Short to long term mortality of patients hospitalised with heart failure in the Czech Republic--a report from the EuroHeart Failure Survey.
OBJECTIVE
The European Society of Cardiology initiated the EuroHeart Failure Survey to obtain more data about the quality of care in patients hospitalised with suspected heart failure (HF). The Czech Republic was 1 of the 24 European Society countries included in the survey. The aim of this report is to extend the original follow-up period of 12 weeks out to 4 years to assess mortality.


METHODS
All admitted patients were screened according to the EuroHeart Survey Protocol, over a 6-week period in six hospitals in Pilsen, Prague and Brno in the year 2000. Annual mortality and cause of death were obtained from the Prague Institute for Health Statistical Information (UZIS Praha).


RESULTS
A total of 2365 patients were screened and about 25% of all admitted patients fulfilled the criteria for HF. About 14% of patients died between admission and the 12-week follow-up, 36% of male and 42% of female patients died during the 4-year follow-up (2000-2003). Cardiovascular diseases were the main causes of death (92%). Deceased patients were significantly older, had lower haemoglobin and total plasma cholesterol level, and had renal insufficiency and higher levels of big endothelin and BNP than the survivors. Mortality risk was increased independently by positive history of previous myocardial infarction OR=2.39 (1.59-3.59), by age OR=1.03 (1.01-1.05) and by plasma creatinine level OR=1.04 (1.01-1.07). Treatment with diuretics and digoxin was associated with a higher risk of death; by contrast, a protective effect of beta-blockers and statins was found in these HF patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with HF were older and had a poor prognosis; approximately one third of the patients will die within 3 years.
Rosolova
Hana
H
Centre of Preventive Cardiology of the 2nd Medical Department University Hospital, E. Benese 13, 305 99 Pilsen, Czech Republic. rosolova@fnplzen.cz
Cech
Jakub
J
Simon
Jaroslav
J
Spinar
Jindrich
J
Jandova
Ruzena
R
Widimský sen
Jiri
J
Holubec
Lubomir
L
Topolcan
Ondrej
O
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D013997:Time Factors
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors