Age-specific trends and outcomes of hospitalizations with acute heart failure in the United States.

Abstract Objective To analyze the national age-specific temporal trends, in-hospital outcomes and readmissions for acute heart failure (HF). Background There is a paucity of data on the age-specific differences in the trends and outcomes of hospitalizations with acute HF. Methods The National Inpatients Sample database years 2002–2016 and the National Readmissions Database years 2013–2016 were used to identify primary hospitalizations for acute HF. We analyzed the age-specific temporal trends, in-hospital outcomes, and readmissions for acute HF. Results The annual rate of hospitalizations for acute HF declined from 456 per 100,000 people in 2002 to 356 per 100,000 people in 2016 (Ptrend  34 years). Conclusions This nationwide contemporary analysis demonstrated a decline in the annual rates of hospitalizations with acute HF across all age categories except those aged 18–44 years. There was a decrease in in-hospital mortality among middle-aged and older patients, but not in those aged 18–34. In-hospital mortality exhibited a dichotomous relationship with age. There was an inverse relationship between age and 30-days HF readmissions.