Prevalence and predictors of heart failure among patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Background Heart failure among patients on hemodialysis therapy portends poor outcomes. Traditional risk factors like aging, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are relatively common in these patients and may not accurately predict the occurrence of heart failure. Such patients may have other factors that contribute to heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of heart failure among patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Results Among 160 patients on maintenance hemodialysis, 49 (30.6%) were female. The mean age of patients was 52.2 +/- 13.3 years. Almost all patients had hypertension and 69 (43.1%) had diabetes mellitus. Heart failure was prevalent in 17 (10.6%) patients. On multivariate analysis, presence of angina, intradialytic hypertension, and anemia were independent predictors of heart failure. Patients with heart failure had significantly higher malnutrition inflammation scores and erythropoietin resistance indexes. Conclusions Heart failure among hemodialysis patients correlates with the presence of angina, intradialytic hypertension, and anemia. Patients with heart failure had a greater degree of malnutrition-inflammation complex, and erythropoietin resistance. Patients with these conditions require a thorough cardiac evaluation and appropriate treatment.