Rates of health services utilization and survival in patients with heart failure in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care System

The objective of this study was to describe patterns of hospital and clinic use and survival for a large nationwide cohort of patients with heart fail ure. A retrospective co hort study of patients treated in the Veterans Affa irs medical care system was conducted using linked administrative databases as data sources. In 1996, the average heart failure cohort member had 1-2 hospitalizations, 14 inpatient days, 6-7 visits with the primary physician, 15 other visits for consultations or tests, and 1-2 urgent care visits per 12 months. The overall risk-adjusted 5-year survival rate was 36%. Hospita l use rates in the cohort fell dramatically between 1992 and 1996. One-year survival rates increased slightly over the period. Patients with heart fai lure are heavy users of services and have a very poor prognosis. Utilizatio n and outcome data indicate the need for major efforts to assure quality of care and to devise innovative ways of delivering comprehensive services.