Clinico-epidemiological description of patients with acute heart failure presenting to the emergency department

Abstract

Acute heart failure is a common cause of consultation to emergency services around the world. However, the clinical profile of patients with acute heart failure among us is unknown.

Objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute heart failure who present to the emergency department.

Methods: a prospective analytical study was performed.

Results: one hundred and six (106) patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 62.4 years (16-94), 52.8% of whom were males. The most common causes of heart failure were: hypertensive cardiomyopathy (45.2%), idiopathic (31.1%), ischemic heart disease (14.1%), valve disease (8.4%), viral and peripartum cardiomyopathy (0.9%). 11,2% were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. Treatments prior to admission included: digoxin (26.4%), diuretics (73%), ACE inhibitors (73%), beta blockers (32%), and spironolactone (34.9%). The functional class prior to the admission was: NYHA I in 1.8%, NYHA II 26.4%, NYHA III 57.5%, NYHA IV 14.3%. Pulmonary edema was present in 10.37% (11), the average value of the natriuretic brain peptide was 2356 pg/ml. 67.2% had low ejection fraction (less than 40%). The length of the hospital stay averaged 11, 42 days (1-69).

Conclusions: upon comparison with international heart failure records, our population with acute heart failure is younger and with predominantly non-ischemic etiology. Beta blockers are underused, but there is an adequate use of ACE inhibitors