Characterization of diastolic dysfunction heart failure following an acute hospitalization for heart failure in an...

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with diastolic dysfunction heart failure (DHF) in a safety-net institution.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize characteristics for adults with DHF hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2010.

Of 483 patients with an ADHF-related admission, only 83 (17.2%) had pure DHF. Mean age was 59.6 ± 13.1 years old, with nearly equal proportions of male and female patients. Hypertension (89.2%), coronary artery disease (74.7%), and diabetes (63.9%) comorbidities were most common. Diuretics (91.6%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (69.9%), and β blockers (60.3%) were most frequently prescribed on discharge.

In our population, DHF is more prevalent in younger patients of any ethnicity, especially Hispanic/Latino and black ethnicities, compared with nationwide estimates. Our patients with DHF had higher ejection fractions and were prescribed higher rates of traditional heart failure medications.