The prognostic implications of outpatient diuretic dose in heart failure

In 111 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 30% who required hospitalization for heart failure, we examined the asso ciation between outpatient dose of diuretic agents and all-cause mortality. In comparison to patients who were not on treatment with diuretics prior t o hospitalization, patients being treated with 'low' doses of diuretics (<8 0 mg/day of furosemide) and those being treated with 'high' doses of diuret ics (greater than or equal to 80 mg/day of furosemide) were more likely to die during follow-up after adjustment for other clinical parameters (adjust ed relative risks, RR, 3.1 and 4.6). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.