Readily Available Urinary Sodium Analysis in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

The EASY-HF study was a single-centre, randomized, open-label study comparing standard of care (SOC) diuretic management at the treating physician's discretion with a nurse-led natriuresis-guided protocol in patients with ADHF. A bedside sensor was used to measure the urinary sodium content.The primary endpoint was total natriuresis after 48 hours. Secondary endpoints included safety profile and user-friendliness of both the protocol and the point-of-care sensor.

Inclusion criteria

• Older than 18 years
• Provide written informed consent
• Hospital admission with signs and symptoms of congestion warranting intravenous decongestive therapy
• Congestion score of at least 2 based upon the presence of edema, pleural effusion, or ascites
• N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level of at least 500 ng per litre (800 ng per litre in case of atrial fibrillation)

Exclusion criteria

• Patients unable to collect a 48h-urine collection
• Estimated GFR below 20 ml/min/1.73m^2
• Concomitant diagnosis of an acute coronary syndrome
• Need for inotropic or vasopressor support
• Ventricular assist device
• Renal replacement therapy
• Treatment with intravenous loop diuretics > 80mg furosemide or an equivalence of another loop diuretic (40mg furosemide = 1mg bumetanide) during the index hospitalization and prior to randomization