TACTIC-HF: Sequential Diuretic Strategies in Ambulatory Worsening Heart Failure

Heart failure congestion remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and recurrent healthcare utilization worldwide. Although loop diuretics represent the cornerstone of decongestive therapy, many patients develop suboptimal diuretic response or diuretic resistance during the course of chronic heart failure.

Sequential nephron blockade strategies combining loop diuretics with agents acting at different tubular sites may enhance natriuresis and improve decongestion. Recent inpatient studies have suggested potential benefits of acetazolamide- and thiazide-based strategies; however, evidence regarding ambulatory worsening heart failure management remains limited.

TACTIC-HF is a prospective, single-center, randomized, open-label crossover trial evaluating three commonly used outpatient decongestion strategies in patients with worsening heart failure treated in a dedicated heart failure day-hospital setting.

Participants will sequentially receive:

• intravenous furosemide alone,
• intravenous furosemide plus oral acetazolamide,
• intravenous furosemide plus oral hydrochlorothiazide.

Treatments will be administered during structured outpatient sessions with standardized monitoring and predefined washout intervals between treatment periods.

The primary endpoint is total urinary sodium excretion during the treatment session. Secondary endpoints include urine output, congestion-related parameters, and renal/electrolyte safety outcomes.

The study is designed as a pragmatic trial using approved therapies routinely available in clinical practice, with the objective of generating physiologically oriented evidence applicable to ambulatory heart failure care.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years Chronic heart failure diagnosis according to current guideline definitions Ambulatory worsening heart failure requiring intravenous diuretic therapy in a specialized outpatient setting Evidence of clinical or objective congestion Chronic outpatient loop diuretic therapy Ability to comply with study procedures Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Hemodynamic instability or cardiogenic shock Requirement for immediate hospitalization Acute coronary syndrome, active infection, pulmonary embolism, or uncontrolled arrhythmia Severe electrolyte abnormalities Advanced renal failure requiring dialysis Pregnancy or breastfeeding Contraindication or allergy to study medications Current treatment with acetazolamide or thiazide diuretics Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would make study participation unsafe or interfere with study procedures