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Medwave 2017;17(Suppl1):e6817 doi: 10.5867/medwave.2017.6817

Is fluid restriction needed in heart failure?

Is fluid restriction beneficial in chronic heart failure?

Victoria Castro-Guti�rrez, Gabriel Rada

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Resumen

Habitualmente se recomienda la restricci�n de volumen en la insuficiencia card�aca. Sin embargo, esto no necesariamente est� sustentado por evidencia cient�fica. Utilizando la base de datos Epistemonikos, la cual es mantenida mediante b�squedas en m�ltiples bases de datos, identificamos cinco revisiones sistem�ticas que en conjunto incluyen once estudios pertinentes a la pregunta, de los cuales siete corresponden a estudios controlados aleatorizados. Realizamos un metan�lisis y tablas de resumen de los resultados utilizando el m�todo GRADE. Concluimos que la restricci�n de volumen en la insuficiencia card�aca probablemente disminuye la readmisi�n hospitalaria y podr�a disminuir la mortalidad, aunque la certeza de la evidencia para esto �ltimo es baja.

Problem

Chronic heart failure is a morbidity that impairs quality of life, requires frequent hospitalization and increases mortality. Many symptoms of heart failure are a consequence of sodium and fluid overload, so it is usually recommended to restrict fluid intake as a way to compensate volume overload. However, this measure might also have negative consequences, such as thirst, orthostatic hypotension and renal failure. It is not clear whether this recommendation is supported by scientific evidence.

Methods

We used Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening multiple databases, to identify systematic reviews and their included primary studies. With this information, we generated a structured summary using a pre-established format, which includes key messages, a summary of the body of evidence (presented as an evidence matrix in Epistemonikos), meta-analysis of the total of studies, a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach and a table of other considerations for decision-making.

Key messages

Fluid restriction probably decreases hospital readmission in chronic heart failure and might decrease mortality.
It is not clear whether fluid restriction increases thirst because the certainty of the evidence is very low.

About the body of evidence for this question

What is the evidence. See evidence matrix in Epistemonikos later	We found five systematic reviews [1],[2],[3],[4],[5] including 11 primary studies relevant to the question of this article, reported in 12 references [6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14],[15], [16],[17], among them seven randomized trials reported in eight references [6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13]. Two trials evaluated patients with acute heart failure, so they were not considered relevant to the question addressed in this summary [8],[10].This table and the summary in general are based on the five randomized trials evaluating patients with chronic heart failure [6],[7],[9],[11],[12].
What types of patients were included	Four trials evaluated patients with compensated heart failure [6],[7],[9],[12] and one included decompensated patients [11]. Average age in the trials was 71, and most participants were men.
What types of interventions were included	In two trials, fluid restriction was 1 litre per day [9],[11] and in three was 1.5 litres per day [6],[7],[12]. In three trials, the patients also received sodium restriction [6],[11],[12]. All of the trials compared against placebo or standard treatment.
What types of outcomes were measured	The different reviews grouped outcomes as follows: Mortality Hospital readmission Thirst Intravenous diuretic needs Serum sodium level Plasmatic creatinine BNP level

Summary of findings

The information on the effects of fluid restriction for chronic heart failure is based on four randomized trials including 678 participants, because one trial did not report any outcome of interest, or did not present it in a way it could be incorporated in a meta-analysis [12]. Four trials reported the outcomes mortality and hospital readmission [6],[7],[9],[11] and three reported thirst [6],[7],[9].

The summary of findings is the following:

Fluid restriction might decrease mortality in chronic heart failure, but the certainty of the evidence is low.
Fluid restriction probably decreases hospital readmission in chronic heart failure. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.
It is not clear whether fluid restriction increases thirst because the certainty of the evidence is very low.

Other considerations for decision-making

To whom this evidence does and does not apply

The evidence presented in this summary applies to a broad spectrum of patients with chronic heart failure.
However, the existing evidence does not allow ruling out whether a subgroup benefits from this measure. For instance, renal failure, advanced heart failure, concomitant sodium restriction or use of diuretics.

About the outcomes included in this summary

The outcomes included in the summary of findings table are those considered critical for decision-making according to the opinion of the authors of this summary. They coincide with those usually reported in the reviews and guidelines analysed.

Balance between benefits and risks, and certainty of the evidence

Even though the certainty of the evidence is limited, the benefit/risk ratio is favorable.

What would patients and their doctors think about this intervention

It is a measure usually recommended, with low-cost and probably beneficial, so the vast majority of patients and doctors should be inclined to use it.
It is important to inform the patient about the existing uncertainty for both benefits and adverse effects.

Resource considerations

Fluid restriction does not require financial resources. Considering its possible impact on mortality and hospital readmission it would be a cost/effective measure.

Differences between this summary and other sources

This summary partially agrees with the reviews identified, which conclude that it is a safe intervention, or that the evidence is limited. One of the reviews exclusively focuses on thirst in heart failure [5], and incorporates a more extensive analysis than the presented in this summary, but it also concludes there is important uncertainty.
This summary partially agrees with the main guidelines, but these put less emphasis on existing uncertainty. For instance, the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommends avoiding excessive fluid intake [18], restricting it to 1.5 to 2 litres per day in patients with severe heart failure in order to alleviate congestive symptoms. Fluid restriction based on body weight might cause less thirst (30 cc/kg, 35 cc/kg if more than 85 kg). The Heart Failure Society of America guideline recommends a daily fluid intake <2 L in patients with severe hyponatremia (Na < 130 mEq/L) and suggests to consider it in all patients with volume overload despite high-dose diuretics and sodium restriction [19]. The ACCF/AHA guideline 2013 also recommends fluid restriction [20].

Could this evidence change in the future?

The probability of new evidence changing the conclusions of this summary is high, due to the existing uncertainty.
According to the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, there are at least two ongoing trials that might provide relevant information [21],[22].

How we conducted this summary

Using automated and collaborative means, we compiled all the relevant evidence for the question of interest and we present it as a matrix of evidence.

Follow the link to access the interactive version: Fluid restriction for chronic heart failure

Notes

The upper portion of the matrix of evidence will display a warning of “new evidence” if new systematic reviews are published after the publication of this summary. Even though the project considers the periodical update of these summaries, users are invited to comment in Medwave or to contact the authors through email if they find new evidence and the summary should be updated earlier. After creating an account in Epistemonikos, users will be able to save the matrixes and to receive automated notifications any time new evidence potentially relevant for the question appears.

The details about the methods used to produce these summaries are described here http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2014.06.5997.

Epistemonikos foundation is a non-for-profit organization aiming to bring information closer to health decision-makers with technology. Its main development is Epistemonikos database (www.epistemonikos.org).

These summaries follow a rigorous process of internal peer review.

Conflicts of interest
The authors do not have relevant interests to declare.

Licencia Creative Commons

Esta obra de Medwave est� bajo una licencia Creative Commons Atribuci�n-NoComercial 3.0 Unported. Esta licencia permite el uso, distribuci�n y reproducci�n del art�culo en cualquier medio, siempre y cuando se otorgue el cr�dito correspondiente al autor del art�culo y al medio en que se publica, en este caso, Medwave.

Edici�n Julio 2022

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