Congestive heart failure is one of the most frequent problems in cardiovascular patients. However, very little data concerning this syndrome in Korea was available. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics, and the prognostic factors of patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure in Korea.

Six university hospitals, fulfilling the protocol for clinical information of patients with heart failure, were prospectively engaged in this study. One thousand and forty seven patients, admitted between Jan.1. 1998 and Dec. 31. 2000 were enrolled.

The cumulative survival rates at 3 and 6 month, and 1 and 2 years were 90.5, 87.5, 82 and 75.9%, respectively. Ischemic heart disease was the most frequent underlying disease (36.7%). Diabetes mellitus (OR : 1.626, 95% CI : 1.156-2.289, p=0.005), previous history of myocardial infarction (OR : 2.044, 95% CI : 1.488-2.808, p<0.0001), atrial fibrillation (OR : 1.516, 95% CI : 1.042-2.206, p=0.02), and cerebrovascular accident (OR : 2.187, 95% CI : 1.366-3.501, p=0.001) were the worse prognostic factors.

Ischemic heart disease was the major cause of heart failure. The cumulative 1 year survival rate, of the patients of congestive heart failure was 82%. The poor prognostic factors were diabetes, old myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and cerebrovascular accident.