Twelve-year trends of hospitalizations and survival of acute decompensated heart failure: Data from a regional tertiary center.

Abstract

Background: Recent trends in in-hospital acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) have been reported in several registry studies demonstrating no improvement in terms of mortality rate and readmission rate due to heart failure (HF) exacerbation. Trends in management of ADHF may be different in areas where the aging rate is faster.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 1121 ADHF patients hospitalized between 2008 and 2019. The study patients were classified into three groups based on 4-year periods. Our primary study interests were trends over time in age, length of hospital stay, and clinical outcomes, with endpoints, including 1-year mortality and readmission for HF (reHF).

Results: During the 12-year period, the length of hospital stay was not reduced, but rather prolonged in Period 3 (p < 0.001). Temporal trends in 1-year clinical outcomes showed both 1-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality tended to increase. No improvement in 1-year reHF rates was observed over time. All-cause mortality was associated with Period 2 (95%CI 1.02-4.97), Period 3 (95%CI 1.30-6.05), older age (≥79 years, 95%CI 1.01-3.20), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (95%CI 1.08-3.62), higher loop diuretics dose (95%CI 1.07-1.25), higher B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (95%CI 1.00, 1.01), and decreased hemoglobin levels (95%CI 0.74-0.97). Factors associated with cardiovascular mortality included Period 3 (95%CI 1.02-7.31), higher loop diuretics dose (HR 1.17, 95%CI 1.07-1.27), higher BNP levels (95%CI1.00-1.01), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels on admission (95%CI 0.70-0.95). Predictors of reHF were number of previous HF hospitalizations (95%CI 1.13-1.94), lower eGFR levels (95%CI 0.79-0.94) on admission and suboptimal guideline-directed medical therapy (95%CI 0.50-0.79).

Conclusions: Despite the recent advances in medical therapy, readmission rate in patients with ADHF did not improve during the 12-year observation period. The mortality rate worsened over time. These findings warrant prompt establishment of more effective approaches to prevent and treat ADHF.