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Annual rates of admission and seasonal variations in hospitalizations for heart failure
Author(s) -
MartínezSellés Manuel,
Robles José A. García,
Prieto Luis,
Serrano José A.,
Muñoz Roberto,
Frades Elisa,
Almendral Jesús
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/s1388-9842(02)00116-2
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , ejection fraction , demography , population , diagnosis code , pediatrics , mortality rate , environmental health , sociology
Aims: To investigate the annual hospitalization rate and seasonal variation in confirmed heart failure (HF) admissions. Methods and Results: Records from all admissions to one hospital during 1 year with a HF diagnostic code were reviewed. From 1953 admissions, 595 were excluded because they did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria. A total of 1069 patients had 1358 admissions with confirmed HF. Mean age was 74.8±11.5 years, 42% were males. The admission data were matched with data from the municipal census with 537 666 people aged ≥15 years. There were 2.5 admissions per 1000 for the adult population and 26.5/1000 in those aged ≥80 years. There were 444 males and 625 females, giving a higher rate of admission for female patients 2.2/1000 vs. 1.7/1000 ( P< 0.0001), although age adjusted rates in females were higher only for ≥80 years. Echocardiogram was performed in 706 patients (66%), 325 (46%) had a normal ejection fraction. This proportion increased in females—64% vs. 29% males—and in older patients—55% in ≥75 vs. 39% in <75 years. Mortality during the first admission of 1996 was 8.3%. There was a seasonal variation in HF hospitalizations ( P< 0.0001) peaking at 25% above average in January and dipping to 33% below average in August. Conclusion: The rate of HF admissions was 2.5/1000 with an elderly preponderance and a higher rate of admission in males <80 years and in females ≥80 years. A seasonal variation ranging from 25% above average in January to 33% below average in August was observed.