Objective To determine the prognostic factors in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods Clinical data of 556 HF patients admitted in our department from January 2007 to December 2010 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed up through telephone calls to know their final outcome. Then, they were classified into 2 groups: survival group (n＝282) and death group (n＝231). The 2 groups were compared in their clinical indices. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the mortality hazard ratio of different factors. Results A total of 513 HF patients were finally enrolled, and the other 35 were lost of follow-up. The mortality rate was 45%(231/513) in this group. Fasting blood glucose, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and creatinine at hospital admission were significantly higher in the dead group than in the survival group (P＜0.05). While, hemoglobin, sodium ion concentration, calcium ion concentration, total cholesterol, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fractional shortening at the admission were significantly lower in the dead group than in the survival group (P＜0.05). In multivariable analysis, age (RR＝1.030), hospital stay (RR＝1.014), LVEF (RR＝0.988), complications (RR＝1.102), fasting blood glucose (RR＝1.060), and total bilirubin (RR＝1.004) were determined as the independent risk factors of mortality (P＜0.05). Conclusion Heart failure is of poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Abnormalities in LVEF, fasting blood glucose and total bilirubin are main factors influencing the prognosis of HF.