Clinical characteristics and short-term outcome of patients admitted with heart failure in Belgium: results from the BIO-HF registry

Abstract

Aims Hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (HF) is associated with poor outcome. As specifi c data for Belgium are currently not available, the aim of the Belgian BIO-HF registry is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, in-hospital mortality and outcomes after discharge of patients hospitalized for acute HF.

Methods and results This is a prospective observational cohort study conducted in 2 Belgian hospitals. For the current analysis, the fi rst 904 patients who were enrolled between 2008 and 2012 were selected for assessment of clinical characteristics and short-term outcome (all-cause mortality and all-cause mortality + rehospitalization 3 months after discharge). Mean age of patients was 77 years (51% = 80 years), 44% were women and 64% had an eGFR < 60 ml/min/m². Mean LVEF was 42% with only 40% with LVEF = 35%, 20% with LVEF between 36 and 49% and 40% with LVEF = 50%. Inhospital mortality was 7.1% with a mortality of 22% in the subgroup of patients with a creatinine = 2 mg/dl and systolic blood pressure = 110 mmHg on admission. Three months after discharge, the all-cause mortality rate was 7.6% and the all-cause mortality or hospitalization for HF 18.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed eGFR, COPD, absence of beta blockers and atrial fi brillation at discharge (all P < 0.05) as independent predictors of all-cause mortality.

Conclusions In this Belgian registry of mainly elderly patients admitted with acute HF, a relatively preserved EF and a reduced kidney function were present in the majority of patients. In-hospital and short-term mortality after discharge remain high and are mainly related to the presence of comorbidities such as renal failure and COPD. Co-morbidities should be the focus for future eff orts to improve the dire outcome of these patients.

Key Words:

• Clinical characteristics
• outcome
• heart failure
• hospitalization.