Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure

Mustafa Gök; Mehmet Kamil Teber; Zulfiye Kuzu; Mehmet Zafer Aydın; Yücel Yılmaz

Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure

Abstract

Aims: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a major cause of hospitalization, and prolonged hospitalization may reflect greater disease severity and poorer prognosis. We aimed to identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization (≥5 days) and evaluate its association with clinical outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included 197 consecutive patients hospitalized with AHF. Patients were classified into short stay (<5 days, n=97) and prolonged-stay (≥5 days, n=100) groups. Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, and prognostic variables were compared. Independent predictors were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Clinical outcomes included 30-day emergency department (ED) visits, all-cause mortality or rehospitalization, and total ED visits during follow up. Results: Chronic kidney disease (33.0% vs. 16.5%, p=0.008) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (44.0% vs. 25.8%, p=0.007) were more frequent in the prolonged-stay group. These patients also had lower serum sodium and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels (all p<0.001). Lower eGFR (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.98; p<0.001), hyponatremia (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.55-3.88; p=0.002), and higher NT-proBNP (OR: 1.03 per 1000 pg/ml; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; p=0.024) independently predicted prolonged hospitalization. Prolonged hospitalization was associated with more 30-day ED visits, higher rates of death or rehospitalization, and more ED visits during follow-up (all p≤0.032). Conclusion: Lower eGFR, hyponatremia, and elevated NT-proBNP independently predict prolonged hospitalization in AHF. Longer hospital stay is associated with greater healthcare utilization and worse long-term outcomes, suggesting persistent postdischarge vulnerability.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee Approval: The study was initiated with the approval of the XXXXXXX University Medical Faculty Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 2025, Decision No: 685). Informed Consent: Because the study was designed retrospectively, no written informed consent form was obtained from patients. Referee Evaluation Process: Externally peer-reviewed. Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study has received no financial support. Author Contributions: All authors declare that they participated in the design, execution, and analysis of the paper and that they approved the final version.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cardiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mustafa Gök ^*
0000-0003-4167-0820
Türkiye

Mehmet Kamil Teber
0009-0001-2080-1652
Türkiye

Zulfiye Kuzu
0000-0001-5378-5516
Türkiye

Mehmet Zafer Aydın
0009-0007-3472-5527
Türkiye

Yücel Yılmaz
0000-0003-2340-027X
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

June 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Gök, M., Teber, M. K., Kuzu, Z., Aydın, M. Z., & Yılmaz, Y. (2026). Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(6), 1130-1137. https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG

AMA

1.Gök M, Teber MK, Kuzu Z, Aydın MZ, Yılmaz Y. Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(6):1130-1137. https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG

Chicago

Gök, Mustafa, Mehmet Kamil Teber, Zulfiye Kuzu, Mehmet Zafer Aydın, and Yücel Yılmaz. 2026. “Determinants and Prognostic Impact of Prolonged Hospitalization in Acute Heart Failure”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (6): 1130-37. https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG.

EndNote

Gök M, Teber MK, Kuzu Z, Aydın MZ, Yılmaz Y (October 1, 2026) Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 6 1130–1137.

IEEE

[1]M. Gök, M. K. Teber, Z. Kuzu, M. Z. Aydın, and Y. Yılmaz, “Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 1130–1137, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG

ISNAD

Gök, Mustafa - Teber, Mehmet Kamil - Kuzu, Zulfiye - Aydın, Mehmet Zafer - Yılmaz, Yücel. “Determinants and Prognostic Impact of Prolonged Hospitalization in Acute Heart Failure”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/6 (October 1, 2026): 1130-1137. https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG.

JAMA

1.Gök M, Teber MK, Kuzu Z, Aydın MZ, Yılmaz Y. Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:1130–1137.

MLA

Gök, Mustafa, et al. “Determinants and Prognostic Impact of Prolonged Hospitalization in Acute Heart Failure”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1130-7, https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG.

Vancouver

1.Mustafa Gök, Mehmet Kamil Teber, Zulfiye Kuzu, Mehmet Zafer Aydın, Yücel Yılmaz. Determinants and prognostic impact of prolonged hospitalization in acute heart failure. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;8(6):1130-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA96DZ87XG