## 3 Results
As previously described, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of VExUS grading--neither in the four-grade classification (\(p\) = 0.707) nor in the dichotomized analysis (\(p\) = 0.526). NT-proBNP and CA125 levels were significantly higher in HFrEF patients (median 11,278 vs. 4665 ng/L, \(p\) < 0.001 and 70.6 vs. 37.3 U/mL, \(p\) = 0.032, respectively). Although not statistically significant, HFrEF patients showed a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher serum creatinine levels. Other parameters, including serum and urinary electrolytes, hemoglobin, and inflammatory markers, showed no significant intergroup differences (Table 1). There were no significant differences in intravenous furosemide doses or the use of hypertonic saline. However, higher VExUS scores correlated with a greater use of \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c} \hline \hline
**Variables** & **HfpEF** & **HfrEF** & **\(p\)-Value** \\  & **(\(>\)50\%)** & **(\(<\)50\%)** & **\(p\)-Value** \\ \hline Hypertension & 52 (87) & 26 (87) & 1.000 \\ \hline Diabetes & 20 (33) & 11 (37) & 0.754 \\ \hline Flutter/Atrial fibrillation & 52 (87) & 16 (53) & \(<\)0.001 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Dyslipidemia & 33 (55) & 19 (63) & 0.451 \\ \hline CKD & 17 (28) & 15 (50) & 0.043 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Congestion score (points) & 4 \(\pm\) 2 & 5 \(\pm\) 2 & 0.119 \\ \hline Pleural effusion & 31 (52) & 23 (77) & 0.022 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Ascites & 3 (5) & 6 (20) & 0.020 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Inferior vena cava distension (mm) & 22.4 \(\pm\) 4.3 & 22.8 \(\pm\) 4.8 & 0.693 \\ \hline VExUS grade 0–1 & 31 (59) & 14 (50) & 0.526 \\ \hline VExUS grade 2–3 & 21 (41) & 14 (50) & 0.526 \\ \hline Uric acid (mg/dL) & 7.0 \(\pm\) 3.8 & 7.2 \(\pm\) 3.5 & 0.466 \\ \hline Urea (mg/dL) & 66.7 \(\pm\) 34 & 75.3 \(\pm\) 23 & 0.223 \\ \hline Creatinine (mg/dL) & 1.3 \(\pm\) 0.5 & 1.5 \(\pm\) 0.5 & 0.077 \\ \hline eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m\({}^{2}\)) & 52 \(\pm\) 29 & 44 \(\pm\) 24 & 0.270 \\ \hline Sodium (mmol/L) & 141 \(\pm\) 3.5 & 140 \(\pm\) 5.1 & 0.097 \\ \hline Potassium (mmol/L) & 4.02 \(\pm\) 0.4 & 4.31 \(\pm\) 0.9 & 0.056 \\ \hline Chloride (mmol/L) & 100 \(\pm\) 5 & 101 \(\pm\) 6 & 0.820 \\ \hline Creatinine in urine (mg/dL) & 37.5 \(\pm\) 28.5 & 33.7 \(\pm\) 21.3 & 0.564 \\ \hline Chloride in urine (mg/dL) & 86 \(\pm\) 59 & 87 \(\pm\) 63 & 0.960 \\ \hline Sodium in urine (mg/dL) & 93.5 \(\pm\) 48.5 & 88 \(\pm\) 61 & 0.438 \\ \hline Potassium in urine (mg/dL) & 25.1 \(\pm\) 10.1 & 27.4 \(\pm\) 11.3 & 0.354 \\ \hline Urea in urine (mg/dL) & 522 \(\pm\) 412 & 536 \(\pm\) 470 & 0.883 \\ \hline ACR in urine (mg/g) & 92 (RIC: 237) & 121 (RIC: 236) & 0.406 \\ \hline NTproBNP (ng/dL) & 4665 (RIC: 5662) & 11,278 (RIC: 20,179) & \(<\)0.001 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Ca 125 (U/mL) & 37.3 (RIC: 51.6) & 70.6 (RIC: 120) & 0.032 \({}^{*}\) \\ \hline Hemoglobin (g/dL) & 12.4 \(\pm\) 2 & 12 \(\pm\) 2.4 & 0.368 \\ \hline Hematocrit (\%) & 38.2 \(\pm\) 6.1 & 36.3 \(\pm\) 7.5 & 0.215 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Clinical, analytical, and ultrasound variables according to LVEF. intravenous diuretics. At discharge, guideline-directed medical therapy was underutilized, particularly in HfpEF patients. There were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality (5% HfpEF vs. 10% HfrEF, \(p\) = 0.370), 3-month cardiovascular mortality (8% vs. 14%, \(p\) = 0.514), or all-cause readmission (14% vs. 26%, \(p\) = 0.274). Diuretic rescue was rare in both groups.