[Hospitalized congestive heart failure patients with preserved versus abnormal left ventricular systolic function].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To compare the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction versus normal systolic function.

METHODS:

Clinical records of all admissions with a heart failure diagnostic code over a one-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Of 1,953 admissions, 595 were excluded because they did not fulfill diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,069 patients had 1,358 admissions with confirmed heart failure (1.27 admissions/patient). Of them, 706 patients (66%) had an echocardiographic study and 381 (54%) had ventricular dysfunction. Ventricular dysfunction was associated with previous myocardial infarction (OR = 5.8), left bundle-branch block (OR = 5.0), male sex (OR = 2.0), and smoking (OR = 1.8). Meanwhile, a negative association existed with age (OR = 0.97), previous valve surgery (OR = 0.46) and atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.49). Patients with ventricular dysfunction had more hospitalizations in the cardiology department and received more vasodilators, aspirin, and nitrates on discharge. The prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors prescription to patients with ventricular dysfunction increased with the severity of ventricular dysfunction and was more frequent in patients admitted to the cardiology department. Systolic dysfunction increased hospital mortality (OR = 2.9).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients admitted with heart failure and systolic dysfunction had a different clinical profile than patients with a normal ejection fraction. Seven clinical variables predicted the presence of systolic dysfunction. Patients with ventricular dysfunction had more hospital mortality and were prescribed vasodilators, aspirin, and nitrates more often on discharge.

• Authors: Manuel Martínez-Sellés, José A García Robles, Luis Prieto, Elisa Frades, Roberto Muñoz, Oscar Díaz Castro, Jesús Almendral
• Journal: Revista espanola de cardiologia (Rev Esp Cardiol) Vol. 55 Issue 6 Pg. 579-86 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0300-8932 [Print] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Características de los pacientes ingresados por insuficiencia cardíaca según el estado de su función ventricular.
• PMID: 12113716 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Electrocardiography
• Female
• Heart Failure (drug therapy, mortality, physiopathology)
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Systole (physiology)
• Ventricular Function, Left (physiology)