Annual rates of admission and seasonal variations in hospitalizations for heart failure

Aims: To investigate the annual hospitalization rate and seasonal variation in confirmed heart failure (HF) admissions. Methods and Results: Records from all admissions to one hospital during I year with a HF diagnostic code were reviewed. From 1953 admissions, 595 were excluded because they did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria. A total of 1069 patients had 1358 admissions with confirmed HE Mean age was 74.8 +/- 11.5 years, 42% were males. The admission data were matched with data from the municipal census with 537 666 people aged greater than or equal to 15 years. There were 2.5 admissions per 1000 for the adult population and 26.5/ 1000 in those aged greater than or equal to80 years. There were 444 males and 625 females, giving a higher rate of admission for female patients 2.2/1000 vs. 1.7/1000 (P<0.0001), although age adjusted rates in females were higher only for >= 80 years. Echocardiogram was performed in 706 patients (66%), 325 (46%) had a normal ejection fraction. This proportion increased in females-64% vs. 29% males-and in older patients-55% in >= 75 vs. 39% in <75 years. Mortality during the first admission of 1996 was 8.3%. There was a seasonal variation in HF hospitalizations (P<0.0001) peaking at 25% above average in January and dipping to 33% below average in August. Conclusion: The rate of HF admissions was 2.5/1000 with an elderly preponderance and a higher rate of admission in males <80 years and in females greater than or equal to80 years. A seasonal variation ranging from 25% above average in January to 33% below average in August was observed. (C) 2002 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.