Insights into the contemporary epidemiology and outpatient management of congestive heart failure

Objectives To evaluate the epidemiology, prognosis, and patterns of practic e in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) treated and follo wed at a specialized clinic. Methods Prospective cohort study of consective patients referred to and fol lowed up in a specialized heart failure clinic between September 1989 and M arch 1996. Results of the 628 patients referred, 566 were confirmed to have CHF. Mean duration of follow-up was 518 +/- 490 days (range 1 to 2192 days). Vital st atus was available for 99.3% of patients. Mean age at enrollment was 66 yea rs, 68% were men, 67% had an ischemic cause of heart disease, and 78% had s ystolic dysfunction. Patients with preserved systolic function were older, more often female, had higher mean systolic blood pressures, and a lower pr evalence of ischemic heart disease, ventricular arrhythmias, or impaired re nal function when compared with those with systolic dysfunction (all P less than or equal to .001). Although there was a significant negative trend in survival with decreasing ejection fraction (P = .03), the survival experie nce of those with CHF and preserved systolic function did not significantly differ from those with systolic failure (P = .25). Multiple logistic regre ssion analysis showed increased mortality risk was associated with increasi ng age, New York Heart Association class IV, ischemic cause of disease, ele vated serum creatinine level, use of diuretics, and systolic dysfunction, w hereas use of P-blockers was associated with reduced risk. Conclusions Our data suggest that a specialized outpatient clinic can impro ve practice patterns in patients with CHF. The high mortality risk in CHF w ith preserved systolic function suggests the need to find efficacious (and effective) therapies for this condition.