Evaluation of Predictors of Mortality Associated with Childhood Heart Failure in Nigeria: A 2-Center Study

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of mortality in childhood heart failure (HF) in 2 tertiary hospitals. Methods A 51-month retrospective review of case notes of children with HF admitted into children's emergency rooms of 2 tertiary centers in Southern Nigeria was done. Bio-data and certain sociodemographic variables including mortality were abstracted. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to evaluate the predictors of mortality in HF. Results The case notes of 289 children were analyzed, consisting of 153 males (52.9%) and 142 infants (49.1%). Lower respiratory tract infections, 121 (41.9%), were the commonest causes of HF. Twenty-eight children (9.7%) died. In multivariate analyses, only late presentation (P < 0.0001) was an independent predictor of mortality in HF. Conclusion Education of the populace about early presentation to hospital is imperative to prevent unnecessary deaths associated with HF.