© 2004 European Society of Cardiology
Sex-related bedside clinical variables associated with survival of older inpatients with heart failure
Department of Internal Medicine ‘F’, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, 70300, Israel
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +972-08-9779991/4; fax: +972-08-9779796. E-mail address: internal6{at}asaf.health.gov.il
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Abstract |
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Background: Little is known about sex-related differences in factors affecting prognosis of heart failure (HF). We prospectively investigated the relationship between bedside clinical variables and survival of older females vs. males with HF.
Methods: Included were consecutive unselected inpatients, age 
60 years, admitted for various acute conditions. HF was chronic and of diverse etiologies. Follow-up extended up to 5 years. All-cause mortality was registered and statistically analyzed for association with in-hospital clinical variables.
Results: Included were 162 females and 200 males. Survival rates were 52.4% and 59%, respectively, (P=0.1). Advanced age and renal dysfunction (RD) were associated with low survival in both sexes (P<0.03 and 0.02, P<0.001 and 0.01, respectively). An association with low survival was found with respect to; admission for pulmonary edema (P<0.02), using furosemide 80 mg/day (P<0.005) and severe HF [NYHA class III–IV (P<0.01)] in females, as well as for hypokalemia (P<0.03) and hypocalcemia (P<0.03) in males. On multivariate analysis RD (P<0.001), increasing age (P=0.008) and furosemide dosage 80 mg (P=0.02) were most significantly associated with low survival in females, while RD only was significantly associated with low survival in males (P=0.03).
Conclusions: Several clinical variables, which affect prognosis in older HF patients are sex-related and probably carry practical significance.
Key Words: Heart failure • Sex • Prognosis • Mortality • Older age
Received September 4, 2003; Revised December 1, 2003; Accepted December 24, 2003