[Heart failure in nursing homes: prevalence, hospitalization, compliance to guidelines].
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of heart failure, the hospitalization rates for DRG 127 and the adherence to the recommendations included in the guidelines on pharmacological treatment among very old persons are poorly known.


METHODS
We screened 141 very old subjects (75% females, aged 87+/-4 years), living in 2 nursing homes. Heart failure was defined according to clinical criteria and on the basis of administrative databases and chart reviews. The latter were also used to collect data on hospitalization rates and pharmacological therapy.


RESULTS
We found that: 1) 23% of the subjects were affected by heart failure; 2) with regard to such patients, 26 hospital admissions for DRG 127 occurred in 1999 (18 admissions and 8 readmissions; 3) ACE-inhibitors have been prescribed to 54% of patients with a diagnosis of heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Heart failure affects a huge number of very old persons living in nursing homes. These patients have high hospitalization rates for DRG 127. The adherence to the recommendations included in the guidelines on the pharmacological therapy for very old persons is poor.
Valle
R
R
Unità Operativa di Cardiologia, Ospedale Civile, ASL 10 Veneto Orientale, San Donà di Piave (VE). roberto.valle@libero.it
Chinellato
M
M
Gallo
G
G
Milani
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D015995:Prevalence
Lo scompenso cardiaco nelle case di riposo: prevalenza, ospedalizzazione, aderenza alle linee guida.