Journal of cardiac failure
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Current guidelines recommend the use of intravenous (IV) vasodilators in addition to IV loop diuretics for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF) patients without hypotension. The evidence basis for these recommendations is limited. ⋯ Among hospitalized AHF patients, the addition of IV vasodilators to IV loop diuretics did not lower inpatient mortality or rehospitalization rates compared with loop diuretics alone, and was associated with longer lengths of stay and higher hospitalization costs. Although the lack of complete clinical, socioeconomic, and post-discharge data may have confounded these results, this analysis questions whether currently available IV vasodilators can improve outcomes in hospitalized AHF patients.