This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of residual (discharge) dyspnoea in acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

Single-centre, prospective observational study.

Patients hospitalised for decompensated AHF in a single cardiology centre, in Poland.

All patients (n=202) who survived the hospitalisation with the primary diagnosis of AHF and were discharged from the hospital.

1-year all-cause mortality; and the composite endpoint of 1-year all-cause mortality and rehospitalisation for the HF (whichever occurred first).

On admission, 159 (78.7%) AHF patients presented dyspnoea at rest, while residual resting dyspnoea at discharge was present in 16 patients (7.9%). There were 48 (24%) patients with moderate/severe exertional dyspnoea at discharge. In the multivariable model, the resting dyspnoea at discharge was related to a higher risk of both 1-year mortality and composite outcome, with HR (95% CI) 8.0 (3.7 to 17.3) and 5.1 (2.6 to 10.2), respectively, both p

Among AHF patients the residual dyspnoea at discharge was unexpectedly common and was associated with an unfavourable outcome during 1-year follow-up.