Introduction:

Heart failure is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and has a major impact on public health. In Paraguay, studies on the clinical and echocardiographic profile of these patients are limited.

Objective:

To describe the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of adult patients hospitalized for heart failure in the Department of Internal Medicine at the National Medical Center, National Hospital, Paraguay, during the period 2023-2024.

Methodology:

An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive design with an analytical component was used. Non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive cases was applied. One hundred adult patients hospitalized for heart failure were included. The protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the National University of Itapúa, Paraguay.

Results:

The mean age was 63 ± 12 years, and 55% were male. At admission, 51% of patients were in functional class III. Among comorbidities, hypertension was recorded in 86%. Lack of adherence to treatment was identified as a precipitating factor for decompensation in 18%. Optimal medical treatment was recorded in 7% and in-hospital mortality was 6%. Ischemic etiology was identified in 67% of cases. Left ventricular ejection fraction was reduced in 44%, preserved in 40%, and slightly reduced in 16%. Reduced ejection fraction was associated with ischemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and functional class IV; hypertensive heart disease showed an inverse association.

Conclusion:

In this series of patients hospitalized for heart failure, males, ischemic etiology, and reduced ejection fraction predominated. Reduced ejection fraction was associated with specific clinical variables and etiologies.

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