Abstract:

Objective To understand the clinical pharmacotherapy of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure. Methods A total of 203 consecutive cases hospitalized for acute heart failure were enrolled into this study. The patients, personal information, drug usage were collected and analyzed. Results In the patients with acute heart failure caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and non-AMI, the total utilization of diuretics were 72.6% and 83.3%, respectively; the total utilization rates of intravenous vasodilators were 91.6% and 95.4%, majority was nitroglycerin; the total utilization of oral vasodilator was 93.7% and 86.1%. The total utilization of positive inotropic agents were 28.4% and 49.1%, of which digoxin utilization rates were 3.2% and 25.0%, and the difference was statistically significant. The total utilization rates of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) were 85.3%, 71.3%, and the difference was statistically significant. The total utilization rates of β-blockers were 48.4% and 56.5%. Conclusion Drug treatment of acute heart failure with traditional diuretic and vasodilator therapy in hospitalized patients, is still widely used, but the use of positive inotropic agents is relatively cautious, especially in heart failure patients caused by AMI, the proportion of using digitalis inotropic drugs is very low. ACEI/ARB had a better application in hospitalized patients, but there is still room for improvement. The rate of β-blocker use is not high, clinicians need to pay further attention to proper pharmacotherapy of acute heart failure.

Key words: acute heart failure, drug treatment, cross-sectional study