Author/Authors :
Ege, Meltem Refiker Yalova State Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Güray, Yeşim Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Güray, Ümit Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Altay, Hakan Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Günel, Emre Nuri Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Yılmaz, Mehmet Birhan Cumhuriyet University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Cardiology, Turkey , Korkmaz, Şule Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Duru, Erdal Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey , Şaşmaz, Ali Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital - Cardiology Clinic, Turkey
Abstract :
Aim. Systolic heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease, associated with use of many drugs. Diuretics, particularly loop diuretics, are frequently prescribed to patients hospitalized with HF, and kept thereafter. However, diuretics are a group of drugs, which do not provide mortality benefit in HF, and, may bring about some risks, except in a specific group. Hence, it is important to understand the reasons driving physicians to use them. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital discharge records of HF patients. Methods. 700 patients with systolic HF were reviewed. Loop diuretic, furosemide, dose at disharge was classified into two categories as moderate-high ( 40 mg/day) and low doses. Results. 613 patients were prescribed furosemide at discharge. Poor functional capacity (FC) (NYHA FC III-IV) at discharge (B=1.894), serum creatinine levels (B=1.567), and spironolactone prescription (B=2.427) were found to be independently associated with moderate-high dose of furosemide prescription during discharge. Conclusion. Diuretics are inevitable in systolic HF. Reasons driving the physicians to prescribe higher doses might be important in drawing pathways towards lower risks.