Characteristics and management of heart failure: a retrospective single center study in Cambodia

Type of funding sources: None.

The most common etiologies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Cambodia included heart failure (HF) (52.9%), angina pectoris (11.6%), and acute myocardial infarction (4.11%).

The goal of this study is to describe characteristics, clinical features, evaluation and treatment of patients with HF admitted to one public hospital in Cambodia.

This retrospective study included all patients age ≥18 years who were admitted with the diagnosis of HF to the Intensive Care Unit of one public hospital from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2018. Out of 140 cases, 20 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Characteristics, evaluation, and treatment of the 120 remaining patients were analyzed.

HF with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) was present in 15%, with mid-range EF (HFmrEF) in 13.3%, and preserved EF (HFpEF) in 71.7% of patients. Hypertension was more prevalent in HFpEF (89.5%, P <0.001) (table 1). Diabetes was more common in HFpEF and HFmrEF (52.3% and 43.7%, P = 0.316) (table 1). Coronary artery disease was more prevalent in HFrEF (72.2%, P = 0.015) (table 1). Global wall hypokinesia was more common in HFrEF group (72.2%, P <0.001) (figure 1). Patients with HFrEF who were given ACEi/ARB (44.4%, P = 0.324) was lower than those with HFpEF (55.8%, P = 0.324). Oral beta-blockers were commonly used in HFrEF (44.4%, P <0.175). Spironolactone was prescribed more in HFmrEF (56.2%, P <0.001) patients than in those with HFrEF (44.4%, P <0.001).

HFpEF was the most common types of HF in this population, and was associated with hypertension and diabetes. HFrEF was least common and was associated with CAD. Prevention and treatment of hypertension and diabetes is essential to reduce the incidence of HFpEF while greater use of guideline recommended drugs is needed in HFrEF.

TABLE 1: Characteristics of HF Patients

Abstract FIGURE 1: Proportion of HF and LVWM