Factors Associated with Congestive Heart Failure among Patients Presenting with Acute Cardiac Emergencies in Northern Lahore

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to assess the prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) and identify the key risk factors associated with its occurrence in patients, already have existing cardiac conditions in Lahore, Pakistan.

Study Design and setting: A cross sectional study was conducted at Shalamar Hospital, Lahore.

Methodology: The study was conducted from October 2021 to March 2022 on a sample of 891 patients who were admitted in the coronary care unit from the emergency room and OPD and underwent cardiac catheterization. Convenience sampling was employed due to the unavailability of a large pool of patients. The questionnaire utilized socio-demographic variables, assessed the classification of congestive heart failure in relation to various comorbidities including thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic liver disease, peripheral vascular disease and hyperlipidemia as well as the risk factors associated with CHF.

Results: The rate of CHF prevalence was found to be 12.68%. CHF was found to have a statistically significant relationship with smoking, ambulatory ability, and a history of organ transplantation. According to the New York Heart Association, a significant proportion of patients were classified as Class II, whereas the Canadian Cardiovascular Society reported that approximately 42.20% of patients had Class II angina.

Conclusion: The prevalence of CHF was discovered to be extremely high. The most common comorbid ailment was discovered as hypertension, followed by diabetes. Many patients reported being able to perform daily activities but becoming fatigued during effort. When changing healthcare policies, it is critical to include preventive measures and interventions.