Impact of Validated Diagnostic Prediction Model of Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department
Impact of Validated Diagnostic Prediction Model of Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a validated diagnostic prediction model in the
 appropriate diagnosis of Acute Heart Failure (AHF) in patients presenting at the emergency
 department with undifferentiated dyspnea.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age ≥ 18 years

 -  Presentation to the ED with undifferentiated shortness of breath

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Dyspnea of obvious cause, e.g. chest trauma, obvious clinical exacerbation of known
 chronic obstructive disease

 -  Obvious pulmonary edema in a patient with a known diagnosis of HF and recently
 admitted to hospital for HF

 -  Clinician does not plan to treat for AHF at all, but rather to pursue other causes of
 dyspnea (i.e., probability of AHF ≤ 20%)

 -  Clinician plans to treat for AHF and not to pursue other causes of dyspnea (i.e.,
 probability of AHF ≥ 80%)

 -  Acute coronary syndrome within one month

 -  Chronic renal failure (serum creatinine ≥ 250 mol/l)

 -  Anticipated life expectancy < 6 months due to non-cardiovascular causes

 -  Participation in another interventional outcome trial

 -  Inability to obtain informed consent, including inability of patient to understand
 English