BACKGROUND: data on heart failure (HF) in Brazil are ensued from tertiary centers. This information can not be extended to the rural population, for it reflects distinct social, economic and cultural characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical and demographic profile and quality indicators for HF in rural areas. METHODS: Transversal cohort study that included 166 patients from the rural area of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After the evaluation of clinical, laboratorial and echocardiograph data, chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for analysis of proportion, as well as the Student's t-test for numeric variables, in order to establish the population's characteristics. RESULTS: Mean age was 61±14 years old, as 85 of them (51%) were men, 88 (53%) were afro-Brazilian and 85 (51%) had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). Systemic arterial hypertension (151 patients, 91%) and metabolic syndrome (103 patients, 62%) were prevalent comorbidities. The most common etiologies were: hypertensive (77 patients, 46%) and ischemic (62 patients, 37%). Quality indicators in HF were: 43 patients (26%) with previous echocardiogram, 102 patients (62%) were in use of beta-blockers, 147 patients (88%) received angiotensin converter enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and 22% of the patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were under treatment with oral anticoagulation. For heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF), females (p=0.001; OD: 0.32; CI=0.17-0.60), metabolic syndrome (p=0.004; OD: 0.28; CI=1.31-4.78) and hypertensive etiology (p<0.0001; OD: 6.83; CI=3.45-13.5) were predominant. For CIREF, males (p=0.001; OD: 0.32; CI=0.170-0.605) and ischemic etiology (p<0.0001; OD: 0.16; CI=0.079-0.330) were predominant. CONCLUSION: In rural areas, HF shows similarity with regard to sex, ethnicity and classification. Hypertensive etiology was the most commonly present. HFNEF was prevalent among women and in the presence of metabolic syndrome, while HFREF was associated with males and ischemic etiology.
heart failure; health profile; quality indictors; health care; rural population
