Mortality in patients with heart failure and suicidal ideation discharged to skilled nursing facilities

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.[1] A chronically, disabling and debilitating condition, HF often results in hospital admission and subsequent readmission.[2] After hospitalization,nearly 25％ of older adults with HF are discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for rehabilitation due to difficulties with functioning independently.[3] Critically, patients with HF discharged to SNFs also show significantly higher rates of mortality.[2] Identifying factors that predict mortality among this important patient population, especially factors that could be addressed in the hospital setting, is an important step toward improving survivability among these patients.