Why are so many heart failure patients hospitalized?

Research has shown that one of the number one reasons heart failure patients are rehospitalized within the first 30-60 days after discharge is the lack of knowledge they have about taking care of themselves outside of the hospital to prevent another flare-up and admission. Patients are often discharged with a poor understanding of their daily responsibilities in their own self-care regimen. These include: Knowing the heart failure "zones" and when to get early intervention for a flare-up, recording daily weights, a daily blood pressure and heart rate, understanding and adhering to dietary restrictions, understanding their disease, and understanding what their medications are for.

Another reason people are readmitted is noncompliance with therapies to manage their heart failure. Lastly, the onset of depression in the mid to latter stages of heart failure can make it very difficult to focus on all the things necessary to care for oneself with the diagnosis of heart failure so they end up back in the hospital. The knowledge and support of caregivers and family is extremely important in the prevention of flare-ups. With each heart failure flare-up the heart function takes another hit, so it’s crucial for those who have a loved one with heart failure to learn as much as they can and help encourage the heart failure patient in any way they can--this includes monitoring for signs and symptoms of depression and ensuring their loved one gets the earliest access to treatment.