[Retrospective analysis of prognostic factors for annual mortality in 97 patients with chronic congestive heart failure].

The aim of our study was to find clinical and biochemical factors, which are prognostically important for the annual mortality in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). The studied group consisted of 97 people with CHF (31 females and 66 males, mean age--61). The causes of the heart failure were: coronary artery disease or/and hypertension (80 patients), valvular mitral heart disease--(12 patients), dilated cardiomyopathy--(5 patients). On the first day of the hospitalization patients were classified as functional class II-IV according to NYHA classification. Patients were divided into: group 'A'--34 patients, who had died during the 1st year of observation, and group 'B'--63 patients who have survived the 1st year of observation. According to the results of our study patients from group A had lower concentration of plasma sodium, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, lower mean heart rate, higher frequency of ventricular arrhythmias (according to 3&4 Lown class).