A Case-Control Study on Risk Factors and Outcomes in Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) represents an important health issue characterised by considerable morbidity and mortality. This study sought to identify risk factors for CHF and to evaluate clinical outcomes between CHF patients and control subjects.

Data were obtained through interviews, physical examinations, and medical records. Risk variables encompassed hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, tobacco use, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, dietary practices, age, gender, and familial history of cardiovascular disease. The outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, hospitalisation, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), quality of life as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), and functional level according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Statistical analyses including t-tests, Chi-square tests, logistic regression and Cox regression.

The findings indicated that hypertension (71.8% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.001), diabetes (47.9% vs. 28.2%, p = 0.002), dyslipidaemia (54.7% vs. 41.0%, p = 0.04), smoking (42.7% vs. 29.1%, p = 0.03), and physical inactivity (65.8% vs. 41.9%, p < 0.001) were more prevalent in cases. Cases exhibited increased hospitalisations (1.8 ± 1.2 vs. 0.7 ± 0.9, p < 0.001), prolonged stays (10.5 ± 5.4 vs. 6.2 ± 3.8 days, p < 0.001), elevated 30-day rehospitalisation rates (21.4% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.007), and a greater incidence of intensive care units (ICU) admissions (17.1% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.01). All-cause mortality (35.9% vs. 17.1%, p = 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (25.6% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.003), and MACE (51.3% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.001) were greater in cases. Quality of life (45.8 ± 12.4 vs. 25.6 ± 10.3, p < 0.001) and functional status (55.6% vs. 23.9%, p < 0.001) were inferior in cases.

CHF patients had greater rates of modifiable risk variables and worse clinical outcomes than controls, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive risk management.