Among patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF), tobacco or substance use disorders are more common among males, younger age groups, lower socioeconomic status, and select racial/ethnic minorities. This according to a recent study that calculated the proportion of primary HF hospitalizations in the 2014 National Inpatient Sample with tobacco or substance use disorders, accounting for demographic factors. Researchers found:

• 15.5% of HF hospitalizations (n=152,965) in the US had documented tobacco (12.1%) or substance (6.2%) use disorder.
• Female sex was associated with lower rates of tobacco and substance use disorder.
• Tobacco or substance use disorders were more common among males and highest for hospitalization aged <55 years.
• Enhanced screening for tobacco and substance use disorders in hospitalized HF patients may reveal opportunities for treatment and secondary prevention.