title: [Profile of heart failure according to the department of admission. Implications for multidisciplinary management].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population aging has led to notable changes in heart failure admissions. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics, comorbidity, management, and outcomes of this patient population in three hospital departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis was made of a prospective register that included all patients admitted due to heart failure in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Geriatrics over a period of 45 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 235 patients, 124 (52.7%) were admitted to Internal Medicine, 83 (35.3%) to Cardiology, and 28 (11.9%) to Geriatrics. Mean age was 77.0±20.2 years (Cardiology 71.5±13.5; Internal Medicine 79.2±21.1; Geriatrics 89.9±5.1; p<.001). Preserved ejection fraction was found in 121 (51.5%) patients, and this rate was higher in Internal Medicine (62.5%) and Geriatrics (70.0%) than in Cardiology (31.3%), p<.001. Comorbidity was frequent, especially atrial fibrillation (126; 53.6%), renal disease (89; 37.8%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (65; 27.6%). Infections were the most common decompensating trigger in Internal Medicine (56; 45.2%), and there was often no trigger in Cardiology (45; 54.2%) and Geriatrics (14; 50.0%), p<.0001. The use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, beta-blockers, and spironolactone in patients with systolic dysfunction was higher in Cardiology. During the 45 days follow-up, 23 patients (9.9%) were readmitted, which was more frequent in Internal Medicine than in Cardiology (odds ratio 3.0 [95% confidence interval: 1.1 - 8.6], p=.03), with no other significant comparisons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients admitted due to decompensated heart failure are elderly and often have comorbidities. There are major differences between departments as regards age and clinical profile.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vicent
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayesta
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vidán
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José María de
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miguel-Yanes
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamargo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Véliz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Avilés
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas y de la Salud, Universidad Europea, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mmselles@secardiologia.es.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sellés
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Age; Comorbidity; Comorbilidad; Edad; Heart failure; Insuficiencia cardíaca