have poor cardiac function, atrial fibrillation, larger left ventricle and left atrium diameter, higher proportion of patients with pulmonary hypertension(χ²=16.565, 15.688,t=2.714, 5.029, χ²=15.274; all P<0.05). There were 205 (36.5%) all-cause deaths and 132 (23.5%) cardiovascular deaths during 28 (14, 60) months of follow-up. All-cause mortality rate [33.2%(97/292)vs. 40.0%(108/270), log-rank P=0.010] and cardiovascular mortality rate [18.8%(55/292) vs. 28.5%(77/270), log-rank P=0.001]were significantly lower in patients with new-onset AHF than those in ADCHF group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low body mass index (BMI), reduced hemoglobin, reduced resting heart rate, enlarged left atrium, and segmental wall motion abnormalities were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in new-onset AHF patients. It was different with ADCHF patients.

Patients with new-onset AHF are more likely to have coronary heart disease; and lower BMI, reduced hemoglobin, acute coronary disease are associated with poor prognosis of patients. It is necessary to identify the underlying diseases early and actively standardize treatment to avoid the deterioration of cardiac function and readmission.

Heart failure; Prognosis; Risk factors; New on-set