Current use of inotropes according to initial blood pressure and peripheral perfusion in the treatment of congestive heart failure: findings from a multicentre observational study

ObjectivesCurrent guidelines restrict the use of inotropes for the treatment for heart failure (HF) unless the patients are hypotensive or hypoperfused because of safety concerns. This study sought to characterise the contemporary real-world use of inotropes and associated long-term outcomes according to systolic blood pressure (sBP) and perfusion status.DesignA multicentre prospective cohort study.SettingThis study was nested from the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry, which included consecutive Japanese patients admitted for HF.ParticipantsWe categorised 3995 patients into two groups: sBP ≥90 mm Hg and warm profile group, and sBP