14 Nov Regardless of Ejection Fraction, Hospitalization for Heart Failure Linked To Increased Risk of Death
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Shah
Kevin S. Shah, M.D.
Cardiology Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition and progressive disease which is associated with a high-risk of hospitalization and death. One of the principle ways in which heart function is estimated is the use of ultrasound to calculate the ejection fraction of the heart, an estimate of the heart’s pump function. The ejection fraction can help predict how long patients will live and affects decision-making with regards to what medications may help their condition.
A total of 39,982 patients from 254 hospitals who were admitted for Heart failure between 2005 and 2009 were included. They were followed over time to see if they were admitted to the hospital again or if they died during this period. We compared three subgroups within this large group of patients based on their estimated ejection fraction. Across subgroups, the 5-year risk of hospitalization and death was high when compared with the U.S. population. Furthermore, the survival for patients with a diagnosis of heart failure who have been hospitalized once for this condition have a similarly poor 5-year risk of death and re-hospitalization, regardless of their estimated ejection fraction.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Response: Heart failure is a global epidemic affecting greater than 35 million individuals worldwide. Readers should take away from this report the fact that once an elderly patient is hospitalized with a diagnosis of heart failure, their long-term risk of death and re-hospitalization is significantly greater than the general population. Moreover, these findings apply across the spectrum of ejection fraction. This finding is important to the public because it underscores the serious nature of the diagnosis of heart failure and the long-term risk associated with it.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: The next steps are to determine the specific causes of death for these different subgroups and then determine other potential treatment strategies to improve their outcomes.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: This investigation is the result of a collaborative effort from Get with The Guidelines-Heart Failure Investigators and the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). No financial disclosures for myself.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Heart Failure With Preserved, Borderline, and Reduced Ejection Fraction: 5-Year Outcomes
, , , , , , , and Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
[wysija_form id=”1″]
Last Updated on November 14, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD