Association Between Performance Measures and Clinical Outcomes for Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart failure continues to be a serious public health concern in the United States: the overall prevalence of heart failure was 5 million individuals in 2003, with 550 000 new cases being reported each year.¹ Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in persons older than 65 years,² with almost 3.6 million hospitalizations attributed to heart failure as the primary or a secondary discharge diagnosis each year.³ The estimated direct and indirect US costs of heart failure in 2006 are expected to be $29.6 billion.¹ Because heart failure is a substantial cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures, it is especially important to utilize evidence-based therapies that have been demonstrated to improve clinical outcomes.^4,5