European Journal of Heart Failure, 2014, 01, 700─708

A multicentre cohort study of acute heart failure syndromes in Korea: rationale, design, and interim observations of the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry

SangEun Lee, H Cho, Y Ahn, H Park, Mn Cho, B Oh

Abstract

Aims
The Korean Acute Heart Failure registry (KorAHF) aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, hospital course, and long-term outcomes of patients hospitalised for acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) in Korea.
Methods and Results
This is a prospective observational multicenter cohort study funded by the Korea National Institute of Health. Patients hospitalised for AHFS in ten tertiary university hospitals across the country have been consecutively enrolled since March 2011. The study is expected to complete the scheduled enrolment of 5,000 patients in 2014, and follow-up is planned through 2016. As of April 2012, the interim analysis of 2,066 consecutive subjects was performed to understand the baseline characteristics of the population.
The mean age was 69±14 years; 55% were male; 50% were de novo heart failure. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 40±18%.
Ischaemia was both the leading cause (38%) and the most frequent aggravating factor (26%) of AHFS. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers were prescribed at discharge in 65% and 51% of the patients, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 5.2%, and 0.9% of patients received urgent heart transplantation. Low blood pressure and azotaemia were the most important predictors of in-hospital mortality. The post-discharge 30-day and 180-day all-cause mortality were 1.2% and 9.2%, respectively.
Conclusions
Our analysis reveals that the prognosis of AHFS in Korea is poor and that there are specific features, including lower blood pressures at admission and lower rates of heart failure related to hypertension, compared with other registries. Adherence to current guidelines should be improved.

• ISBN or ISSN: 1388-9842

• 본 연구는 질병관리본부 연구개발과제(과제번호 2013-E63003-01) 연구비를 지원받아 수행되었습니다.
• This research was supported by a fund(code 2013-E63003-01) by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.