title: A Retrospective Study of the Treatment Outcome of Drug Therapies used in Heart Failure Patients with Associated Co-morbidities in a Tertiary Care Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure is one of the most common heart problems seen in the Indian population. There are various drugs used to prevent further progression of the disease. In India, there are few studies in relation to treatment outcome in a tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the treatment outcome of drug therapies used in heart failure patients with associated co-morbidities in a tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study conducted on 250 patients with heart failure. Details collected using the proforma were demography (age, gender); medical history; medication history for heart failure patients on admission and discharge; ejection fraction; median length of stay in hospital; number of readmissions & in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty eight patients categorized into LVSD group (ejection fraction <40%) and 122 patients in PSF group (ejection fraction > 40%). Medical history of coronary artery disease (54%) was significantly higher in LVSD group (p<0.05) and anaemia (19%) was significantly higher in PSF group (p<0.05). On admission, inotropes (30%), digoxin (59%) and statins (54%) were prescribed more in LVSD patients (p<0.05) while calcium channel blockers (20%) were prescribed more in PSF group (p<0.05). At discharge, patients with LVSD were receiving ACE inhibitors (51%), beta blockers (30%), digoxin (67%) and statins (59%) (p<0.05) while calcium channel blockers (20%) was prescribed more in PSF group. The median length of stay was slightly higher in patients with PSF (7 days) as compared to LVSD (6 days). In-hospital mortality was lower in patients with PSF (6%) than patients with LVSD (20%). The percentage of readmissions within one month was slightly higher in patients with PSF (15%) compared to LVSD (14%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Length of stay in hospital was 6-7 days in heart failure patients. In hospital mortality in LVSD patients (20%) was higher compared to PSF patients (6%). A 15% heart failure patient were readmitted within 1month of discharge.
authors: Tutor, Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors: Harish
authors: H
authors: Thanusubramanian
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors: Meena Kumari Kamal
authors: MK
authors: Kishore
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Cardiology, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors: Ranjan
authors: R
authors: Shetty
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors: Mohan Babu
authors: MB
authors: Amberkar
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Hypertension; In-hospital mortality; Readmissions