A recent study has uncovered alarming statistics regarding heart failure patients in Europe, revealing that nearly half of those hospitalized for acute heart failure experience readmission within a year. This research, spearheaded by scientists at Karolinska Institutet and published in the European Heart Journal, highlights the ongoing risks of mortality and readmission in this vulnerable patient group.
The study analyzed data from over 10,000 patients across 41 countries between 2018 and 2020. Participants were sorted into two distinct categories: those admitted for acute heart failure and those attending scheduled outpatient visits for chronic heart failure. According to the study’s lead author, Lars Lund, a professor of cardiology at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, the research is notable for its comprehensive tracking of both mortality rates and hospital readmissions, along with the specific causes of these outcomes.
Patients with acute heart failure demonstrated significant challenges. The findings indicated that 5.1 percent of these patients succumbed during their hospital stay. Among those who survived, the subsequent risk of death varied significantly based on cardiac function. Notably, patients with reduced ejection fraction faced the highest risk. It was reported that 44 percent of patients with acute heart failure and reduced ejection fraction were readmitted at least once within the year following their initial hospitalization. In contrast, only 18 percent of patients with preserved ejection fraction treated as outpatients faced readmission.
Lund emphasized the severity of these figures, stating, “Patients with acute heart failure have approximately twice the risk of readmission and three times the risk of death compared to those treated as outpatients.” This stark contrast underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and follow-up care for patients experiencing acute heart failure symptoms.
The study aims to inform healthcare planning and enhance future clinical studies by providing detailed insights into patient outcomes associated with different heart functions. It was conducted under the auspices of the European Society of Cardiology and received funding from various pharmaceutical companies, although the authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest related to their findings.
As heart failure remains a prevalent condition affecting over 64 million people globally, this comprehensive examination of patient outcomes underscores the critical need for tailored care strategies. The research serves as a call to action for healthcare providers to ensure that patients with acute symptoms receive the necessary follow-up to mitigate risks associated with readmission and mortality.
The full study, titled “Outcomes of heart failure with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction: the ESC HF III registry,” authored by Lars H. Lund and his colleagues, was published online on February 25, 2026, and offers vital data for advancing heart failure management practices.
