[Predictive factors for readmission in heart failure patients].
OBJECTIVE
Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent and increasing disease and represents one of the main causes of hospital admission. It is associated with an important morbi-mortality and a high rate of readmission. The objective of this study was to know the clinical characteristics of admitted patients with HF and to detect any valuable prognosis factors.


METHODS
Prospective study of admitted HF patients between May'99 and May'00. Readmission rate was evaluated six months later.


RESULTS
204 patients were included with an average age of 78 (9.9) years. 66% were women. Diabetes mellitus (DM) (36.4%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (23.4%) were the most outstanding associated pathologies. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) was the most frequent etiology in 33.4% cases. Mean time of admission was 10 days. 34% patients had systolic dysfunction (SD). Men with IHD presented a higher rate of SD (p < 0.001). Mortality was 12.4%, especially in COPD patients (p < 0.011). IECAs were prescribed in 71.2% in the SD group. Readmission rate at 6 months was about 43%. Patients with renal failure (p < 0.04) and those with a more impaired functional class (p < 0.02) displayed a higher readmission rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Several clinical factors determine the morbi-mortality and prognosis including an older age, associated comorbility, type of cardiopathy and presence of systolic dysfunction. All these factors are detected at the time of hospital admission.
Galofré
Nuria
N
Servicio de Medicina, Hospital Municipal de Badalona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. 27827jpm@comb.es
San Vicente
Ludmila
L
González
Josep Anton
JA
Planas
Francesc
F
Vila
Joaquim
J
Grau
Jordi
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies