Mazza et al identified risk factors for mortality in elderly patients with congestive heart failure. These can help identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from the University of Pavoda in Italy.
Patient selection: age >= 65 years
Parameters:
(1) age of the patient in years
(2) gender of the patient
(3) history of coronary artery disease
(4) pulse pressure in mm Hg
(5) heart rate
(6) atrial fibrillation
(7) diabetes mellitus
(8) left ventricular hypertrophy
(9) vital capacity
(10) FEV1
(11) serum sodium
Parameter
Finding
Points
age of the patient
< 72 years of age
0
>= 72 years of age
1
gender of the patient
male
0
female
1
history of coronary artery disease
none
0
positive
1
pulse pressure
< 79 mm Hg
0
>= 79 mm Hg
1
heart rate
< 81 beats per minute
0
>= 81 beats per minute
1
atrial fibrillation
absent
0
present
1
diabetes mellitus
absent
0
present
1
left ventricular hypertrophy
absent
0
present
1
vital capacity
> 81% of predicted
0
<= 81% of predicted
1
FEV1
> 72% of predicted
0
<= 72% of predicted
1
serum sodium
> 139 mmol/L
0
<= 139 mmol/L
1
number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all 11 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 11
• The higher number of risk factors indicates a greater risk for mortality.
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