Characteristics of Saudi patients with congestive heart failure and adherence to management guidelines in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is limited data available on the characteristics of local Saudi patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and on their adherence to guidelines for managing the disease. This study aimed to fill this gap. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study of patients treated at King Abdulaziz Medical City from 2002–2008. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The records were reviewed of subjects admitted secondary to heart failure (defined as systolic heart failure [ejection fraction <55%] and/or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction diagnosed either clinically and/or by echocardiogram and/or cardiac catheterization) or who visited the outpatient department for the same complaint. RESULTS: Of 392 CHF cases, the mean age was 67.8 (12.8) years and the majority were males (53.1%). Hypertension was the predominant comorbid illness, accounting for 84.9% of cases, followed by diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlipidemia. Almost three-fourths (73.7%) of the subjects had mild to severe left ventricular dysfunction, with 68.5% of the cases having right ischemic cardiomyopathy. Spironolactone, exercise and vaccination were the the least least adhered to recommendations (30.0%, 20.5% and 15.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need for proper education of patients and caregivers to increase compliance to medications. Physicians are also encouraged to undergo continuing medical education and training courses to properly implement current recommendations in the management of heart failure. Further studies are needed on a larger scale in order to formulate an effective management scheme that will address the current challenges faced by both clinicians and CHF patients.