Chart 3. Criteria for hospitalization.

Criteria for immediate hospitalization	Pulmonary edema or respiratory distress in the sitting position
	Oxygen saturation <90%
	Heart rate >120bpm in the absence of chronic atrial fibrillation
	Systolic blood pressure <75mmHg
	Mental disorder attributable to hypoperfusion
	Decompensation in the presence of acute coronary syndromes
	“New” acute HF
Criteria for urgent hospitalization	Severe liver distension, massive ascites or anasarca
	Decompensation in the presence of acutely decompensated noncardiac conditions, such as pulmonary disease or renal dysfunction
	Rapid and progressive onset of symptoms of HF
Consider hospitalization	Rapid drop in serum sodium (<130meq/L)
	Rapid elevation of creatinine (>2.5mg/dL)
	Symptoms persist at rest, despite optimized oral treatment
	Comorbidity with expected worsening of HF

Source: Bocchi et al⁽¹⁾.

HF: heart failure.