Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Despite the high prevalence of acute heart failure, a few studies have been
conducted specifically in the hospitalized acute heart failure population and data describing
the outcomes and associated factors of acute heart failure in these patients are limited.
Objective: This study aimed to describe the outcomes and associated factors of AHF among
hospitalized patients admitted at the University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital,
Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A one-arm prospective cohort study was carried out from March 1 to August 30,
2019, at the University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital. By using pre-tested data
abstraction format data was collected through medical record review and patient interviews.
Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. For data analysis
descriptive stastical analysis, Cox regression survival analysis and Binary logistic regression
were implemented.
Results: A total of 122 (females: 53.3% and mean age: 50.39±18.93 years) patients were
included in the study. Nearly two-third 78 (63.9%) (95%CI = 56.6, 74.5) of patients were
presented with new-onset heart failure. On admission, dyspnea on exertion 111 (91%) was the
most prevalent symptom. Infection 75 (62.3%) and cor pulmonale 28 (18.9%) were the primary
comorbidity and the leading cause of acute heart failure admissions, respectively. Furosemide
was the most frequently used medication which was taken by all patients on admission 122
(100%) and 106 (86.9%) of them at discharge. On admission, 31.1%, 30.3%, 26.2%, and 26.2%
of patients were using aldosterone antagonists, ?-blockers, statins, and aspirin, respectively.
median length of hospital stay was 12 days. The in-hospital mortality was 6.6% (95%CI = 3.3,
11.4).
Conclusion: Acute heart failure patients admitted to the University of Gondar Comprehensive
Specialized Hospital medical ward were commonly presented with new onset-heart failure.
Infection was the leading precipitating factor for acute heart failure admission. The in-hospital
mortality and length of hospital stay of the hospitalized acute heart failure patients was similar
to those reported in the previous studies conducted globally including Sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: Ethiopia, University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital, Acute
Heart Failure, Outcome.
