A history of arterial hypertension does not affect mortality in patients hospitalised with congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the importance of a history of hypertension on long-term mortality in a large cohort of patients hospitalised with congestive heart failure (CHF).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 5491 consecutive patients, of whom 24% had a history of hypertension. 60% of the patients had non-systolic CHF, and 57% had ischaemic heart disease.


METHODS
38 primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals in Denmark.


METHODS
Total mortality 5-8 years after inclusion in the registry.


RESULTS
Female sex and preserved left ventricular systolic function was more common among patients with a history of hypertension. 72% of the patients died during follow up. A hypertension history did not affect mortality risk (hazard ratio (HR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92 to 1.07). Correction for differences between the normotensive and hypertensive groups at baseline in a multivariate model did not alter this result (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.17, p = 0.06). The hazard ratio was similar in patients with and without a history of ischaemic heart disease. Hence, a specific effect of hypertension in the group of patients with CHF with ischaemic heart disease, as suggested in earlier studies, could not be confirmed.


CONCLUSIONS
A history of arterial hypertension did not affect mortality in patients hospitalised with CHF.
Gustafsson
F
F
Department of Cardiology B, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. finng@dadlnet.dk
Torp-Pedersen
C
C
Seibaek
M
M
Burchardt
H
H
Nielsen
O Wendelboe
OW
Køber
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis