Clinical Correlates of Common Acute Heart Failure Syndrome

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a medical emergency with different clinical syndromes / presentations. The clinical syndrome guides management decisions, and stratifies prognosis. The most common clinical syndrome of AHF and its associates are not established in our practice.

To determine the most common clinical syndrome of AHF and its correlates.

This was a prospective cross-sectional study of hospitalized AHF patients. It was conducted in the medical wards and emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Data on socio-demographic and clinical variables were obtained. Relevant data from electrocardiography and echocardiography were also documented. The data were managed as appropriate and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

AHF constituted 159 (15.8%) of 1,006 medical hospitalizations. The mean age was 63.21years, and males constituted 84 (52.8%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction and systolic blood pressure were 36.83% and 119.81mmHg, respectively. The frequency of acute decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF) and acute de novo HF (ADNVHF) were 120 (75.5%) and 39 (24.5%), respectively. Precipitating factors and comorbidities were detected in 111 (69.8%) and 84 (52.6%), respectively. The association of AHF with comorbidities, precipitants, and blood pressure gave p values of 0.000, 0.012, and 0.000, respectively.

AHF constitutes 15.8% of medical hospitalizations in our center. Acute decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF) is the most common AHF syndrome. It is associated with comorbidities, precipitating factors, and lower blood pressure. It should therefore be the first consideration in any patient presenting with AHF in the emergency.