Risk factors for 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure

AIM:To explore the risk factors for 30-day in-hospital mortality in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 6949 patients (4344 males, 2605 females) from January 1, 1993 through December 31, 2007. A Cox proportional hazards model was developed to identify the independent risk factors. RESULTS: Cox analysis showed that the independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in CHF patients were older age (HR 1.030, 95% CI 1.021-1.039, P=0.000) and comorbid diseases including coronary heart diseases, cor pulmonale, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, cerebrovascular diseases, gastrointestinal bleeding and cirrhosis of liver (P=0.000), cardiomyopathy (P=0.006), valvular heart disease (P=0.025), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P=0.032). Kaplan-Meier survival curves analysis showed a higher hospital mortality rate associated with increased number of comorbidities ［hazard ratio (HR) from 1.04 95% CI 0.74-1.47 to HR 2.88 95% CI 2.19-3.80, P<0.001］ during the study period (1998-2002 vs. 1993-1997, HR 0.71 95% CI 0.55-0.93, P=0.013), (2003-2007 vs. 1993-1997, HR 0.59 95% CI 0.46-0.76, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Older age, comorbidities and time period are all independent risk factors for 30-day in-hospital mortality in CHF patients.