SHORT TERM MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY FOLLOW UP OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED SYSTOLIC HEART FAILURE PATIENTS AFTER THEIR FIRST ADMISSION

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to follow up the clinical course of systolic heart failure
patients for three months after their first admission because of heart failure,
including morbidity and mortality.
Methodology: 49 patients were admitted to our police hospital in the period from
th th 7 October 2008 to 7 March 2009 with verified heart failure depending on
Framingham criteria and whose left ventricular ejection fraction < 45% evaluated
echocardiographically within 24 hours of admission. They were prospectively
followed up for 3 months.
Results: Coronary artery disease was the main cause of heart failure (75.6%).
Hypertension was present in (67.3%). Mean length of stay during the first
admission was 11.8 ± 5.5 days. Mitral regurge was highly prevalent and
frequent premature ventricular contactions were the most common complication
occurred. Atrial fibrillation was present in 24.5% of patients. The 1 and 3 months
mortality rates were 4.1 and 6.1%, respectively. Mortality rate was higher in
elderly patients > 70 years, low systolic blood pressure, low diastolic blood
pressure, and high blood urea patients. 30.4% of the 46 survivors experienced at
least one hospital readmission during follow-up. Readmission was associated
more with the following variables; low left ventricular ejection fraction, poor
compliance with diet and medication, and high RBS.
Conclusion: Despite the advances in treatment and diagnostic procedures, newly
diagnosed heart failure still carries a grave prognosis. Morbidiy and mortality
rates are still high.