1. Heart Failure protocol presentation Class 12

2. introduction This study will analyze certain aspects related with heart failure in different Portuguese hospitals Use of Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQI´s) allows the evaluation of the quality of care provided by the hospitals GDH Database : national database containing administrative data of the various hospitals

3. aims Analyse outcome measures associated with heart failure in Portuguese hospitals Analyse medical procedures during the patients´ in-stay Comparison between hospitals dividing them in two groups aim

4. participants and methods Descriptive and retrospective study Division of the hospitals in two groups: Group1: central hospitals Group2: peripheral hospitals Selection of all cases that present the main diagnostic as heart failure (represented by the ICD-9 code 428) Patients under 18 years old and transferred patients will be excluded Variables : age, sex, in-stay period, outcome, medical procedures adopted, in-hospital mortality participants and methods

5. expected results Heart Failure’s Incidence -it is expected a growing incidence of heart failure over the years Heart Failure Mortality -better processes of care may reduce short-term mortality, which represent better quality -it is estimated to be higher in central hospitals rather than in peripheral hospitals In-stay Period -lower length of stay generally consists in a better quality of care; -is expected to be longer in central hospitals Quality of care -it is expected to be better in central hospitals

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