Sociodemographic variables predicting poor post-discharge outcomes for hospitalized elders with heart failure

Elders with heart failure are at high risk for poor post-discharge outcomes such as rehospitalizations, emergency department use, and unscheduled physician visits. This study was conducted to determine if sociodemographic characteristics would aid in identifying high-risk individuals.
Heart failure, a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive cardiac dysfunction, affects 10 in 1,000 Americans over age 65 (American Heart Association, 2006). In 2006, the estimated direct costs of heart [...]