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. 1997 Apr;87(4):643–648. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.4.643

Factors contributing to the hospitalization of patients with congestive heart failure.

M H Chin 1, L Goldman 1
PMCID: PMC1380846  PMID: 9146445

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study identifies acute precipitants of hospitalization and evaluates utilization of angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients admitted with congestive heart failure. METHODS: Cross-sectional chart-review study was done of 435 patients admitted nonelectively from February 1993 to February 1994 to an urban university hospital with a complaint of shortness of breath or fatigue and evidence of congestive heart failure. RESULTS: The most common identifiable abnormalities associated with clinical deterioration prior to admission were acute anginal chest pain (33%), respiratory infection (16%), uncontrolled hypertension with initial systolic blood pressure > or = 180 mm Hg (15%), atrial arrhythmia with heart rate > or = 120 (8%), and noncompliance with medications (15%) or diet (6%); in 34% of patients, no clear cause could be identified. After exclusion of those who were already on a different vasodilator or who had relative contraindications, 18 (32%) of the patients with ejection fractions < or = 0.35 measured prior to admission were not taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on presentation to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to improve compliance, the control of hypertension, and the appropriate use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may prevent many hospitalizations of heart-failure patients.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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