Epidemiology of Hospitalization in Patients with Heart Failure

Heart failure patients are hospitalized often, but often not for heart failure.

Interest in reducing rates of rehospitalization for heart failure is growing rapidly. However, we know remarkably little about the basic epidemiology of hospitalization in patients with heart failure. In this study from Olmsted County, Minnesota, investigators characterized the frequency of and reasons for all hospitalizations in a community-based cohort of 1077 patients with incident heart failure from 1987 through 2006. Participants were predominantly elders (mean age, 76.8), and mean LV ejection fraction was 46.3%. Only 56% of patients were hospitalized at the time heart failure was diagnosed.

During a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, 4359 hospitalizations occurred, amounting to 0.87 hospitalizations per patient-year of follow-up. More than h…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)