Poor Prognosis in Chronic Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction in China

Most Chinese cardiologists are challenged by the high mortality rate of heart failure (HF) in patients with reduced ejection fraction in China. This study was designed as a single-center, retrospective study. All consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45% from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009, were enrolled. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality or the first cardiovascular readmission event. A total of 187 patients comprised the study population, classified into two groups: LVEF ≤35% (n=83) and LVEF 36% to 45% (n=104). The median follow-up was 18 months (2–41 months). All-cause mortality was 27% among patients with LVEF ≤35%, as compared with 14% among those with LVEF 36% to 45% ( P=.025). All-cause mortality or first cardiovascular readmission rates were 53% and 32% among patients with LVEF ≤35% and 36% to 45% (P=.003), respectively. The predictors of all-cause mortality were advanced age and New York Heart Association functional class, chronic kidney disease, oral β-blockers, and statins at discharge. The prognosis of chronic HF patients with LVEF ≤45% was poor in China, especially for patients with LVEF ≤35%. Cardiologists should provide further efforts to improve the prognosis of HF in Chinese patients. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.