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[Epidemiological events related to decompensated heart failure]

A Hermida Ameijeiras1, M Pazo Núñez, R de la Fuente Cid

  • 1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña. ameijeiras@sergas.es

Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|March 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure differ significantly from clinical trial populations, complicating treatment application. Key factors include advanced NYHA stages, dementia, and stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Heart failure is a significant cause of hospitalization.
  • Understanding the profile of hospitalized patients is crucial for effective management.
  • Clinical trials may not fully represent the real-world patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure in a tertiary hospital.
  • To identify demographic, clinical, and etiological factors associated with hospitalization.
  • To compare the profile of these patients with those typically included in clinical trials.

Main Methods:

  • Observational, retrospective study design.
  • Data collected from clinical records of heart failure patients hospitalized in 2005.
  • Randomized data registration from a tertiary hospital setting.

Main Results:

  • 209 patients included (average age 78.6 years, 52.4% male).
  • High comorbidity rate (87.55%); 72.4% had preserved systolic function.
  • Respiratory infections were the primary cause; ischemic-hypertensive cardiomyopathy was the most frequent etiology. Average stay: 12.9 days; mortality: 9.56%.

Conclusions:

  • Hospitalized decompensated heart failure patients differ from clinical trial cohorts.
  • This disparity poses challenges for applying evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
  • Advanced NYHA stages, dementia, and stroke were identified as key risk factors for mortality.
Abstract

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