Cardiac amyloidosis worsens prognosis in patients with heart failure: findings from the PREVAMIC study

Background and objectives

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a common pathology in elderly patients that usually presents as heart failure (HF). However, it is not clear whether CA associated with HF has a worse prognosis compared with HF due to other etiologies.

Material and methods

Prospective, observational cohort study that recruited patients ≥65 years of age with HF in 30 Spanish centers. The cohort was divided according to whether the patients had AC or not. Patients were followed for 1 year.

Results

A total of 484 patients were included in the analysis. The population was elderly (median 86 years) and 49% were women CA was present in 23.8 % of the included patients. In the CA group, there was a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus and valvular disease. At one year of follow-up, mortality was significantly more frequent in patients with CA compared to those without (33.0 vs.14.9%, p < 0.001). However, there were no differences between both groups in visits to the emergency room or readmissions. In the multivariate analysis, the variables that were shown to predict all-cause mortality at one year of follow-up were chronic kidney disease (HR 1.75 (1.01–3.05) p 0.045), NT-proBNP levels (HR 2.51 (1.46–4.30) p < 0.001), confusion (HR 2.05 (1.01–4.17), p 0.048), and the presence of CA (HR 1.77 (1.11–2.84), p 0.017).

Conclusion

The presence of CA in elderly patients with HF is related to a worse prognosis at one year of follow-up. Early diagnosis of the pathology and multidisciplinary management can help improve patient outcomes.