title: Heart failure exacerbation leading to hospital admission: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this pilot study was to investigate cause(s) of heart failure (HF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The emergency department and medical wards at Malmö University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of compliance, comprehension and optimal treatment on a population basis between men and women, younger (< or =75 years) and elderly (>75 years) patients, and patients in different New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes, in order to assess if exacerbation could have been caused by any of these factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 47 patients included, 60% reported high compliance, with significant differences between women and men, and between patients in NYHA class IV and patients in NYHA class III. Comprehension on self-care was poor. Only 30% weighed themselves regularly and 45% did not limit the amount of fluids. No more than 28% reported they would contact a health professional in the case of experiencing more symptoms. Suboptimal treatment was also found to be a great concern. The majority were treated with recommended agents, but had not achieved target dose as recommended in the guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study indicates suboptimal HF management of patients with HF prior to hospital admission due to HF exacerbation. A larger study is needed to assess the extent of the problem, and establish the need and nature of management improvement in different patient subgroups.
authors: Therapeutics Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia. eleh5333@uni.sydney.edu.au.|Division of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. eleh5333@uni.sydney.edu.au.
authors: Elin C
authors: EC
authors: Lehnbom
authors: Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Anna C
authors: AC
authors: Bergkvist
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Klas
authors: K
authors: Gränsbo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods