The type of acute heart failure and the costs of hospitalization.
BACKGROUND
The costs of different classes of acute HF (AHF) are not known.


METHODS
AHF patients (N = 620) were divided in a national, prospective, observational study into five clinical classes: cardiogenic shock, pulmonary oedema, congestive HF, hypertensive HF, and right HF. Index episode and 6-month readmissions were assessed and hospitalization costs were evaluated.


RESULTS
The length of index episode, ICU/CCU stay and costs of index episode and cumulative 6-month costs differed significantly between the clinical classes. The highest cumulative 6-month hospitalization costs, 25,963 (15,053-44778) € (mean, 95% confidence interval) incurred in cardiogenic shock, followed by pulmonary oedema, 12,912 (11,006-15,148) €, and congestive HF, 9475 (8550-10,500) €.


CONCLUSIONS
AHF leads to significant need for hospital care and high costs which differ significantly between clinical classes of AHF.
Harjola
Veli-Pekka
VP
Costa
Susana
S
Sund
Reijo
R
Ylikangas
Stiina
S
Siirilä-Waris
Krista
K
Melin
John
J
Peuhkurinen
Keijo
K
Nieminen
Markku S
MS
D000208:Acute Disease; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000191:economics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies