[Epidemiological events related to decompensated heart failure].

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the profile of patients with decompensated heart failure hospitalized in a tertiary hospital.

Methods: It was designed an observational and retrospective study where data from clinical records of patients suffering from heart failure along 2005 were registered randomly.

Results: 209 patients were collected (average age: 78.6 +/- 9.1; male: 52.4%) with a comorbidity rate of 87.55%. Almost one third of them have not stimation of systolic function and among the others 72.4% have it preserved. Most of decompensated were due to respiratory infections. Ischemic-hipertensive cardiopathy was the most frequent aetiology of systolic disfunction. Average stay was 12.9 days with a mortality rate of 9.56%. Its main risk factors were advanced stages in NYHA od Red Cross scales, as so as dementia or ictus.

Conclusions: The present study shows a patient hospitalized for decompensated heart failure roughly different from that one reported at clinical trials. It makes difficult to apply therapeutical interventions, previously well documented to be useful.