Epidemiology of decompensated heart failure in the city of Niterói: EPICA - Niterói Project.

Objective: To compare the epidemiological and socioeconomic profiles, clinical features, etiology, length of hospitalization, and mortality of patients with decompensated heart failure admitted to public and private hospitals in the city of Niterói.

Methods: We carried out a prospective, multicenter study (from July to September 2001) comprising all patients older than 18 years with the primary diagnosis of heart failure and admitted to hospitals in the city of Niterói, whose scores according to the Boston criteria were 8 or above. Proportions were compared using the chi-square and Fisher exact tests.

[Complete atrioventricular block in Kearns-Sayre syndrome].

A thirty-three year old woman, known to have Kearns-Sayre syndrome for eight years, had an ECG pattern of right bundle branch block and left anterior fascicular block that evolved to complete atrioventricular block, leading her to a syncopal episode. A temporary pacemaker and a permanent one were installed. The patient has been asymptomatic so far.