Abstract
About 5 million Americans suffer from heart failure, carrying significant morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that 550,000 new cases occur each year, and the estimated cost of treatment reaches $33.2 billion, most of the cost were incurred during hospitalization for acute decompensation heart failure (ADHF). ADHF refers to a clinical condition of worsening heart failure with dyspnoea and often with evidence of fluid overload.2 This is often triggered by one of the four main factors: atrial fibrillation, anemia, hypertension and medication/dietary indiscretion. In the 1991-1994 Connecticut Medicare beneficiaries review,3 ADHF that results in hospitalization carries an 8% in-hospital mortality. Importantly, of the 17,448 survivors, 44% will be re- admitted once, of which 18% were due to recurrent heart failure. Overall, 24% would die in 6 months after the first ADHF, and 53% either died or re-admitted over the same period. Thus prevention of ADHF can have significant prognostic impact for the patient, in addition to reducing the cost of heart failure management.
Recommended Citation
Chu-Pak Lau, David CW Siu, Hung-Fat Tse, Implantable Sensors for Heart Failure Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology 2011;19(1) https://doi.org/10.55503/2790-6744.1066
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