title: [Predictors of hospital death and prolonged hospitalization in patients with cardiac failure in Chilean hospitals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common causes for hospital admission.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical predictors of mortality and prolonged hospital stay among patients admitted for HF in Chilean hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective registry of 14 centers. Patients admitted for HF in functional class III and IV were included. Epidemiological, clinical data, functional class, decompensation cause, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, treatment and evolution were registered. The endpoint was hospital death and hospital stay greater than 10 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 646 patients (mean age 69+/-13 years, 56% men) was collected. The main etiologies of HF were hypertensive in 29.6%, ischemic in 27.1% and valvular in 20%. Mean hospital stay was 10+/-9 days and mortality was 5.6%. Independent predictors of death and prolonged hospital stay were serum sodium <130 mEq/L at admission (odds ratio (OR) 2.6, confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-5.9), serum albumin <3 g/dL (OR 3.2, CI= 1.42-7.2) and a history of hypertension (OR 1.98, CI = 1.1-3.85). The model predicted correctly the occurrence of the endpoint in 67% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients admitted for worsening HF, low serum sodium, decreased serum albumin on admission and a history of hypertension increase the risk for in-hospital death and prolonged hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. pcastro@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castro G
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verdejo P
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vukasovic R
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcés
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution