FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMISSION OF HEART FAILURE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To assess and identify various factors which are responsible forhospital admission of patients with heart failure at coronary care unit of a cardiaccenter in rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study included consecutive patientsadmitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of Chandka Medical College HospitalLarkana from January to June 2016. All the patients were known cases of cardiacfailure, due to any etiology, and on anti-failure treatment and their disease wasstable on medications. Patients presented with new onset of heart failure wereexcluded. After consent demographic information, risk factors, and informationregarding precipitating factors were obtained.

Results: A total of 104 patients were included in this study, male to female ratiowas 2:1, mean age was 57.82 (± 11.65) years. Hypertension was presented in57 (54.8%) patients, 34 (32.7%) patients were diabetics, and smokers were 49(47.1%) patients. The majority, 66 (63.5%), were presented with shortness ofbreath, 25 (24.0%) with orthopnea, nine (8.7%) with frank pulmonary oedema,and remaining four (3.8%) with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Precipitatingfactors causing rehospitalization were noncompliance of treatment 57 (54.8%),chest infections 18 (17.3%), cardiac arhythmia 11 (10.6%), myocardialischemia seven (6.7%), and remaining 11 (10.6%) had other miscellaneousfactors. One patient died during the hospital course.

Conclusion: Rehospitalization of patients with heart failure in the majority ofpatients was due to noncompliance to treatment, other causes includerespiratory tract infections and myocardial ischemia.