Next Article in Journal
The Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on Electrical Thresholds for Sensory and Pain Perception: Implications for Exercise and Rehabilitation in Women With and Without Primary Dysmenorrhea—A Pilot Study
Previous Article in Journal
The Effects of Patients’ Health Information Behaviors on Shared Decision-Making: Evaluating the Role of Patients’ Trust in Physicians
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

The Association Between Chronic Heart Failure and Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Cost of Hospitalization

by
Alexandra Mincă
1,2,
Claudiu C. Popescu
3,*,
Dragoș I. Mincă
3,
Amalia L. Călinoiu
2,
Ana Ciobanu
2,4,
Valeriu Gheorghiță
2,5 and
Dana G. Mincă
1
1
Public Health and Management Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
2
“Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu” Emergency Clinical Hospital, 011356 Bucharest, Romania
3
Rheumatology Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
4
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
5
Infectious Diseases Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111239 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 7 April 2025 / Revised: 18 May 2025 / Accepted: 22 May 2025 / Published: 24 May 2025

Abstract

:
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to observe and compare the real-world total hospitalization costs for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Romania. Methods: Data were electronically retrieved from three different internal medicine departments of university hospitals in Bucharest, Romania, including all admissions from December 2023 to June 2024. The collected data included demographics, the cost of hospitalization (EUR), and discharge diagnoses (ICD10 codes were used to calculate the Charleston Comorbidity Index, CCI, and to define a surrogate measure for MetS). Results: The database query retrieved 4732 hospitalizations (median duration: 4 days; median cost: EUR 1002) of unique patients (53.9% women, average age = 68.7 years), of whom 48.0% had CHF and 11.0% were classified as having MetS. The median hospitalization duration and costs were similar for men and women, despite women being significantly older and having a higher prevalence of CHF. Patients with CHF or MetS were significantly older, had more comorbidities (CCI), and had a higher median hospitalization duration, total hospitalization cost, and cost/day than those without CHF or MetS. The total cost of hospitalization increased steadily from a minimum in patients without CHF or MetS to a maximum in patients with both conditions. Conclusions: CHF was highly prevalent among patients admitted to internal medicine wards and was more prevalent among hospitalized women. However, the hospitalization costs did not differ significantly between the sexes. CHF and MetS incrementally increased the total hospitalization costs in these DRG-based reimbursement systems.

1. Introduction

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive clinical syndrome that arises most commonly from structural or functional cardiac abnormalities. Pathophysiologically, CHF involves neurohormonal activation, leading to maladaptive compensatory mechanisms such as sympathetic nervous system overactivation and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system upregulation [1,2]. Clinically, CHF manifests as dyspnea, fatigue, fluid overload, and exercise intolerance, significantly impairing quality of life. Management strategies include pharmacological interventions along with non-pharmacological measures such as lifestyle modifications and device-based therapies [3,4,5,6]. Despite advances in treatment, CHF remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating ongoing research into novel therapeutic approaches [7,8].
Consequently, CHF entails a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide due to its high prevalence, frequent hospitalizations, and long-term management requirements [7,9,10,11,12]. The associated costs are primarily driven by hospital admissions [13], pharmacological therapies, outpatient care, and the need for advanced interventions such as implantable devices [14] or heart transplantation [15]. Indirect costs, including loss of productivity and caregiver burden, further contribute to the financial impact. In developed countries, CHF accounts for a significant proportion of total healthcare expenditures [16], with costs projected to rise due to aging populations and increasing disease prevalence [17]. Strategies to reduce the economic burden of CHF include optimizing medical therapy, promoting early diagnosis, and implementing preventive measures to reduce hospital readmissions and slow disease progression [18,19,20].
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a high prevalence among CHF patients [21]. The International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) defines MetS as the co-occurrence of central obesity and any two of the following: elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting plasma glucose [22]. The interplay between MetS and CHF is multifaceted, involving both the contribution of MetS to CHF development and its influence on patient outcomes. MetS may contribute to the risk of developing CHF, particularly through mechanisms such as visceral adiposity [23]. Additionally, CHF and MetS share biomarkers and pathways related to obesity, lipid metabolism, and chronic inflammation [24,25,26]. In this context, their association has been rightly termed cardiometabolic syndrome [27,28], as opposed to cardiorenal syndrome [29,30]. Furthermore, the presence of MetS may have negative prognostic implications for CHF patients [31,32], an observation that requires further investigation. Finally, MetS significantly increases healthcare costs [33].
In this context, the current study aimed to observe and compare the real-world total costs of hospitalization for patients with CHF and MetS in an upper-middle-income European country.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Data

Data were electronically retrieved from three different internal medicine departments of university hospitals in Bucharest, Romania, covering an admission timeframe from December 2023 to June 2024. All patients admitted to the hospitals during the specified period were included, and the first admission form of each unique patient was retained for analysis. On admission, all patients provided written informed consent for the scientific use of their personal and medical data.
Collected data included sex, age, admission and discharge dates, hospitalization costs (reported at an approximate exchange rate of RON 5 to EUR 1), and discharge diagnoses coded with the 10th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Due to the retrospective nature of the study and missing data, quantitative measurement and retrieval of defining criteria (laboratory and anthropometric data) were not possible. ICD-10 codes were used to identify diagnoses included in the Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI; Table 1) [34] and to define MetS using a proxy strategy—in particular, MetS was defined as either E66 + I10 + E11, E66 + I10 + E78.0-5, or E66 + E11 + E78.0-5—an approach commonly used and validated in retrospective and claims-based research [35,36]. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of “Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu” Clinical Hospital (protocol code 292318/18 April 2024).

2.2. Hospitalization Costs

Since 2003, public hospital financing in Romania has been primarily managed through a system based on Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs). Initially, the Australian Refined DRG (AR-DRG) version 5 was used for hospital reimbursement [37]; however, in 2010, Romania developed its own DRG variant (RO-DRG). This version incorporated new definitions for comorbidities and complications and adjusted grouping limits for certain cases. This system undergoes periodic updates to enhance its applicability to the Romanian healthcare context. The financial mechanism of hospital reimbursement consists of prospective payments using a mix of methods, including DRG-based case payments, day tariffs, lump sums for national health programs, and fee-for-service payments for outpatient services. The DRG component is central, determining reimbursement based on case complexity and resource requirements. Cost data were derived from the hospital billing system and include the DRG base rate as well as additional charges related to procedures, medications, laboratory tests, imaging, and other ancillary services rendered during hospitalization. As a result, the cost data reflect only direct in-hospital expenditures, excluding outpatient management and indirect costs.

2.3. Statistics

Since there were no missing data for the primary variables—mandatory for hospital reimbursement and routinely collected in a standardized format—no data were excluded or imputed. Data distribution normality was assessed using descriptive statistics, normality tests, stem-and-leaf plots, and the Lilliefors-corrected Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Continuous variables are reported as the “mean ± standard deviation” (SD) if normally distributed or “median (interquartile range)” (IQR) if non-normally distributed. Nominal variables are reported as an “absolute frequency (percentage of group or subgroup)”. Differences in continuous variables among subgroups were assessed using independent-sample t tests (for normally distributed continuous variables across groups of dichotomous nominal variables) or Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests (for non-normally distributed continuous variables across groups of nominal variables with two or more states). Associations between dichotomous categorical variables were assessed using χ2 tests. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., released 2019, Armonk, NY, USA).

3. Results

Database query retrieved 4732 admissions of unique patients within the timeframe. Most of the patients included in the lot were women (53.9%), with an average age of 68.7 years (Table 2).
Regarding the diagnoses included in the CCI, CHF was highly prevalent in the sample (48.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (30.5%), chronic kidney disease (19.8%), myocardial infarction (18.8%), and cirrhosis (17.3%; Table 3). Approximately 11.1% of patients were categorized as having MetS. Within the diagnostic criteria for MetS, arterial hypertension was the most prevalent (50.0%), followed by dyslipidemia (38.5%), diabetes mellitus (30.5%), and obesity (19.8%; Table 3). In terms of time, the median hospitalization duration was 4 days, with a median hospitalization cost of EUR 1002 (Table 2).
Compared to men, women were significantly older (average age of 70.0 ± 13.7 years versus 67.3 ± 13.1 years; p < 0.001) and had a significantly higher prevalence of CHF (49.4% versus 46.4%; p = 0.042; Figure 1a). However, there were no significant differences in median hospitalization duration (4.0 (6.0) days versus 4.0 (6.0) days; p = 0.087), median total hospitalization costs (EUR 1002.4 (7346.2) versus EUR 1002.2 (7337.8); p = 0.938), median daily hospitalization costs (EUR 305.1 (1478.9) versus EUR 322.0 (1474.2); p = 0.214), or median CCI scores (5.0 (3.0) versus 5.0 (3.0); p = 0.635).
Compared to patients without CHF, those with CHF were significantly older (average age of 72.2 ± 11.7 years versus 65.4 ± 14.1 years; p < 0.001; Figure 2a), had significantly longer median hospitalization durations (5.0 (7.0) days versus 3.0 (6.0) days; p < 0.001; Figure 2b), higher median total hospitalization costs (EUR 1013.8 (7198.1) versus EUR 728.3 (7384.2); p < 0.001; Figure 2c), higher daily hospitalization costs (EUR 326.7 (1479.2) versus EUR 312.2 (1476.1); p = 0.044), and higher median CCI scores excluding CHF (5.0 (3.0) versus 4.0 (3.0); p < 0.001; Figure 2d).
Compared to patients without MetS, those with MetS were more often women (46.9% versus 39.2%; p < 0.001), significantly older (68.8 ± 13.7 years versus 67.5 ± 11.1 years; p = 0.029), and had a significantly higher prevalence of CHF (55.7% versus 47.1%; p = 0.042; Figure 1b). Median hospitalization durations were similar between the groups (4.0 (5.0) days versus 4.0 (6.0) days; p = 0.552); however, patients with MetS had significantly higher median total hospitalization costs (EUR 6552.2 (7196.8) versus EUR 951.1 (7350.3); p < 0.001), higher median daily hospitalization costs (EUR 905.9 (2500.2) versus EUR 285.2 (1215.3); p < 0.001), and higher median CCI scores (5.0 (3.0) versus 4.0 (3.0); p < 0.001).
Notably, the total cost of hospitalization increased steadily from a minimum in patients without CHF or MetS to a maximum in patients with both conditions (Figure 3).

4. Discussion

4.1. Sex Difference in CHF Prevalence

The first observation of the current study was the higher prevalence of CHF among women, who were significantly older than the men. However, hospitalization costs did not differ significantly between the sexes. This difference in CHF prevalence appears to rise in the pre-diagnosis period, as men and women exhibit different risk profiles for CHF [38,39]. Men are more likely to develop CHF with a reduced ejection fraction, whereas women more frequently exhibit a preserved ejection fraction [40,41]. Women with CHF are more likely to experience symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue, which often prompt them to seek hospitalization, and, consequently, report a lower quality of life [42,43]. In contrast, men may present with more overt signs of volume overload, such as peripheral edema [44,45]. Furthermore, women tend to exhibit a heightened inflammatory response [46], which may not contribute to differences in disease progression and prognosis [47,48]. The diagnosis of CHF in women is often delayed due to atypical symptoms and under-recognition of a preserved ejection fraction [49,50,51]. Despite these differences, women generally have better survival rates than men with CHF [52,53], particularly in cases of a preserved ejection fraction. The reasons for this survival advantage are not fully understood [54] but may be related to differences in ventricular remodeling, hormonal influences, and healthcare-seeking behavior. Social factors, including disparities in access to care and adherence to treatment, may also contribute to sex-based differences in CHF outcomes. Studies have also identified sex-based differences in healthcare costs among patients with CHF. For example, men with CHF have been shown to incur higher healthcare expenses than women [55,56], an observation that was not replicated in the current study. These cost disparities may be attributed to several factors, including differences in disease severity, comorbidities, and treatment approaches between the sexes.

4.2. High Frequency of CHF Among Admission Causes

Apart from the difference in prevalence by sex, another observation of the current study was the high prevalence of CHF (48.0%) among patients admitted to internal medicine wards. The literature confirms that CHF is a significant contributor to hospital admissions globally. For example, a nationwide analysis in Thailand between 2008 and 2013 reported that heart failure in adult patients accounted for approximately 1.7% of all adult hospitalizations [57]. Another relevant report from Spain, in which the Basque Health Service analyzed data from 2011 to 2015, revealed that 36% of unplanned admissions were due to heart failure [58]. Apart from the high prevalence of CHF, the study observed a relatively low prevalence of MetS (11.1%) among hospitalized patients. In contrast, the literature consistently reports high prevalence rates among hospitalized patients, regardless of their primary diagnoses or clinical profiles [59,60,61]. This discrepancy is likely due to the under-reporting of relevant ICD codes, which underscores a key weakness of the DRG system: its focus on ICD10 codes that increase a case’s complexity.

4.3. The Cost of CHF and MetS

The main observation of this study was the confirmation, within particular medical and financial environments, that both CHF and MetS increase hospitalization costs. CHF increases hospitalization costs through multiple mechanisms, including prolonged hospital stays, frequent readmissions, intensive treatments, the use of specialized care units, management of comorbidities, and end-of-life care needs. A key point raised by the current study is that hospitalizations account for a significant portion of CHF-related healthcare expenditures, with some studies reporting that approximately 75–80% of direct costs for heart failure are attributable to inpatient hospital stays [9]. Therefore, further research aimed at reducing CHF hospitalization costs will likely require a complex approach: preventing hospital admissions through improved outpatient care [62], shortening hospital stays via standardized management protocols, minimizing readmissions through post-discharge monitoring [63], and using advanced therapies and technologies to reduce long-term costs. The observation that both CHF and MetS are associated with higher hospitalization costs highlights the economic burden of cardiometabolic multimorbidity. This emphasizes the need for early detection, coordinated chronic disease management, and preventive care strategies. From a healthcare policy perspective, targeted interventions, such as structured outpatient care programs, improved adherence to guideline-directed therapy, and lifestyle modification support, could reduce hospital utilization and associated costs. Moreover, risk-based resource allocation models or bundled payment systems that reflect comorbidity burden may improve cost efficiency while maintaining quality of care. These issues should be more thoroughly addressed within the specific framework of each national healthcare system, especially in emerging economies, where reducing unnecessary costs may improve access to medical care.

4.4. Policy Implications of Observed CHF Costs

This study contributes to current knowledge by providing real-world, administrative cost data on CHF and MetS from an upper-middle-income European country, based on a comprehensive and mandatory dataset for reimbursement. Unlike many prior studies relying on clinical trial populations or limited regional samples, this analysis reflects the actual burden of routine hospital care and highlights the additive economic impact of metabolic comorbidity in CHF. These findings can inform health policy by identifying high-cost patient subgroups for targeted interventions and supporting cost-containment strategies such as preventive care, integrated chronic disease management, or value-based reimbursement models. Potential implications for Romanian health policy and DRG system refinement include costs associated with cardiometabolic multimorbidity and incorporating comorbidity clusters such as MetS into DRG weighting or case-mix adjustment models. For other countries with similar hospital coding and financing systems, our approach demonstrates how existing administrative data can be leveraged for health services research and economic surveillance. The implications go beyond cost awareness, pointing toward actionable opportunities for prevention and system-level optimization.

4.5. Limitations of the Study

There are several limitations of this study that may impact the interpretation of its results. Regarding design-based limitations, first, the descriptive retrospective design does not establish cause-and-effect relationships between CHF and hospitalization costs; for example, higher costs may be due to disease severity, comorbidities, or hospital policies. Additionally, this design does not allow for the evaluation of long-term outcomes (e.g., readmission costs, medication adherence, home healthcare, and rehabilitation expenses). This is important, as CHF patients accrue costs throughout the course of the disease, and lifetime costs are equally as important for a complete evaluation of economic impact. Second, indirect costs such as productivity losses due to morbidity and premature mortality (e.g., absenteeism, job loss, early retirement, reduced work capacity, and the burden on informal caregivers) were not recorded, likely underestimating the total economic impact. Third, selection bias may have limited the study’s ability to capture all CHF patients, especially those treated in outpatient settings or those who avoid hospitalization due to financial or geographic barriers. While outpatient settings typically generate less cost than admission wards, prescribed medications and diagnostic imaging may still produce significant overall costs. Fourth, as data were collected from a single city, findings may not be generalizable to other healthcare settings or populations. Therefore, a multi-centric or multi-national study design would be better suited. In terms of data-based limitations, first, the use of discharge ICD-10 codes to define clinical conditions—an inherent constraint in retrospective, administrative data-based studies—may be subject to misclassification bias, as coding accuracy depends on documentation quality, coder expertise, and institutional practices. Second, the analysis was limited by the absence of detailed clinical and socioeconomic variables, which precluded adjustment for potential confounders. Third, because the study relied on hospital records, errors in coding or missing data may have affected the accuracy of cost estimates.

5. Conclusions

CHF is highly prevalent (48.0%) among patients admitted to internal medicine wards and is more prevalent among hospitalized women, without significant differences in hospitalization costs compared to men. CHF and MetS were associated with incrementally increases in total hospitalization costs in DRG-based reimbursement systems. Addressing CHF-related costs requires prospective cost-reduction strategies focused on early disease management, optimized outpatient care, and the prevention of avoidable hospital admissions.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, A.M. and D.I.M.; methodology, A.L.C. and D.G.M.; software, C.C.P. and D.I.M.; validation, A.M. and C.C.P.; formal analysis, C.C.P. and D.I.M.; investigation, A.L.C. and A.C.; resources, A.C.; data curation, A.M.; writing—original draft preparation, A.M. and C.C.P.; writing—review and editing, A.C., D.I.M., A.L.C., V.G., and D.G.M.; visualization, V.G.; supervision, D.G.M. and V.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of “Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu” Clinical Hospital (protocol code 292318/18 April 2024).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request.

Acknowledgments

The publication of this paper was supported by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila through the institutional program “Publish not Perish”. The authors thank Adina Rusu for important contributions in data acquisition and draft reviewing.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used in this manuscript:
AIDSAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
CCICharleston Comorbidity Index
CHFchronic heart failure
CRPC-reactive protein
DRGsDiagnosis-Related Groups
HDLshigh-density lipoproteins
ICDInternational Classification of Diseases
IDFInternational Diabetes Foundation
IQRinterquartile range
MetSmetabolic syndrome
SDstandard deviation

References

  1. Brake, R.; Jones, I.D. Chronic heart failure part 1: Pathophysiology, signs and symptoms. Nurs. Stand. 2017, 31, 54–63. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Elendu, C.; Amaechi, D.C.; Elendu, T.C.; Fiemotonghan, B.E.; Okoye, O.K.; Agu-Ben, C.M.; Onyekweli, S.O.; Amapu, D.A.; Ikpegbu, R.; Asekhauno, M.; et al. A comprehensive review of heart failure: Unraveling the etiology, decoding pathophysiological mechanisms, navigating diagnostic modalities, exploring pharmacological interventions, advocating lifestyle modifications, and charting the horizon of emerging therapies in the complex landscape of chronic cardiac dysfunction. Medicine 2024, 103, e36895. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. McDonagh, T.A.; Metra, M.; Adamo, M.; Gardner, R.S.; Baumbach, A.; Böhm, M.; Burri, H.; Butler, J.; Čelutkienė, J.; Chioncel, O.; et al. 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: Developed by the task force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) With the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur. Heart J. 2023, 44, 3627–3639. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Tomasoni, D.; Fonarow, G.C.; Adamo, M.; Anker, S.D.; Butler, J.; Coats, A.J.S.; Filippatos, G.; Greene, S.J.; McDonagh, T.A.; Ponikowski, P.; et al. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors as an early, first-line therapy in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2022, 24, 431–441. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Cunningham, J.W.; Vaduganathan, M.; Claggett, B.L.; Kulac, I.J.; Desai, A.S.; Jhund, P.S.; de Boer, R.A.; DeMets, D.; Hernandez, A.F.; Inzucchi, S.E.; et al. Dapagliflozin in Patients Recently Hospitalized with Heart Failure and Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2022, 80, 1302–1310. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Bhatt, D.L.; Szarek, M.; Steg, P.G.; Cannon, C.P.; Leiter, L.A.; McGuire, D.K.; Lewis, J.B.; Riddle, M.C.; Voors, A.A.; Metra, M.; et al. Sotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Recent Worsening Heart Failure. N. Engl. J. Med. 2021, 384, 117–128. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Savarese, G.; Becher, P.M.; Lund, L.H.; Seferovic, P.; Rosano, G.M.C.; Coats, A.J.S. Global burden of heart failure: A comprehensive and updated review of epidemiology. Cardiovasc. Res. 2023, 118, 3272–3287. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Pocock, S.J.; Ariti, C.A.; McMurray, J.J.; Maggioni, A.; Kober, L.; Squire, I.B.; Swedberg, K.; Dobson, J.; Poppe, K.K.; Whalley, G.A.; et al. Predicting survival in heart failure: A risk score based on 39 372 patients from 30 studies. Eur. Heart J. 2013, 34, 1404–1413. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Heidenreich, P.A.; Fonarow, G.C.; Opsha, Y.; Sandhu, A.T.; Sweitzer, N.K.; Warraich, H.J.; HFSA Scientific Statement Committee Members Chair. Economic Issues in Heart Failure in the United States. J. Card. Fail. 2022, 28, 453–466. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Tran, D.T.; Ohinmaa, A.; Thanh, N.X.; Howlett, J.G.; Ezekowitz, J.A.; McAlister, F.A.; Kaul, P. The current and future financial burden of hospital admissions for heart failure in Canada: A cost analysis. CMAJ Open 2016, 4, E365–E370. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Khan, S.U.; Khan, M.Z.; Alkhouli, M. Trends of Clinical Outcomes and Health Care Resource Use in Heart Failure in the United States. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 2020, 9, e016782. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Rosano, G.M.C.; Seferovic, P.; Savarese, G.; Spoletini, I.; Lopatin, Y.; Gustafsson, F.; Bayes-Genis, A.; Jaarsma, T.; Abdelhamid, M.; Miqueo, A.G.; et al. Impact analysis of heart failure across European countries: An ESC-HFA position paper. ESC Heart Fail. 2022, 9, 2767–2778. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  13. Norhammar, A.; Bodegard, J.; Vanderheyden, M.; Tangri, N.; Karasik, A.; Maggioni, A.P.; Sveen, K.A.; Taveira-Gomes, T.; Botana, M.; Hunziker, L.; et al. Prevalence, outcomes and costs of a contemporary, multinational population with heart failure. Heart 2023, 109, 548–556. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Baras Shreibati, J.; Goldhaber-Fiebert, J.D.; Banerjee, D.; Owens, D.K.; Hlatky, M.A. Cost-Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Ambulatory Patients With Advanced Heart Failure. JACC Heart Fail. 2017, 5, 110–119. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Urbich, M.; Globe, G.; Pantiri, K.; Heisen, M.; Bennison, C.; Wirtz, H.S.; Di Tanna, G.L. A Systematic Review of Medical Costs Associated with Heart Failure in the USA (2014–2020). Pharmacoeconomics 2020, 38, 1219–1236. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  16. Berry, C.; Murdoch, D.R.; McMurray, J.J. Economics of chronic heart failure. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2001, 3, 283–291. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Khan, M.S.; Shahid, I.; Bennis, A.; Rakisheva, A.; Metra, M.; Butler, J. Global epidemiology of heart failure. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 2024, 21, 717–734. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Koutlas, A.; Jenkins, P. Reducing Hospital Admissions for Patients with Heart Failure by Implementing the Chronic Care Management Framework: A Cost, Quality and Satisfaction Improvement Project. J. Dr. Nurs. Pract. 2022, 15, 96–104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Leon-Justel, A.; Morgado Garcia-Polavieja, J.I.; Alvarez-Rios, A.I.; Caro Fernandez, F.J.; Merino, P.A.P.; Galvez Rios, E.; Vazquez-Rico, I.; Fernandez, J.F.D. Biomarkers-based personalized follow-up in chronic heart failure improves patient’s outcomes and reduces care associate cost. Health Qual. Life Outcomes 2021, 19, 142. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Maru, S.; Byrnes, J.; Carrington, M.J.; Chan, Y.K.; Thompson, D.R.; Stewart, S.; Scuffham, P.A. Cost-effectiveness of home versus clinic-based management of chronic heart failure: Extended follow-up of a pragmatic, multicentre randomized trial cohort—The WHICH? study (Which Heart Failure Intervention is Most Cost-Effective & Consumer Friendly in Reducing Hospital Care). Int. J. Cardiol. 2015, 201, 368–375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Miura, Y.; Fukumoto, Y.; Shiba, N.; Miura, T.; Shimada, K.; Iwama, Y.; Takagi, A.; Matsusaka, H.; Tsutsumi, T.; Yamada, A.; et al. Prevalence and clinical implication of metabolic syndrome in chronic heart failure. Circ. J. 2010, 74, 2612–2621. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Alberti, K.G.; Zimmet, P.; Shaw, J. Metabolic syndrome—A new world-wide definition. A Consensus Statement from the International Diabetes Federation. Diabet. Med. 2006, 23, 469–480. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Purwowiyoto, S.L.; Prawara, A.S. Metabolic syndrome and heart failure: Mechanism and management. Med. Pharm. Rep. 2021, 94, 15–21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. van der Hoef, C.C.S.; Boorsma, E.M.; Emmens, J.E.; van Essen, B.J.; Metra, M.; Ng, L.L.; Anker, S.D.; Dickstein, K.; Mordi, I.R.; Dihoum, A.; et al. Biomarker signature and pathophysiological pathways in patients with chronic heart failure and metabolic syndrome. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2023, 25, 163–173. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Roytman, A.P.; Sedova, N.A.; Godkov, M.A. Laboratory indicators of pathological changes in patients with chronic heart failure with metabolic syndrome. Klin. Lab. Diagn. 2021, 66, 75–79. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  26. Bossone, E.; Arcopinto, M.; Iacoviello, M.; Triggiani, V.; Cacciatore, F.; Maiello, C.; Limongelli, G.; Masarone, D.; Perticone, F.; Sciacqua, A.; et al. Multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiency syndrome in chronic heart failure: Rationale, design, and demographic characteristics of the T.O.S.CA. Registry. Intern. Emerg. Med. 2018, 13, 661–671. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  27. Kearney, M.T. Chronic heart failure: A missing component of the metabolic syndrome? Diabetes Vasc. Dis. Res. 2009, 6, 145. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Nichols, G.A.; Amitay, E.L.; Chatterjee, S.; Steubl, D. The Bidirectional Association of Chronic Kidney Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, and Heart Failure: The Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Syndrome. Metab. Syndr. Relat. Disord. 2023, 21, 261–266. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Leon-Roman, J.; Azancot, M.A.; Marouco, C.; Patricio-Liebana, M.; Zamora, J.I.; Ramos Terrades, N.; Toapanta, N.; Núñez-Delgado, S.; Fernandez, A.B.M.; Soler, M.J. A New Era in the Management of Cardiorenal Syndrome: The Importance of Cardiorenal Units. Cardiorenal Med. 2025, 15, 174–183. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Yaqoob, N.; Khalid, F.; Khan, M.F.; Anwar, W.; Khan, M.F.; Iqbal, M.H. Prevalence of Cardiorenal Syndrome in Patients Admitted for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Its Correlation With In-Hospital Outcomes. J. Ayub Med. Coll. Abbottabad 2024, 36, 773–777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Perrone-Filardi, P.; Savarese, G.; Scarano, M.; Cavazzina, R.; Trimarco, B.; Minneci, S.; Maggioni, A.P.; Tavazzi, L.; Tognoni, G.; Marchioli, R. Prognostic impact of metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic heart failure: Data from GISSI-HF trial. Int. J. Cardiol. 2015, 178, 85–90. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Tadaki, S.; Sakata, Y.; Miura, Y.; Miyata, S.; Asakura, M.; Shimada, K.; Yamamoto, T.; Fukumoto, Y.; Kadokami, T.; Yasuda, S.; et al. Prognostic Impacts of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure—A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study. Circ. J. 2016, 80, 677–688. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Ricardo, S.J.; Araujo, M.Y.C.; Santos, L.L.D.; Romanzini, M.; Fernandes, R.A.; Turi-Lynch, B.C.; Codogno, J.S. Burden of metabolic syndrome on primary healthcare costs among older adults: A cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med. J. 2024, 142, e2023215. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Charlson, M.E.; Pompei, P.; Ales, K.L.; MacKenzie, C.R. A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: Development and validation. J. Chronic Dis. 1987, 40, 373–383. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Hivert, M.F.; Grant, R.W.; Shrader, P.; Meigs, J.B. Identifying primary care patients at risk for future diabetes and cardiovascular disease using electronic health records. BMC Health Serv. Res. 2009, 9, 170. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Hivert, M.F.; Dusseault-Bélanger, F.; Cohen, A.; Courteau, J.; Vanasse, A. Modified metabolic syndrome criteria for identification of patients at risk of developing diabetes and coronary heart diseases: Longitudinal assessment via electronic health records. Can. J. Cardiol. 2012, 28, 744–749. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  37. Radu, C.P.; Chiriac, D.N.; Vladescu, C. Changing patient classification system for hospital reimbursement in Romania. Croat. Med. J. 2010, 51, 250–258. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Bonapace, S.; Mantovani, A. Do Sex and Gender-Related Differences Account to Different Risk of Developing Heart Failure in Middle-Aged People with Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolites 2024, 14, 528. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Chandra, A.; Skali, H.; Claggett, B.; Solomon, S.D.; Rossi, J.S.; Russell, S.D.; Matsushita, K.; Kitzman, D.W.; Konety, S.H.; Mosley, T.H.; et al. Race- and Gender-Based Differences in Cardiac Structure and Function and Risk of Heart Failure. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2022, 79, 355–368. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Ciutac, A.M.; Pana, T.; Dawson, D.; Myint, P.K. Sex-related differences in heart failure patients: Physiological mechanisms of cardiovascular ageing and evidence-based sex-specific medical therapies. Ther. Adv. Cardiovasc. Dis. 2025, 19, 17539447241309673. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Kim, T.E.; Kim, D.Y.; Kim, H.; Kim, S.H. Sex and Age Differences in the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Heart Failure Development. Metabolites 2024, 14, 653. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Yang, X.; Wen, Y.; Peng, H.; Zhu, H.; Wang, W.E.; Zhou, J. Gender Differences in Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, and Quality of Life in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional Study. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 2023, 38, 425–432. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  43. Tapia, J.; Basalo, M.; Enjuanes, C.; Calero, E.; Jose, N.; Ruiz, M.; Calvo, E.; Garcimartín, P.; Moliner, P.; Hidalgo, E.; et al. Psychosocial factors partially explain gender differences in health-related quality of life in heart failure patients. ESC Heart Fail. 2023, 10, 1090–1102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Lim, A.; Benjasirisan, C.; Tebay, J.; Liu, X.; Badawi, S.; Himmelfarb, C.D.; Davidson, P.M.; Koirala, B. Gender Differences in Disease Burden, Symptom Burden, and Quality of Life Among People Living with Heart Failure and Multimorbidity: Cross-Sectional Study. J. Adv. Nurs. 2025. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  45. Shi, K.; Zhang, G.; Fu, H.; Li, X.M.; Jiang, L.; Gao, Y.; Qian, W.-L.; Shen, L.-T.; Xu, H.-Y.; Li, Y.; et al. Sex differences in clinical profile, left ventricular remodeling and cardiovascular outcomes among diabetic patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: A cardiac-MRI-based study. Cardiovasc. Diabetol. 2024, 23, 266. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Tang, W.H.W. Targeting Inflammation in Heart Failure Prevention: Are There Sex Differences? JACC Heart Fail. 2025, 13, 450–452. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Fluschnik, N.; Strangl, F.; Kondziella, C.; Gossling, A.; Becher, P.M.; Schrage, B.; Schnabel, R.B.; Bernadyn, J.; Bremer, W.; Grahn, H.; et al. Gender differences in characteristics and outcomes in heart failure patients referred for end-stage treatment. ESC Heart Fail. 2021, 8, 5031–5039. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Saldarriaga, C.; Garcia-Arango, M.; Valentina Lopez, L.; Contreras, J. Sex Differences in Worsening Heart Failure: Learning From Real-world Evidence. J. Card. Fail. 2024, 30, 991–993. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. 47 Kocabas, U.; Kivrak, T.; Yilmaz Oztekin, G.M.; Tanik, V.O.; Ozdemir, I.; Kaya, E.; Yüce, E.I.; Demir, F.A.; Doğduş, M.; Altınsoy, M.; et al. Gender-related clinical and management differences in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Int. J. Clin. Pract. 2021, 75, e13765. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Cediel, G.; Codina, P.; Spitaleri, G.; Domingo, M.; Santiago-Vacas, E.; Lupon, J.; Bayes-Genis, A. Gender-Related Differences in Heart Failure Biomarkers. Front. Cardiovasc. Med. 2020, 7, 617705. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Lee, S.Y.; Park, S.M. Sex differences in diagnosis and treatment of heart failure: Toward precision medicine. Korean J. Intern. Med. 2025, 40, 196–207. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  52. Qiu, W.; Cai, A.; Wu, S.; Zhu, Y.; Zheng, H.; Feng, Y. Sex- and age-specific differences in the associations between comorbidity and incident heart failure. QJM Int. J. Med. 2025. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  53. Qiu, W.; Wang, W.; Wu, S.; Zhu, Y.; Zheng, H.; Feng, Y. Sex differences in long-term heart failure prognosis: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Eur. J. Prev. Cardiol. 2024, 31, 2013–2023. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Chen, C.C.; Chiu, C.C.; Hao, W.R.; Hsu, M.H.; Liu, J.C.; Lin, J.L. Sex differences in clinical characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes in Asian hospitalized heart failure patients. ESC Heart Fail. 2024, 11, 3095–3104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Salem, K.; ElKhateeb, O. Gender-adjusted and age-adjusted economic inpatient burden of congestive heart failure: Cost and disability-adjusted life-year analysis. ESC Heart Fail. 2017, 4, 259–265. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Cremers, H.P.; Theunissen, L.J.H.J.; Essers, P.P.M.; van de Ven, A.R.T.; Spee, R.; Verbunt, R.; Otterspoor, L.; Post, J.C.; Tio, R.; van Asperdt, F.G.M.H.; et al. Gender differences in Heart Failure; Data on Outcomes and Costs. Eur. Soc. Cardiol. Virtual J. 2020. Available online: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/What-we-do/Initiatives/Virtual-Journal/gender-differences-in-heart-failure-data-on-outcomes-and-costs (accessed on 6 March 2025).
  57. Janwanishstaporn, S.; Karaketklang, K.; Krittayaphong, R. National trend in heart failure hospitalization and outcome under public health insurance system in Thailand 2008–2013. BMC Cardiovasc. Disord. 2022, 22, 203. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Aizpuru, F.; Millan, E.; Garmendia, I.; Mateos, M.; Librero, J. Hospitalizations for heart failure: Epidemiology and health system burden based on data gathered in routine practice. Med. Clínica Práctica 2020, 3, 100140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Alosaimi, F.D.; Abalhassan, M.; Alhaddad, B.; Alzain, N.; Fallata, E.; Alhabbad, A.; Alassiry, M.Z. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among patients with various psychiatric diagnoses and treatments: A cross-sectional study. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2017, 45, 62–69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Nguyen, N.T.; Nguyen, T.N.; Nguyen, K.M.; Tran, H.P.N.; Huynh, K.L.A.; Hoang, S.V. Prevalence and impact of metabolic syndrome on in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A perspective from a developing country. Medicine 2023, 102, e35924. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Park, H.J.; Jung, J.H.; Han, K.; Shin, J.; Lee, Y.; Chang, Y.; Park, K.; Cho, Y.J.; Choi, Y.S.; Kim, S.M.; et al. Association between metabolic syndrome and mortality in patients with COVID-19: A nationwide cohort study. Obes. Res. Clin. Pract. 2022, 16, 484–490. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  62. Checa, C.; Canelo-Aybar, C.; Suclupe, S.; Ginesta-Lopez, D.; Berenguera, A.; Castells, X.; Brotons, C.; Posso, M. Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Case Management in Advanced Heart Failure Patients Attended in Primary Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 13823. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  63. Wang, C.; Ba, Y.; Ni, J.; Huang, R.; Du, X. Role of Telemedicine Intervention in the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anatol. J. Cardiol. 2024, 28, 177–186. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Figure 1. The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) by sex ((a): 2552 women and 2180 men; χ2 test, p = 0.042) and among patients with or without metabolic syndrome ((b): n = 526 and n = 4206, respectively; χ2 test, p < 0.001).
Figure 1. The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) by sex ((a): 2552 women and 2180 men; χ2 test, p = 0.042) and among patients with or without metabolic syndrome ((b): n = 526 and n = 4206, respectively; χ2 test, p < 0.001).
Healthcare 13 01239 g001
Figure 2. Differences among patients with or without chronic heart failure (CHF) in terms of age ((a); p = 0.042), hospitalization duration ((b); p < 0.001), hospitalization cost ((c); p < 0.001), and CCI (Charleston Comorbidity Index) score excluding CHF ((d); p < 0.001; circles and * represent outlier values). Note: all differences are evaluated using Mann–Whitney tests; hospitalization duration and cost of hospitalization are reported as natural logarithms.
Figure 2. Differences among patients with or without chronic heart failure (CHF) in terms of age ((a); p = 0.042), hospitalization duration ((b); p < 0.001), hospitalization cost ((c); p < 0.001), and CCI (Charleston Comorbidity Index) score excluding CHF ((d); p < 0.001; circles and * represent outlier values). Note: all differences are evaluated using Mann–Whitney tests; hospitalization duration and cost of hospitalization are reported as natural logarithms.
Healthcare 13 01239 g002
Figure 3. Bar chart with error bars (95% confidence intervals) reporting median total hospitalization cost (EUR) in patients with or without chronic heart failure (CHF), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and their combinations (Kruskal–Wallis, H = 162 (3), p < 0.001).
Figure 3. Bar chart with error bars (95% confidence intervals) reporting median total hospitalization cost (EUR) in patients with or without chronic heart failure (CHF), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and their combinations (Kruskal–Wallis, H = 162 (3), p < 0.001).
Healthcare 13 01239 g003
Table 1. ICD10 codes for the studied diagnoses.
Table 1. ICD10 codes for the studied diagnoses.
DiagnosisICD10 Code
chronic heart failureI50
myocardial infarctionI21, I25
peripheral vascular diseaseI73
cerebrovascular diseaseI60, I61, I63, I64, I67, G45.8, G45.9
dementiaF00, F01, F03
chronic pulmonary diseaseJ44
rheumatic diseaseM05, M06, M45, L40.5, M07, M32, M33, M34, M35
peptic ulcer diseaseK27
cirrhosisK70, K71, K74, K76
variceal bleedingI85.0, I98.3
diabetes mellitusE10, E11, E12, E13, E14
hemiplegiaG81
chronic kidney diseaseN18
solid tumorC
metastatic cancerC78, C79, C80
leukemiaC90, C91, C92, C93, C94, C95
lymphomaC81, C82, C83, C84, C85, C86, C88
AIDSB20, B21, B22, B23, B24
obesityE66
arterial hypertensionI10
dyslipidemia E78
Abbreviations: AIDS—Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; ICD10—International Classification of Diseases version 10.
Table 2. General characteristics (n = 4732).
Table 2. General characteristics (n = 4732).
VariableObserved
women53.9%
age (years, average ± SD) 68.7 ± 13.4
hospitalization duration (days, median (IQR))4.0 (5.9)
total cost of hospitalization (EUR, median (IQR))1002.1 (7338.3)
total cost of hospitalization (RON, median (IQR))5010.2 (36,690.1)
cost per day of hospitalization (EUR, median (IQR))322.2 (1476.8)
cost per day of hospitalization (RON, median (IQR))1611.2 (7347.9)
Charlson Comorbidity Index (average ± SD)4.8 ± 2.5
Notes: IQR—interquartile range; SD—standard deviation.
Table 3. Prevalence of diagnoses included in the CCI and metabolic syndrome definition (n = 4732).
Table 3. Prevalence of diagnoses included in the CCI and metabolic syndrome definition (n = 4732).
DiagnosisPrevalenceDiagnosisPrevalence
chronic heart failure48.0%hemiplegia0.4%
myocardial infarction18.8%chronic kidney disease19.8%
peripheral vascular disease0.9%solid tumor8.7%
cerebrovascular disease6.5%metastatic cancer2.8%
dementia4.8%leukemia0.5%
chronic pulmonary disease9.6%lymphoma0.3%
rheumatic disease2.9%AIDS0.1%
peptic ulcer disease0.0%obesity19.8%
cirrhosis17.3%arterial hypertension50.0%
variceal bleeding0.0%dyslipidemia 38.5%
diabetes mellitus30.5%metabolic syndrome11.1%
Abbreviations: AIDS—Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; CCI—Charlson Comorbidity Index.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Mincă, A.; Popescu, C.C.; Mincă, D.I.; Călinoiu, A.L.; Ciobanu, A.; Gheorghiță, V.; Mincă, D.G. The Association Between Chronic Heart Failure and Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Cost of Hospitalization. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111239

AMA Style

Mincă A, Popescu CC, Mincă DI, Călinoiu AL, Ciobanu A, Gheorghiță V, Mincă DG. The Association Between Chronic Heart Failure and Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Cost of Hospitalization. Healthcare. 2025; 13(11):1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111239

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mincă, Alexandra, Claudiu C. Popescu, Dragoș I. Mincă, Amalia L. Călinoiu, Ana Ciobanu, Valeriu Gheorghiță, and Dana G. Mincă. 2025. "The Association Between Chronic Heart Failure and Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Cost of Hospitalization" Healthcare 13, no. 11: 1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111239

APA Style

Mincă, A., Popescu, C. C., Mincă, D. I., Călinoiu, A. L., Ciobanu, A., Gheorghiță, V., & Mincă, D. G. (2025). The Association Between Chronic Heart Failure and Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Cost of Hospitalization. Healthcare, 13(11), 1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111239

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop