2007 NATIONAL REGISTRY OF ADMISSIONS DUE TO HEART FAILURE / Enrique Fairman et al. 33 Key words > Abbreviations > HEART FAILURE 2007 National Registry of Admissions due to Heart Failure ENRIQUE FAIRMAN MTSAC , JORGE THIERER MTSAC , LEANDRO RODRÍGUEZ † , PATRICIA BLANCO MTSAC , JAVIER GUETTA † , SUSANA FERNÁNDEZ, MARÍA MARTURANO, FERNANDO BOTTO MTSAC , RAÚL BORRACCI MTSAC Council on Cardiovascular Emergency Care Research Area. Argentine Society of Cardiology Received: 09/19/2008 Accepted: 01/06/2008 Address for reprints: Dr. Enrique Fairman Argentine Society of Cardiology Área de Investigación SAC Azcuénaga 980 - (1115) Buenos Aires, Argentina e-mail: enriquefairman@ yahoo.com Argentine Society of Cardiology Council on Cardiovascular Emergency Care Research Area. MTSAC Full Member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology † To apply as full member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology SUMMARY Introduction Heart failure represents one of the main causes of hospital admissions, with a high rate of complications; however, its approach does not seem to have improved during recent years. Objectives To become acquainted with the epidemiologycal and clincial profile; to analize the thera- peutic measures and the evolution of patients who were admitted due to descompensated heart failure, during the period of hospitalization, and three months later. Material and Methods Prospective multicenter register of hospitalized patients due to descompensed heart failure in 31 facilities throughout the country that accepted the invitation to participate in the register. Variables related to the presentation and the hospital evolution were analized, as well as the variables 90 days after hospitalization. Results A total of 736 patients were included, with an average of 74 years of age (64-82), 41% women, 75% hypertensive, 27% diabetics, 20% previous infarction, 30% chronic atrial fibrillation, 17% chronic kidney failure, 18% COPD. Only 29% was of ischemic-necrosis etiology. 47% had been admitted over the last year due to heart failure. The most frequent causes of descompensation were infections, stopping treatment, and dietary indiscretion. The severe presentations (cardiogenic shock, acute pulmonary edema, anasarca) occurred in 30% of the individuals. 60% patients were admitted in the critical unit. The median stay in hospi- tal was of 7 (5-11) days. In-hospital mortality was of 8%. After 90 days, readmittance was of 24.5%, and post discharge mortality was of 12.8%. Conclusions The present registry confirms that this is a population made up of older adults with a high incidence of cormobilities. Many descompensations occur due to factors that may be pre- vented. The rate of complications is high and did not reduce over the last decade. REV ARGENT CARDIOL 2009;77:33-39. Heart Failure - Hospitalization - Mortality ECG Electrocardiogram PAMI Programa de Atención Médica Integral COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease SAC Argentine Society of Cardiology DHF Decompensated heart failure SBP Systolic blood pressure BACKGROUND Heart failure is a disease that is growing in preva- lence and incidence, producing a significant reduc- tion in life expectancy and impairment in quality of life. Approximately one out of five patients with heart failure needs to be hospitalized at least once a year. According to statistics of the United States, the rate of admissions due to heart failure increased by 175% from 1979, and currently more than one mil- lion patients are discharged each year with a diagno- sis of decompensated heart failure (DHF). (1) Hospitalization clearly represents worsening of the progression of the disease. Patients discharged after hospitalization due to DHF have increased risk of