Epidemiology of heart failure in the Puglia region between 2001 and 2006

Background. Heart failure is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in western countries, engaging from 1% to 2% of the healthcare budget in Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of heart failure over time in the Apulia region on the basis of the hospitalization analysis. Methods. Analyses of the directional informative system data of the Apulia region, Italy, coming from hospital discharge records, allowed the estimation of the overall admission rate in Apulia from 2001 to 2006, of admissions for cardiovascular disease and heart failure as the main diagnosis, classified according to age, average hospitalization rates and of discharge units. Results. In Apulia, overall admissions decreased by 8.6% from 2001 to 2006, whereas the costs related to hospital admissions increased by 2.41%. Admissions for cardiovascular diseases decreased by 0.73% when shock and cardiac failure were excluded, whereas they increased by 1.3% when shock and cardiac failure were included. Admissions with DRG 127 stepped up by 15.26%; this increase was mainly related to a higher number of hospitalizations of patients >75 years old. From 2001 to 2006, admissions for heart failure increased in Cardiology wards, whereas they decreased in coronary care units and Medicine wards. Conclusions. The data related to the increase in hospital admissions for heart failure are relevant for their economic and organizational impact, landing support to the need for effective patient management in order to reduce high early rehospitalization rates.