Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients

Abstract Background Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities are highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the present study was to describe their selective impact on in-hospital outcomes (length of hospitalization and mortality) of HF patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicin...

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Main Authors: Veronica Murru, Elena Belfiori, Alessandro Sestu, Andrea Casanova, Carla Serra, Angelo Scuteri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06002-8
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author Veronica Murru
Elena Belfiori
Alessandro Sestu
Andrea Casanova
Carla Serra
Angelo Scuteri
author_facet Veronica Murru
Elena Belfiori
Alessandro Sestu
Andrea Casanova
Carla Serra
Angelo Scuteri
author_sort Veronica Murru
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities are highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the present study was to describe their selective impact on in-hospital outcomes (length of hospitalization and mortality) of HF patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Unit. Methods Between January 2017 and December 2022, 12,435 (6146 F, 6289 M) inpatients were hospitalized in our Internal Medicine Unit. HF was defined according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) version 9 codes 428, 402.01, 402.11, 402.91, 404.11, 404.13, 404.91, 404.93. Patients were classified by burden of overall, cardiac, and of non-cardiac comorbidities (0, 1, 2, 3 +). Multivariable regression models were used to assess associations between comorbidity burden and length of stay (linear regression) or in-hospital mortality (logistic regression). Results HF patients (1481, or 11.9% of all hospitalizations during the observation period) had on average comorbidity count of 1.6. An increasing number of comorbidities was associated with longer duration of hospitalization and mortality. Non-cardiac, but not cardiac, comorbidities were associated with significantly higher length of stay (beta coefficient 2.86 ± 0.27) and in-hospital mortality (OR 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–2.23; p < 0.0001). Conclusions Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes of older HF patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicine unit. Their more precise management will allow a reduction of avoidable hospitalization in HF patients.
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spelling doaj-art-c26828e8b6ca4615beabb12a834a0f742025-08-20T03:08:44ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-05-012511810.1186/s12877-025-06002-8Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patientsVeronica Murru0Elena Belfiori1Alessandro Sestu2Andrea Casanova3Carla Serra4Angelo Scuteri5Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of CagliariDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of CagliariDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of CagliariDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of CagliariInternal Medicine Unit – University Hospital Monserrato - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari – CagliariDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of CagliariAbstract Background Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities are highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the present study was to describe their selective impact on in-hospital outcomes (length of hospitalization and mortality) of HF patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Unit. Methods Between January 2017 and December 2022, 12,435 (6146 F, 6289 M) inpatients were hospitalized in our Internal Medicine Unit. HF was defined according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) version 9 codes 428, 402.01, 402.11, 402.91, 404.11, 404.13, 404.91, 404.93. Patients were classified by burden of overall, cardiac, and of non-cardiac comorbidities (0, 1, 2, 3 +). Multivariable regression models were used to assess associations between comorbidity burden and length of stay (linear regression) or in-hospital mortality (logistic regression). Results HF patients (1481, or 11.9% of all hospitalizations during the observation period) had on average comorbidity count of 1.6. An increasing number of comorbidities was associated with longer duration of hospitalization and mortality. Non-cardiac, but not cardiac, comorbidities were associated with significantly higher length of stay (beta coefficient 2.86 ± 0.27) and in-hospital mortality (OR 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–2.23; p < 0.0001). Conclusions Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes of older HF patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicine unit. Their more precise management will allow a reduction of avoidable hospitalization in HF patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06002-8Heart failureHospitalizationComorbiditiesLength of stay
spellingShingle Veronica Murru
Elena Belfiori
Alessandro Sestu
Andrea Casanova
Carla Serra
Angelo Scuteri
Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
BMC Geriatrics
Heart failure
Hospitalization
Comorbidities
Length of stay
title Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
title_full Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
title_fullStr Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
title_short Patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in-hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
title_sort patterns of comorbidities differentially impact on in hospital outcomes in heart failure patients
topic Heart failure
Hospitalization
Comorbidities
Length of stay
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06002-8
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