Factors associated with cardiorenal syndrome in patients with decompensated heart failure

Objective: to identify cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) prevalence in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure (HF) and its association with sociodemographic and clinical data, admission findings, mortality and length of hospital stay. Methods: a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 379 medical records of adult patients with a medical diagnosis of decompensated chronic HF admitted to a public hospital in the state of Sao Paulo, throughout 2015. Data collection occurred in 2016. Kidney failure was considered in patients with a previous diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <89 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Tests with a p value less than or equal to 0.05 were statistically significant. Results: CRS prevalence was 54.1%, with 24.8% being type 1 and 29.3% being type 2. The main factors associated with CRS were: higher mean age; women; HF of ischemic etiology; lower ejection fraction; people with diabetes mellitus; coronary artery disease; artificial cardiac stimulator use; hypothyroidism and Chagas disease; hemodynamic profile of HF decompensation in types C and L. Also noteworthy are inappetence, drowsiness, rales on respiratory auscultation, alteration in tissue perfusion, decreased urine output, with increased serum levels of potassium, urea and creatinine in the initial clinical assessment. Patients with kidney failure had higher mortality, with no significant difference in length of hospital stay. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of CRS in patients with decompensated chronic HF, associated with higher mortality and several clinical indicators.