Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgão oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
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The aim of this study was to characterise the epidemiology of congestive heart failure namely assessing demographic, etiologic and prognostic aspects, and the hospital admission trends in the last 6 years. ⋯ The hospital prevalence of congestive heart failure is identical to other Western countries and is greater among the elderly patients. Valve disease, coronary artery disease and hypertension are the most frequent causes of congestive heart failure. An increasing trend in hospital admissions for congestive heart failure was observed. The hospital mortality was reduced in the last 6 years and was greater among the elderly patients. Age (> or = 70 years), the presence of comorbidity (infectious disease, central nervous system disease, acute renal failure, chronic renal disease and pulmonary embolism), hyponatremia, other electrolyte abnormalities and acid-base balance disturbances, resuscitated cardiac arrest and the presence of severe sodium and water retention have prognostic significance.