Effect of diuretic infusion clinic in preventing hospitalization for patients with decompensating heart failure

• Published in: SAGE open medicine 2020, Vol.8, p.2050312120940094-2050312120940094
• Main Author: Alghalayini, Kamal Waheeb
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diuretics; Ejection fraction; Heart failure; Hospitalization; Original; Patient care planning
• ISSN: 2050-3121; 2050-3121
• DOI: 10.1177/2050312120940094

Introduction: It is proposed that access to administering intravenous furosemide outside the hospital can contribute to lowering hospital admissions for heart failure. This study aims to evaluate the effect of outpatient furosemide infusion protocol in preventing hospitalization for patients with decompensating heart failure. This constitutes designing a viable clinical pathway in hospitals using a multidisciplinary heart failure program. Methods: A prospective interventional study testing the effect of diuretic infusion clinic in preventing hospitalization for patients with decompensating heart failure was conducted on 150 decompensating heart failure patients requiring hospital admission. Only 105 patients met the criteria and subsequently enrolled in the study. Each patient was administered intravenous furosemide infusion one or more times according to the protocol and depending on their symptoms of decompensation. Patients were referred for admission at any point once there is no improvement of their medical condition, or referred to heart failure clinic when clinical picture improved as observed by the treating team. Results: In total, 14 of 105 patients who received intravenous furosemide infusion did not respond to diuretic infusion protocol and required hospital admission while 91 patients responded to same protocol and did not require admission, P value was statistically significant in three laboratory test measures of potassium (