IMPORTANCE: Readmission rates declined after announcement of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), which penalizes hospitals for excess readmissions for acute myocardial infarction ...(AMI), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: To compare trends in readmission rates for target and nontarget conditions, stratified by hospital penalty status. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries older than 64 years discharged between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2015, from 2214 penalty hospitals and 1283 nonpenalty hospitals. Difference-interrupted time-series models were used to compare trends in readmission rates by condition and penalty status. EXPOSURE: Hospital penalty status or target condition under the HRRP. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Thirty-day risk adjusted, all-cause unplanned readmission rates for target and nontarget conditions. RESULTS: The study included 48 137 102 hospitalizations of 20 351 161 Medicare beneficiaries. In January 2008, the mean readmission rates for AMI, HF, pneumonia, and nontarget conditions were 21.9%, 27.5%, 20.1%, and 18.4%, respectively, at hospitals later subject to financial penalties and 18.7%, 24.2%, 17.4%, and 15.7% at hospitals not subject to penalties. Between January 2008 and March 2010, prior to HRRP announcement, readmission rates were stable across hospitals (except AMI at nonpenalty hospitals). Following announcement of HRRP (March 2010), readmission rates for both target and nontarget conditions declined significantly faster for patients at hospitals later subject to financial penalties compared with those at nonpenalized hospitals (for AMI, additional decrease of −1.24 95% CI, −1.84 to −0.65 percentage points per year relative to nonpenalty discharges; for HF, −1.25 95% CI, −1.64 to −0.86; for pneumonia, −1.37 95% CI, −1.80 to −0.95; and for nontarget conditions, −0.27 95% CI, −0.38 to −0.17; P < .001 for all). For penalty hospitals, readmission rates for target conditions declined significantly faster compared with nontarget conditions (for AMI, additional decline of −0.49 95% CI, −0.81 to −0.16 percentage points per year relative to nontarget conditions P = .004; for HF, −0.90 95% CI, −1.18 to −0.62; P < .001; and for pneumonia, −0.57 95% CI, −0.92 to −0.23; P < .001). In contrast, among nonpenalty hospitals, readmissions for target conditions declined similarly or more slowly compared with nontarget conditions (for AMI, additional increase of 0.48 95% CI, 0.01-0.95 percentage points per year P = .05; for HF, 0.08 95% CI, −0.30 to 0.46; P = .67; for pneumonia, 0.53 95% CI, 0.13-0.93; P = .01). After HRRP implementation in October 2012, the rate of change for readmission rates plateaued (P < .05 for all except pneumonia at nonpenalty hospitals), with the greatest relative change observed among hospitals subject to financial penalty. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Medicare fee-for-service patients at hospitals subject to penalties under the HRRP had greater reductions in readmission rates compared with those at nonpenalized hospitals. Changes were greater for target vs nontarget conditions for patients at the penalized hospitals but not at the other hospitals.
IMPORTANCE: Intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been associated with increased risk of mortality and bleeding among ...patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, evidence on the association of device therapy with a broader array of clinical outcomes, including data on long-term outcomes and cost, is limited. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between intravascular LVAD or IABP use and clinical outcomes and cost in patients with AMI complicated by CS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective propensity-matched cohort study used administrative claims data for commercially insured patients from 14 states across the US. Patients included in the analysis underwent PCI for AMI complicated by CS from January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2020. Data analysis was performed from April to November 2021. EXPOSURES: Use of either an intravascular LVAD or IABP. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were mortality, stroke, severe bleeding, repeat revascularization, kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and total health care costs during the index admission. Clinical outcomes and cost were also assessed at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS: Among 3077 patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by CS, the mean (SD) age was 65.2 (12.5) years, and 986 (32.0%) had cardiac arrest. Among 817 propensity-matched pairs, intravascular LVAD use was associated with significantly higher in-hospital (36.2% vs 25.8%; odds ratio OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.32-2.02), 30-day (40.1% vs 28.3%; OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.37-2.13), and 1-year mortality (58.9% vs 45.0%; hazard ratio HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.21-1.71) compared with IABP. At 30 days, intravascular LVAD use was associated with significantly higher bleeding (19.1% vs 14.5%; OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76), KRT (12.2% vs 7.0%; OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.30-2.73), and mean cost (+$51 680; 95% CI, $31 488-$75 178). At 1 year, the association of intravascular LVAD use with bleeding (29.7% vs 24.3%; HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05-1.75), KRT (18.1% vs 10.9%; HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.35-2.83), and mean cost (+$46 609; 95% CI, $22 126-$75 461) persisted. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this propensity-matched analysis of patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by CS, intravascular LVAD use was associated with increased short-term and 1-year risk of mortality, bleeding, KRT, and cost compared with IABP. There is an urgent need for additional evidence surrounding the optimal management of patients with AMI complicated by CS.
The risk of rehospitalization is elevated in the immediate post-discharge period and declines over time. It is not known if the extent and timing of risk vary across readmission diagnoses, suggesting ...that recovery and vulnerability after discharge differ by physiologic system.
We compared risk trajectories for major readmission diagnoses in the year after discharge among all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized with heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or pneumonia from 2008-2010.
We estimated the daily risk of rehospitalization for 12 major readmission diagnostic categories after accounting for the competing risk of death after discharge. For each diagnostic category, we identified (1) the time required for readmission risk to peak and then decline 50% from maximum values after discharge; (2) the time required for readmission risk to approach plateau periods of minimal day-to-day change; and (3) the extent to which hospitalization risks are higher among patients recently discharged from the hospital compared with the general elderly population.
Among >3,000,000 hospitalizations, the yearly rate of rehospitalization was 67.0%, 49.5%, and 55.3% after hospitalization for HF, AMI, and pneumonia, respectively. The extent and timing of risk varied by readmission diagnosis and initial admitting condition. Risk of readmission for gastrointestinal bleeding/anemia peaked particularly late after hospital discharge, occurring 10, 6, and 7 days after hospitalization for HF, AMI, and pneumonia, respectively. Risk of readmission for trauma/injury declined particularly slowly, requiring 38, 20, and 38 days to decline by 50% after hospitalization for HF, AMI, and pneumonia, respectively.
Patterns of vulnerability to different conditions that cause rehospitalization vary by time after hospital discharge. This finding suggests that recovery of various physiologic systems occurs at different rates and that post-discharge interventions to minimize vulnerability to specific conditions should be tailored to their underlying risks.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective To determine rates of publication and reporting of results within two years for all completed clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov across leading academic medical centers in the ...United States.Design Cross sectional analysis.Setting Academic medical centers in the United States.Participants Academic medical centers with 40 or more completed interventional trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.Methods Using the Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov database and manual review, we identified all interventional clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with a primary completion date between October 2007 and September 2010 and with a lead investigator affiliated with an academic medical center.Main outcome measures The proportion of trials that disseminated results, defined as publication or reporting of results on ClinicalTrials.gov, overall and within 24 months of study completion.Results We identified 4347 interventional clinical trials across 51 academic medical centers. Among the trials, 1005 (23%) enrolled more than 100 patients, 1216 (28%) were double blind, and 2169 (50%) were phase II through IV. Overall, academic medical centers disseminated results for 2892 (66%) trials, with 1560 (35.9%) achieving this within 24 months of study completion. The proportion of clinical trials with results disseminated within 24 months of study completion ranged from 16.2% (6/37) to 55.3% (57/103) across academic medical centers. The proportion of clinical trials published within 24 months of study completion ranged from 10.8% (4/37) to 40.3% (31/77) across academic medical centers, whereas results reporting on ClinicalTrials.gov ranged from 1.6% (2/122) to 40.7% (72/177).Conclusions Despite the ethical mandate and expressed values and mission of academic institutions, there is poor performance and noticeable variation in the dissemination of clinical trial results across leading academic medical centers.
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BFBNIB, CMK, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic utility of lipoprotein(a) Lp(a) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). Background Data regarding an association between ...Lp(a) and cardiovascular (CV) risk in secondary prevention populations are sparse. Methods Plasma Lp(a) was measured in 6,708 subjects with CAD from 3 studies; data were then combined with 8 previously published studies for a total of 18,978 subjects. Results Across the 3 studies, increasing levels of Lp(a) were not associated with the risk of CV events when modeled as a continuous variable (odds ratio OR: 1.03 per log-transformed SD, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.96 to 1.11) or by quintile (Q5:Q1 OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.34). When data were combined with previously published studies of Lp(a) in secondary prevention, subjects with Lp(a) levels in the highest quantile were at increased risk of CV events (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.71), but with significant between-study heterogeneity (p = 0.001). When stratified on the basis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the association between Lp(a) and CV events was significant in studies in which average LDL cholesterol was ≥130 mg/dl (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.73, p < 0.001), whereas this relationship did not achieve statistical significance for studies with an average LDL cholesterol <130 mg/dl (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.60, p = 0.21). Conclusions Lp(a) is significantly associated with the risk of CV events in patients with established CAD; however, there exists marked heterogeneity across trials. In particular, the prognostic value of Lp(a) in patients with low cholesterol levels remains unclear.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Despite the availability of effective therapies that lower low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, many eligible patients are ...inadequately treated and their LDL‐C levels remain suboptimal. Patient nonadherence to lipid‐lowering therapy (LLT) is a major contributor to the failure of LDL‐C goal attainment. Several factors have been identified as contributing to LLT nonadherence, including healthcare disparities due to socioeconomic status, age, race, sex, and cost; limited access to healthcare; perceived side effects associated with LLT; health literacy; and the presence of comorbidities. Suboptimal LLT use has also been associated with clinician factors, including failure to identify patients who require LDL‐C reassessment, insufficient LDL‐C monitoring, and clinical inertia such as a lack of therapy intensification. Several strategies to enhance LLT adherence have been shown to be effective, including the implementation of educational initiatives and tools for both patients and physicians, the use of clinical protocols and algorithms to identify patients at risk and optimize treatment, and improvements in electronic healthcare records. Pharmacy‐based programs designed to help patients with prescription refills, including reminders or the use of prescription delivery by mail, have also proven effective. Drugs requiring frequent administration can represent a barrier to treatment adherence; therefore, newer, more effective LLTs with lower frequency of administration and lower potential for polypharmacy may improve patient adherence to LLT. Implementation of strategies to identify patients at risk for LLT nonadherence and the use of flexible tools such as telemedicine to overcome geographical barriers may improve LLT adherence.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
IMPORTANCE: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Although intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist ...devices (LVADs) provide greater hemodynamic support as compared with intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs), little is known about clinical outcomes associated with intravascular microaxial LVAD use in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To examine outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock treated with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A propensity-matched registry-based retrospective cohort study of patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing PCI between October 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, who were included in data from hospitals participating in the CathPCI and the Chest Pain-MI registries, both part of the American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry. Patients receiving an intravascular microaxial LVAD were matched with those receiving IABP on demographics, clinical history, presentation, infarct location, coronary anatomy, and clinical laboratory data, with final follow-up through December 31, 2017. EXPOSURES: Hemodynamic support, categorized as intravascular microaxial LVAD use only, IABP only, other (such as use of a percutaneous extracorporeal ventricular assist system, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or a combination of MCS device use), or medical therapy only. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and in-hospital major bleeding. RESULTS: Among 28 304 patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock, the mean (SD) age was 65.0 (12.6) years, 67.0% were men, 81.3% had an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 43.3% had cardiac arrest. Over the study period among patients with AMI, an intravascular microaxial LVAD was used in 6.2% of patients, and IABP was used in 29.9%. Among 1680 propensity-matched pairs, there was a significantly higher risk of in-hospital death associated with use of an intravascular microaxial LVAD (45.0%) vs with an IABP (34.1% absolute risk difference, 10.9 percentage points {95% CI, 7.6-14.2}; P < .001) and also higher risk of in-hospital major bleeding (intravascular microaxial LVAD 31.3% vs IABP 16.0%; absolute risk difference, 15.4 percentage points 95% CI, 12.5-18.2; P < .001). These associations were consistent regardless of whether patients received a device before or after initiation of PCI. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock from 2015 to 2017, use of an intravascular microaxial LVAD compared with IABP was associated with higher adjusted risk of in-hospital death and major bleeding complications, although study interpretation is limited by the observational design. Further research may be needed to understand optimal device choice for these patients.
BACKGROUND:Data are lacking on national trends for atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalization, particularly with regard to long-term outcomes including readmission and mortality.
METHODS:We studied all ...Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries between 1999 and 2013, and we evaluated rates of hospitalization for AF, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospital payments. We then evaluated rates of long-term outcomes, including 30-day readmission, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality. To evaluate changes in rates of AF hospitalization and mortality, we used mixed-effects models, adjusting for age, sex, race, and comorbidity. To assess changes in rates of 30-day readmission, we constructed a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for age, sex, race, and comorbidity.
RESULTS:Adjusted rates of hospitalization for AF increased by ≈1% per year between 1999 and 2013, and although geographic variation was present, this trend was consistent nationwide. Median hospital length of stay remained unchanged at 3.0 (interquartile range 2.0–5.0) days, but median Medicare inpatient expenditure per beneficiary increased from $2932 (interquartile range $2232–$3870) to $4719 (interquartile range $3124–$7209) per stay. During the same period, the rate of inpatient mortality during AF hospitalization decreased by 4% per year, and the rate of 30-day readmission decreased by 1% per year. The rates of 30-day and 1-year mortality decreased more modestly by 0.4% and 0.26% per year, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:Between 1999 and 2013, among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, patients were hospitalized more frequently and treated with more costly inpatient therapies such as AF catheter ablation, but this finding was associated with improved outcomes, including lower rates of in-hospital mortality, 30-day readmission, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality.
The use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is underprescribed in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
This study sought to examine whether targeted and ...tailored electronic health record (EHR) alerts recommending GDMT in eligible patients with HFrEF improves GDMT use.
PROMPT-HF (PRagmatic trial Of Messaging to Providers about Treatment of Heart Failure) was a pragmatic, EHR-based, cluster-randomized comparative effectiveness trial. A total of 100 providers caring for patients with HFrEF were randomized to either an alert or usual care. The alert notified providers of individualized GDMT recommendations along with patient characteristics. The primary outcome was an increase in the number of GDMT classes prescribed at 30 days postrandomization. Providers were surveyed on knowledge of guidelines and user experience.
The study enrolled 1,310 ambulatory patients with HFrEF from April to October 2021. Median age was 72 years; 31% were female; 18% were Black; and median left ventricular ejection fraction was 32%. At baseline, 84% of participants were receiving β-blockers, 71% received a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor, 29% received a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, and 11% received a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor. The primary outcome occurred in 176 of 685 (26%) participants in the alert arm vs 117 of 625 (19%) in the usual care arm, thus increasing GDMT class prescription by >40% after alert exposure (adjusted relative risk: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.03-1.93; P = 0.03). The number of patients needed to alert to result in an increase in addition of GDMT classes was 14. A total of 79% of alerted providers agreed that the alert was effective at enabling improved prescription of medical therapy for HF.
A real-time, targeted, and tailored EHR-based alerting system for outpatients with HFrEF led to significantly higher rates of GDMT at 30 days when compared with usual care. This low-cost intervention can be rapidly integrated into clinical care and accelerate adoption of high-value therapies in heart failure. (PRagmatic trial Of Messaging to Providers about Treatment of Heart Failure PROMPT-HF; NCT04514458).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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