(CNW) Over 5 million people in North America are affected.
Heart Failure is the leading cause of hospitalization and for
the first time, physicians can now answer the question most
patients want to know- "How long do I have doctor?"
    
Published in the February issue of American Heart Journal, the
ICES study identified Ontario patients between 1999 - 2001, who
were newly hospitalized and diagnosed with heart failure.
Scientists followed these patients over a six year period to
determine overall prognosis and various high/low risk patients
based on hospital admission characteristics such as: age, blood
pressure, blood tests, prior medical history of stroke, cancer
and dementia. Lead Author and ICES Scientist, Dr. Dennis Ko
says, "Heart failure is a very serious condition with a
high recurrence and mortality rate in the elderly with survival
worse than many aggressive cancers. Physicians and patients had
little understanding of prognosis after hospitalization, this
information is crucial to identify patients who may not be
suitable for invasive treatment.
There is now an opportunity to begin the engagement of discussion in adapting a medical plan and exploring an individual's preference. For the first time, we have a better picture of expected survival in this category of patients and who may benefit for palliative or end of life care."
     The ICES results:
     -  The study sample was
restricted to patients who were residents of
        Ontario between 20
and 105 years of age
     -  The average age of heart
failure patient was 75.8 years; 50% were
        female
     -  Scientists studied 9,943
patients who were newly hospitalized with
        heart failure over a
2 year period, with a median follow up of
        6 years.
     -  The average survival among
hospitalized heart failure patients was
        2.4 years or 29
months.
     -  Survival varied substantially
across risk groups: average survival
        was 8 months for
patients in high risk group; 3 months in very high
        risk group
     -  Hospitalized heart failure
patients had a 1 year mortality of
        33.1% and a 5-year
mortality of 68.7%
"An important aspect of heart failure care has not been
adequately addressed", says Dr. Ko. "An end of life
conversation does not take place, mainly because it's
difficult for physicians to know which patient has limited
survival. With detailed life expectancy data, we believe our
results may assist in making more informed and difficult
treatment decisions focusing on improving the quality of life
among these patients with a few months to live."
    
"Heart failure" means that your heart isn't
pumping blood as well as it should. Heart failure doesn't
mean your heart has stopped working or that you are having a
heart attack (but, people with heart failure often have had a
heart attack in the past). Heart failure occurs when the heart
is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's
demand. It is not a single disease entity, but rather the end
result of a variety of cardiovascular problems.
When heart tissue is damaged and the function of the heart is compromised, the body initiates compensatory responses such as increased heart rate and thickening of the heart's muscular wall. The five most common causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease (due to atherosclerosis), valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, alcohol, and a disease of heart muscle known as dilated cardiomyopathy. Each of these five conditions can cause heart failure by damaging heart muscle and therefore increasing the workload on the remainder of the heart.
The study "Life expectancy after an Index Hospitalization for Heart Failure Patients: A Population Based Study" is in the February issue of American Heart Journal.
To view study, visit http://files.newswire.ca/650/ICES_YMHJ_2397.pdf
