Table 1 Main Characteristics of Patients with Cardiac Asthma and Classical CPE
From: Cardiac asthma in elderly patients: incidence, clinical presentation and outcome
Characteristics | Classical CPE | Cardiac asthma |
|---|---|---|
N = 137 | N = 75 | |
Demographic data | ||
Age (years) | 82 ± 9 | 83 ± 8 |
Male | 62 (45%) | 40 (53%) |
Past medical history | ||
Tobacco user > 20 pack/year | 47 (34%) | 44 (59%)* |
Diabetes mellitus | 32 (23%) | 17 (23%) |
Hypertension | 125 (91%) | 62 (83%) |
COPD | 22 (16%) | 35 (47%)* |
Asthma | 8 (6%) | 6 (8%) |
Venous thrombo-embolic disease | 7 (5%) | 7 (9%) |
Heart failure | 57 (42%) | 27 (36%) |
Ischemic cardiac disease | 57 (42%) | 34 (45%) |
Peripheral arterial disease | 14 (10%) | 18 (24%)* |
Cerebrovascular disease | 21 (15%) | 14 (19%) |
Previous medications | ||
Beta-blockers | 27 (20 %) | 17 (23%) |
Diuretics | 86 (63%) | 48 (64%) |
Nitrates | 63 (46%) | 24 (32%) |
ACE inhibitors | 64 (47%) | 27 (36%) |
Inhaled bronchodilators | 19 (14%) | 36 (48%)* |
Home oxygen | 3 (2%) | 12 (16%)* |
Symptoms and physical exam at admission | ||
Heart rate (/min) | 93 ± 21 | 93 ± 21 |
Ventilatory rate (/min) | 29 ± 6 | 29 ± 6 |
Systolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 144 ± 32 | 155 ± 30 |
Diastolic arterial pressure (mmHg) | 78 ± 18 | 82 ± 20 |
Clinical signs of acute ventilatory failure | 116 (85%) | 58 (78%) |
Crackles with pulmonary auscultation | 121 (88%) | 52 (69%)* |
Signs of RV failure | 93 (68%) | 45 (60%) |
Arterial blood gas | ||
pH | 7.43 ± 0.06 | 7.38 ± 0.08* |
pH < 7.35 | 11 (8%) | 20 (27%)* |
PaCO2 (mmHg) | 41 ± 11 | 47 ± 15* |
PaCO2 ≥ 45 mmHg | 31 (23%) | 32 (42%)* |
PaO2 (mmHg) | 67 ± 25 | 67 ± 18 |
Bicarbonates (mmol/L) | 26 ± 5 | 27 ± 6 |
Biological analysis | ||
Creatinine clearance (mL/min) | 40 (30–58) | 44 (31–57) |
Treatments received in the emergency room | ||
Oxygen | 133 (97%) | 74 (99%) |
Diuretics | 89 (65%) | 52 (69%) |
Vasodilators | 26 (19%) | 19 (25%) |
Nebulized β2-Agonist | 1 (1%) | 29 (39%)* |
Nebulized Ipratropium Bromide | 4 (3%) | 19 (25%)* |