Barbara Biernacka-Fialkowska1 Author

Research Article Open Access

Routinely Performed Echocardiography and its Impact on Everyday Clinical Practice in Patients admitted to an Internal Medicine Ward

Author(s):

Ewa Kwiecien1 , Leszek Drabik1,2, Aleksandra Matuszyk3 , Anna Tyrka1 , Barbara Widlinska1 , Tomasz Luberda1 , Barbara Biernacka-Fialkowska1 and Wojciech Plazak1 *

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of significant heart abnormalities detected by routinely applied echocardiography in patients hospitalized in the internal medicine ward due to any medical disease and assess its impact on everyday clinical practice. Methods: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) examinations were performed routinely in a cohort of 2756 patients admitted to the internal medicine ward. Demographic and clinical variables were collected retrospectively. Results: A total of 2756 patients (48.1%; n=1201 females) with a mean age of 76.3 ± 4.3 years were enrolled in the study. Almost half of the patients (41.8%; n=1153) showed significant heart pathology: Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) <50%, at least moderate valvular defect, R... view more»

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