Epidemiology and management of heart failure in a Moroccan center

This is a prospective observational study of 424 patients hospitalized for heart failure. Data were collected from the intensive care unit and Rhythmology Depatment of the Mohamed V Military Hospital for Instruction in Rabat, between December 2008 and December 2014. The average age was 60.91±12.77. The main cardiovascular risk factors encountered were: hypertension (46%), smoking (45%), and diabetes (43%). Clinically, 63% of patients were admitted for left-sided heart failure. The left ventricle was dilated in 58% of cases, with a mean ejection fraction estimated at 36.33 ± 13.5%. The dominant etiology was ischemic heart disease (254 cases). In addition to optimal medical treatment, 14.4% of our patients underwent cardiac resynchronization with or without defibrillator system. The intra-hospital evolution under medical treatment was marked by 26 deaths. The average length of stay in hospital was 12.1 ± 6.6 days.