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Current Approaches to the Diagnosis of Cardiogenic Shock in Emergency Departments

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cardiogenic shock constitutes a medical emergency with high morbidity and mortality, with in-hospital mortality rates that remain between 30% and 50%, despite the advances observed in cardiovascular therapies. The syndrome is characterised by the inability of the heart to maintain a cardiac output adequate to tissue metabolic demands, resulting in systemic hypoperfusion and progressive organ dysfunction. In this context, early diagnosis and appropriate risk stratification play a fundamental role in clinical management. The present study aimed to systematise current evidence on the diagnostic approaches to cardiogenic shock in emergency departments, with emphasis on biomarkers, methods of haemodynamic monitoring and risk stratification tools. This is a narrative review of the literature conducted in the PubMed database, using the descriptors “Shock, Cardiogenic” and “Diagnosis”. The studies analysed demonstrated that the association between clinical assessment, conventional and emerging biomarkers, bedside echocardiography and invasive haemodynamic monitoring improves the early identification of cardiogenic shock and the prognostic stratification of patients. In addition, innovative biomarkers, such as adrenomedullin and cDPP3, as well as integrated risk scores, showed potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and the prediction of clinical outcomes. It is concluded that the adoption of a multimodal diagnostic approach constitutes an essential element for the early recognition and appropriate management of cardiogenic shock in emergency departments, although further studies are still needed to validate the routine incorporation of emerging biomarkers into clinical practice.

Source: International Seven Journal of Multidisciplinary

DOI: 10.56238/isevmjv5n3-020