Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40929381›Full record

SynthesisEuropean heart journal. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy2026

Diuretic strategies in acute heart failure: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Antonio Cannatà, Gianluca Anastasia, Vincenzo De Marzo, Oren Caspi, Daniel Bromage, Italo Porto, Gianluigi Savarese, Theresa McDonagh, Zachary L Cox, Pietro Ameri

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European heart journal. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. The expanding role of peptides in cardiovascular care.Diabetes & vascular disease research
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Antonio CannatàSchool of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, UK.
Gianluca AnastasiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Vincenzo De MarzoDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Oren CaspiHeart Failure Unit, Cardiology Department, Rambam Health Care Campus and The Bruce and Ruth Rapport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Daniel BromageSchool of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, UK.
Italo PortoDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9854-5046
Gianluigi SavareseDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset; Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-7732-0887
Theresa McDonaghSchool of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, UK.
Zachary L CoxLipscomb University College of Pharmacy, Nashville, TN, USA.
Pietro AmeriDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7167-7287

Funding

Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist MR/X001881/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsSeveral diuretic strategies, including furosemide i.v. boluses (FB) or continuous infusion (FC), are used in acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS AND

resultsWe systematically searched phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating diuretic regimens in admitted AHF patients within 48 h and irrespective of clinical stabilization. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) of FC or FB plus another diuretic (sequential nephron blockade, SNB) compared to FB alone on 24 h weight loss (WL) and worsening renal function (WRF), with a random-effects model with inverse variance weighting. Urine output, hypokalaemia, hyponatremia, and all-cause mortality/rehospitalization were secondary endpoints. In 25 selected RCTs (7149 patients, mean age 68.9 ± 8.7 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 38.2 ± 10.7%), FC [OR 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.39-1.63)], FB plus tolvaptan [OR 1.57 (1.39-1.77)], FB plus SGLT2i [OR 1.23 (1.06-1.42)], and FB plus thiazide [OR 1.63 (1.37-1.94)] were associated with greater WL than FB. FB plus SGLT2i [OR 1.52 (1.19-1.94)] and FB plus acetazolamide [OR 1.81 (1.31-2.49)] were associated with WRF. FB plus thiazide was associated with both WRF [OR 1.78 (1.43-2.21)] and hypokalaemia [OR 1.69 (1.32-2.16)]. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses considering urine output, RCTs protocol-established furosemide doses, or daily furosemide dose. Congestion/decongestion scores and clinical outcomes were reported in around 50% of RCTs. In an underpowered exploratory analysis, mortality/rehospitalization was non-significantly lower with SGLT2i [OR 0.45 (0.19-1.07)].

conclusionFC and SNB improve surrogates of response to FB in AHF. SNB is also connoted by WRF and may induce hypokalaemia. The endpoints of diuretic RCTs should be revised and harmonized.

Indexed as

DiureticsHeart FailureKidneyAcute DiseaseAgedClinical Trials, Phase III as TopicFemaleFurosemideHumansInfusions, IntravenousMaleMiddle AgedNetwork Meta-Analysis as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRisk FactorsTime FactorsDiureticsFurosemideDecongestionDiuresisElectrolyteKidneyOutcomeWeight

Identifiers

PMID40929381
PMCPMC12862974

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.