Left ventricular systolic time intervals, including pre-ejection period (PEP), ejection time (ET), and their ratio (PEP/ET), is determined by the systolic and diastolic function and ventriculo-arterial coupling. The investigators have shown the usefulness of the electromechanical activation time (EMAT, equals PEP minus isovolumic contraction time) in the prediction of cardiac mortality or re-hospitalization for heart failure in patients with the acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS). Therefore, the objective of the present proposal is to compare 12-month outcomes of EMAT-guided vs symptom-guided heart failure therapy in patients with AHFS.

Left ventricular systolic time intervals, including pre-ejection period (PEP), ejection time (ET), and their ratio (PEP/ET), is determined by the systolic and diastolic function and ventriculo-arterial coupling. The investigators have shown the usefulness of the electromechanical activation time (EMAT, equals PEP minus isovolumic contraction time) in the prediction of cardiac mortality or re-hospitalization for heart failure in patients with the acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS). Therefore, the objective of the present proposal is to compare 12-month outcomes of EMAT-guided vs symptom-guided heart failure therapy in patients with AHFS.

A total of 120 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized at Taipei Veterans General Hospital or National Taiwan University Hospital due to AHFS will be enrolled in three years, and randomized into 2 treatment strategies, that is, intensified (EMAT-guided) therapy or standard (symptom-guided) therapy. Systolic time intervals and EMAT normalized by cardiac cycle length (%) are measured separately by separate automated acoustic devices. All parameters will be assessed within 24 hours before discharge, and at 2 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Patients randomized to the EMAT-guided group will undergo intensified therapy of heart failure with the goal to reduce both %EMAT<15 and symptoms to NYHA ≤II. Patients randomized to the symptom-guided group will have standard medical care, with the goal to reduce symptoms to NYHA ≤II. The primary efficacy variable is defined as the time to cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization within 1 year after randomization. This study will be the first prospective randomized controlled trial to study the management of patients with AHFS using EMAT and will provide unique information comparing two treatment strategies irrespective of natriuretic peptides regarding prognosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are hospitalized due to AHFS and have a plasma NT-proBNP ≥ 1600 pg/ml at admission.
2. Patients give written consents to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with an implanted pacemaker.
2. Patients with chronic kidney disease, stage 5 and warranted dialysis.
3. Patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
4. Patients with cardiac temponade or constrictive pericarditis.
5. Acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack, cardiac, carotid or major vascular surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or carotid angioplasty, within the past 1 months prior to index hospitalization.
6. Coronary or carotid artery disease likely to require surgical or percutaneous intervention within the 6 months after discharge at index hospitalization.
7. Patients with left ventricular assistance device (LVAD device).
8. Documented ventricular arrhythmia with syncope episodes within past 3 months, prior to index hospitalization that is untreated.
9. Symptomatic bradycardia or second or third degree heart block without a pacemaker.
10. Implantation of a CRT (cardiac resynchronization therapy) device within the prior 1 month before index hospitalization or intent to implant a CRT device.
11. Presence of hemodynamically significant mitral and/or aortic valve disease, except mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dilatation.
12. Presence of other hemodynamically significant obstructive lesions of left ventricular outflow tract, including aortic and sub-aortic stenosis.
13. Severe primary pulmonary, renal or hepatic disease.
14. Presence of any other disease with a life expectancy of < 1 year.
15. Subjects get pregnant or will be pregnant within 1 month.