[Influence of age in mortality of patients with heart failure].
OBJECTIVE
Heart failure (HF) is one of the most frequent diagnosis in Internal Medicine Units. High age of patients is an important characteristic in these admissions. Our objective was to evaluate how age interact with mortality, to medium-term, in HF after a decompensated episode.


METHODS
Through the patient medical record we obtained data about patients hospitalised in a Internal Medicine Unit, with HF diagnosis, for a year (from September 2000 to August 2001) and their survival at 1st January 2003. 215 patients were reviewed.


RESULTS
During follow-up, 60 patients died (27.9% of overall). In elderly patients, we observed a higher number of women and less use of echocardiography and treatment with beta-blockers and warfarin (in patients with atrial fibrillation). In Cox proportional-hazards model, age (OR 1.043 IC 95% 1.002-1.085), days of hospitalization (OR 1.04 IC 95% 1.003-1.078), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.51 IC 95% 1.37-4.60) and do not prescribe warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (OR 2.71 IC 95% 1.10-6.60) were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Age was an important prognostic factor in patients with HF. Clinical trials should be done in patients with these characteristics. So, we can know better clinical evolution of HF in this population.
Ruiz-Ruiz
F J
FJ
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Cínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain. fruiz@comz.org
Samperiz Legarre
P
P
Ruiz Laiglesia
F J
FJ
Pérez Calvo
J I
JI
Morales Rull
J L
JL
Dolz Aspas
R
R
Flamarique Pascual
A
A
Amores Ferreras
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged