Clinical Characteristics of Acute Heart Failure Patients Admitted to Community-based Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Heart failure remains a growing public health challenge in Bangladesh, yet comprehensive data from community-based hospitals are lacking. Understanding local clinical patterns is crucial for improving management strategies. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentation of heart failure patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Community-Based Medical College Hospital from January 2023 to December 2024. We enrolled 113 consecutive heart failure patients through purposive sampling. Data collection included detailed history, physical examination, and echocardiographic evaluation. Analysis was performed using MS Office tools. Results: The cohort had a mean age of 62.4±11.3 years with male predominance (75.2%). Most patients (81.4%) had reduced ejection fraction (≤40%). Common presentations included dyspnea (96.5%), orthopnea (86.7%), and basal crepitations (92.9%). Frequent comorbidities were diabetes (72.6%), hypertension (60.2%), and dyslipidemia (66.4%). Ischemic cardiomyopathy (51.3%) and hypertensive heart disease (60.2%) were the leading etiologies. Physical signs included leg edema (83.2%) and elevated JVP (59.3%). Thyroid dysfunction was present in 20.4% of cases. Conclusion: This Bangladeshi heart failure cohort predominantly showed reduced ejection fraction with significant cardiometabolic comorbidities. The findings emphasize the need for focused prevention and management of ischemic and hypertensive heart disease in similar settings.