Alicia Guzmán-Carreras

Dr. Alicia Guzmán-Carreras


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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AGAlicia Guzmán-Carreras
Alicia Guzmán-Carreras
AVAndrea María Vellisca-González
Andrea María Vellisca-González
JMJuan Molina-Puente
Juan Molina-Puente
RGRocío García-Alonso
Rocío García-Alonso
MPMateo Paz-Cabezas
Mateo Paz-Cabezas
MMManuel Méndez-Bailón
Manuel Méndez-Bailón
Background/Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a highly prevalent clinical syndrome with serious morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, acute heart failure (AHF) is the main cause of hospital admission in people aged 65 years or more. Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have been shown to improve the survival and quality of life in patients with HF regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Our aims were to describe the characteristics of adults with multiple pathologies admitted with acute heart failure as the main diagnosis and of the population treated with SGLT2is, as well as to evaluate if their use was associated with lower readmission and mortality rates. Methods: A prospective study of patients from the PROFUND-IC registry who were admitted with AHF as the main diagnosis was conducted. Clinical and analytical characteristics were analyzed, as well as readmissions and mortality. Descriptive and bivariate analyses of the sample between those taking SGLT2is and those who were not were performed, using the chi-square test for qualitative variables and Welch’s test for quantitative measures, as well as the Fisher and Wilcoxon tests as indicated for nonparametric tests. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to analyze the readmission and mortality of patients at 12 months based on SGLT2i treatment. Finally, a propensity score matching was performed, guaranteeing that the observed effect of the drug was not influenced by the differences in the characteristics between the groups. Results: There were 750 patients included: 58% were women, and the mean age was 84 years. Functional class II according to the NYHA scale predominated (54%), and the mean LVEF was 51%. SGLT2 inhibitors were prescribed to only 28% of patients. Most of the patients were men (48.6% vs. 39.8%, p = 0.029), they were younger (82 vs. 84 years, p = 0.002), and their LVEF was lower (48% vs. 52%, p < 0.001). Lower mortality was observed in the group treated with SGLT2is, both during baseline admission (2.4% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.017) and at the 12-month follow-up (6.2% vs. 13%, p = 0.023); as well as a lower readmission rate (23.8% vs. 38.9%, p < 0.001). After the propensity score matching, a decrease in the 12-month readmission rate continued to be observed in the group treated with SGLT2is (p = 0.03). Conclusions: SGLT2is use was associated with lower readmission rates at the 12-month follow-up in older adults with multiple pathologies admitted with acute heart failure.

23 April 2026 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Journal Article
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AKAladin Abdelhady Kishta Kishta
Aladin Abdelhady Kishta Kishta
MDMarta M. Dolcet-Negre
Marta M. Dolcet-Negre
MRMaría Jesús Rivas
María Jesús Rivas
RARocio Alonso
Rocio Alonso
Nuria Muñoz-RivasNuria Muñoz-Rivas
Nuria Muñoz-Rivas
MMManuel Méndez-Bailón
Manuel Méndez-Bailón
Background: Older adults hospitalized with acute heart failure frequently present with multimorbidity, frailty, and reduced physiological reserve. This makes accurate prognostic assessment particularly challenging in internal medicine. Traditional heart failure risk models often fail to capture this multidimensional vulnerability. The PROFUND index, developed to estimate medium-term mortality in multimorbid patients, and serum albumin, an established biomarker of nutritional and inflammatory status, may provide complementary prognostic information. This formed the aim of the present study. This study’s objective is to evaluate the individual and combined prognostic value of the PROFUND index and serum albumin for one-year mortality in patients admitted with AHF. Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter cohort study within the PROFUNDIC registry. We included consecutive adults hospitalized with AHF or decompensated chronic heart failure who met European Society of Cardiology diagnostic criteria and had NT-proBNP levels > 1500 pg/mL. PROFUND scores were obtained at admission, and hypoalbuminaemia was dichotomized as ≤3.5 g/dL. The primary outcome was one-year mortality, analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, Cox proportional hazards models, and time-dependent ROC curves. Results: Among 544 included patients (mean age 85 years; 60% women), high PROFUND scores (>7) were present in 39% and hypoalbuminaemia in 55%. Both variables independently predicted one-year mortality, with the highest risk observed in patients presenting both high PROFUND scores (HR 2.26; 95% CI 1.66–3.09; p < 0.001) and hypoalbuminaemia (HR 1.70; 95% CI 1.18–2.46; p = 0.0046). The combined use of these markers modestly improved discriminatory performance compared with the PROFUND index alone (HR 2.83; 95% CI 1.72–4.64; p < 0.000). Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating clinical complexity, assessed by the PROFUND index, with serum albumin provides a simple and clinically meaningful approach to early risk stratification in very elderly multimorbid patients treated in internal medicine wards.