Determinants of acute heart failure during myocardial infarction

Introdution: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of acute heart failure (AHF) in patients hospitalized due to myocardial infarction (MI) at the National University Hospital of Cotonou. Methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study on the frequency of AHF, on the factors associated with its occurrence and on in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized from January 2011 to December 2013. Results: Our study included 70 patients (67.14% were men) with an average age of 58,39 years. AHF was diagnosed in 47.14% of cases. The identified factors associated with its occurrence were advanced age, extensive electrocardiographic change and co-morbidities such as infections, anemia and renal failure. During hospitalization, 7.46% of patients died, reflecting a rate of 12.5% in patients with AHF and of 2.86% in patients without AHF. Similar results hve been reported by many earlier publications. Conclusion: AHF is poor prognostic factor in MI. Early myocardial revascularization associated with adequate treatment of co-morbidities and rhythmic complications may improve patients’ prognosis.