title: A multicentre cohort study of acute heart failure syndromes in Korea: rationale, design, and interim observations of the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Korean Acute Heart Failure registry (KorAHF) aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, hospital course, and long-term outcomes of patients hospitalized for acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) in Korea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This is a prospective observational multicentre cohort study funded by the Korea National Institute of Health. Patients hospitalized for AHFS in 10 tertiary university hospitals across the country have been consecutively enrolled since March 2011. The study is expected to complete the scheduled enrolment of 5000 patients some time in 2014, and follow-up is planned through 2016. As of April 2012, the interim analysis of 2066 consecutive subjects was performed to understand the baseline characteristics of the population. The mean age was 69 ± 14 years; 55% were male; and 50% were de novo heart failure. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 40 ± 18%. Ischaemia was both the leading cause (38%) and the most frequent aggravating factor (26%) of AHFS. ACE inhibitors/ARBs and beta-blockers were prescribed at discharge in 65% and 51% of the patients, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 5.2%, and 0.9% of patients received urgent heart transplantation. Low blood pressure and azotaemia were the most important predictors of in-hospital mortality. The post-discharge 30-day and 180-day all-cause mortality were 1.2% and 9.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis reveals that the prognosis of AHFS in Korea is poor and that there are specific features, including lower blood pressures at admission and lower rates of heart failure related to hypertension, compared with other registries. Adherence to current guidelines should be improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Jai
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hae-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Han-Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin-Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eun-Seok
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Min-Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Joong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Kuk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Shung Chull
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Suk Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sang Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Seok-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Il-Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung-Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Youngkeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hyun-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myeong-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Acute heart failure syndrome; Characteristic; Clinical outcome; Heterogeneity; Management; Registry