Abstract

PERNA¹, Eduardo Roque; CORONEL¹, María Lorena; CIMBARO CANELLA¹, Juan Pablo  and  ECHAZARRETA², Diego. Heart failure in Argentina: Progresses and regressions after two decades of surveys and over 19,000 patients included. Insuf. card. [online]. 2015, vol.10, n.1, pp.2-10. ISSN 1852-3862.

Heart failure is a worldwide epidemic. However, regional differences might influence its epidemiology. Aim. To review the available information about clinical profile, management and outcome of patients with acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) as well as chronic heart failure (CHF) in Argentina. Material and method. Comprehensive review of 18 studies, published in national and international journals, or presented as abstracts from 1992-2011, which recruited 19,727 subjects, 12 of AHFS (N=10,679) and 6 of CHF (N=9,048). Results. The median age was 67.6 years. The proportion of patients included from central region was 100-0%, with 0-64% of public centers. On average, the proportion of females was 39%, arterial hypertension of 69%, diabetes of 25%, ischemic etiology of 36%, positive serology for Chagas of 4.4%, valvular heart disease of 15%, with anemia 20%, renal failure of 10%, atrial fibrillation of 28% and preserved left ventricular function of 27%. Echocardiogram was used in 38-100% and coronary angiography in 1.4-22%. Drugs' prescription before and after 2002 was angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (76 vs 73%, p=NS), beta blockers (28 vs 57%, p=0,046) and aldosterone antagonist (50 vs 33%, p=NS). In AHFS, in-hospital mortality in the period 1992-2002 was 7.6% vs 6.5% in the period 2003-2011 (RR=0.83;95%CI=0.71-0.98, p=0.033), with a reduction during the first decade, 12.1% to 3.2% (p for trend=0.005), and rise in the last decade, 4.7% to 11% (p<0.0001). Conclusions. The clinical profile of the CHF and AHFS in Argentina should be carefully considered when extrapolating data from other regions. After two decades, the management of this condition shows an optimistic improvement but no significant impact on evolution.

Keywords : Heart failure; Epidemiology; Registries.

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