Clinical and psychosocial features of heart failure patients admitted for clinical decompensation

This study had the purpose to identify the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, history of hospitalizations due to Heart Failure (HF) and follow-ups (regular appointments, drug treatment, facilities and difficulties for follow-up) of patients admitted for clinical decompensation. Interviews were held with 61 patients, with average age of 58.1 (+/- 15.9) years, 3.5 (+/- 4.4) years of education and individual income of 1.3 (+/- 2.4) times the minimum wage. Most subjects were in functional classes III or IV of the New York Heart Association, having signs and symptoms of the congestive form of HF as the most frequent cause of hospitalization. Of all subjects, 75.4% reported clinical follow-ups, although they tended to be irregular. The use of drug therapy occurred in lower ratios than that recommended in the literature. The findings must help to identify patients with higher risk of HC decompensation, and, as such, design and implement specific interventions aiming at reducing re-admittances due to HF.