Background Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) during severe sepsis is associated with increased risks of in-hospital stroke and mortality. However, the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors ...associated with AF during the sepsis syndromes are unclear. Methods We identified patients with preexisting, newly diagnosed, or no AF in a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with sepsis between 2004 and 2007. We identified multivariable-adjusted demographic and clinical characteristics associated with development of newly diagnosed AF during a sepsis hospitalization. Results A total of 60,209 beneficiaries had a sepsis hospitalization. Mean age was 80.2 years, 44.4% were men, and 83.1% were white. Atrial fibrillation occurred during 25.5% (95% CI 25.2-25.9) of sepsis hospitalizations, including 18.3% (18.0%-18.7%) with preexisting AF and 7.2% (7.0%-7.4%) with newly diagnosed AF. Patients with sepsis requiring intensive care had a greater risk of newly diagnosed AF (10.7%, 95% CI 10.3%-11.1%) compared with patients who did not require intensive care (4.4%, 4.2%-4.5%, P < .001). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with newly diagnosed AF during sepsis included older age, white race, acute organ dysfunction, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, right heart catheterization, diagnosis of endocarditis, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Cardiovascular comorbid conditions generally were not associated with increased risk for newly diagnosed AF during sepsis. Conclusions Atrial fibrillation is common among critically ill patients with sepsis. Acute factors, rather than preexisting cardiovascular comorbid conditions, are associated with increased risk for newly diagnosed AF during sepsis, suggesting that mechanisms of newly diagnosed AF during sepsis may differ from the general population of patients with AF.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background Stroke is common and costly, annually depriving the lives and well-being of 800,000 Americans. Despite demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials, questions remain about the safety and ...clinical effectiveness of various treatment options given patient characteristics, conditions, preferences, and their desired outcomes. Methods and results The Patient-Centered Research Into Outcomes Stroke Patients Prefer and Effectiveness Research (PROSPER) is a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute–sponsored project designed to help patients, physicians, and other stakeholders make informed decisions regarding stroke care and improve outcomes through patient-centered comparative effectiveness research. The primary outcomes identified and prioritized by stroke patients are “home time” (time spent alive and outside a hospital) and major adverse cardiovascular events. With inputs from stroke patients themselves, a series of comparative safety and effectiveness analyses will be performed across 3 prioritized therapeutic areas identified as important by stroke survivors: oral anticoagulants, statin therapy, and antidepressants. We obtained data from Get With the Guidelines-Stroke linked with Medicare claims and follow-up telephone interviews. Our combined retrospective and prospective research strategy allows the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of various treatment options and patient-centered longitudinal outcomes. To ensure the rapid translation of findings into clinical practice, results will be disseminated to stroke survivors, caregivers, and health care providers through traditional and social media, including an online decision aid tool. Conclusions PROSPER is a patient-centered outcome research study guided by patients, caregivers, and the broader health care community. By addressing knowledge gaps in treatment uncertainties through comparative effectiveness research, PROSPER has the potential to improve decision making in stroke care and patient outcomes reflecting individual patient preferences, needs, and values.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background The relative impact of atrial fibrillation on early outcomes of patients with heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction (EF) is unknown. Methods We conducted a ...retrospective cohort study of clinical registry data linked to Medicare claims for patients with heart failure with reduced or preserved EF stratified by presence of atrial fibrillation at admission. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and readmission at 30 days. We used Kaplan-Meier methods to estimate mortality and calculated cumulative incidence estimates of readmission. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine associations between atrial fibrillation and 30-day outcomes. Results Among 66,357 patients admitted to 283 hospitals between January 2001 and March 2006, 46% had atrial fibrillation (44% of patients with reduced EF and 48% of patients with preserved EF). After adjustment for other patient characteristics, atrial fibrillation was associated with a modestly higher risk of 30-day mortality (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14) and readmission (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11). In subgroup analyses, atrial fibrillation was associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25) among patients with preserved EF but not among patients with reduced EF. The association of atrial fibrillation with readmission did not differ by heart failure type ( P = .37 for the interaction). Conclusions Atrial fibrillation was associated with higher 30-day mortality among patients with heart failure with preserved EF but not reduced EF. The association of atrial fibrillation with 30-day readmission was modest and did not differ by heart failure type.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background We examined racial differences in patterns of care and resource use among Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure after enrollment in hospice. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort ...study of a 5% nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure who died between 2000 and 2008. Outcomes of interest included adjusted and unadjusted associations of race with hospice enrollment for any diagnosis, disenrollment, and resource use after enrollment. Results The study population included 219,275 Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure, of whom 31.4% of white patients and 24.3% of nonwhite patients enrolled in hospice in the last 6 months of life ( P < .001). Despite increasing rates of hospice use for both white and nonwhite patients, nonwhite patients were 20% less likely to enroll in hospice (adjusted relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.79-0.82). After enrollment, nonwhite patients were more likely to have an emergency department visit (42.6% vs 33.9%; P <.001), to be hospitalized (46.8% vs 38.5%; P <.001), and to have an intensive care unit stay (16.9% vs 13.3%; P <.001). These differences persisted after adjustment for patient characteristics. Nonwhite patients were also more likely to disenroll from hospice (11.6% vs 7.2%; P <.001). Among patients who remained in hospice until death, nonwhite patients had higher rates of acute care resource use and higher overall costs. Conclusion Rates of hospice use have increased over time for both white and nonwhite patients. Nonwhite patients were less likely than white patients to enroll in hospice and had higher resource use after electing hospice care, regardless of disenrollment status.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We examined whether worsening renal function (RF) was associated with long-term mortality, readmission, and inpatient costs in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with heart failure (HF). Baseline ...renal insufficiency in patients hospitalized for HF is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. However, the relation between worsening RF and long-term clinical outcomes is unclear. We linked clinical registry data to Medicare inpatient claims to identify 1-year outcomes of patients ≥65 years of age hospitalized with HF. Worsening RF was defined as a change in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dl. Relations between worsening RF and 1-year mortality and readmission were evaluated with multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with robust SEs; associations with inpatient costs were evaluated with generalized linear models with a log-link and Poisson distribution. Of 20,063 patients hospitalized with HF and discharged alive, 3,581 (17.8%) had worsening RF during the index hospitalization. One year after discharge, 35.4% of these patients died, 64.5% were readmitted, and average costs at 1 year were $14,829 (interquartile range 0 to 19,366). After adjustment for patient characteristics, baseline RF, and comorbid conditions, worsening RF was independently associated with 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.20) but not readmission or total inpatient costs. In conclusion, worsening RF in patients hospitalized with HF was independently associated with long-term mortality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background Transient and persistent worsening renal function (WRF) may be associated with different risks during hospitalization for acute heart failure. We compared outcomes of patients hospitalized ...for acute heart failure with transient, persistent, or no WRF. Methods We identified patients 65 years or older hospitalized with acute heart failure from a clinical registry linked to Medicare claims data. We defined WRF as an increase in serum creatinine of ≥0.3 mg/dL after admission. We further classified patients with WRF by the difference between admission and last recorded serum creatinine levels into transient WRF (<0.3 mg/dL) or persistent WRF (≥0.3 mg/dL). We examined unadjusted rates and adjusted associations between 90-day outcomes and WRF status. Results Among 27,309 patients, 18,568 (68.0%) had no WRF, 3,205 (11.7%) had transient WRF, and 5,536 (20.3%) had persistent WRF. Patients with WRF had higher observed rates of 90-day postdischarge all-cause readmission and 90-day postadmission mortality ( P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, transient WRF (hazard ratio HR 1.19, 99% CI 1.05-1.35) and persistent WRF (HR 1.73, 99% CI 1.57-1.91) were associated with higher risks of 90-day postadmission mortality ( P < .001 for both). Compared with transient WRF, persistent WRF was associated with a higher risk of 90-day postadmission mortality (HR 1.46, 99% CI 1.28-1.66, P < .001). Conclusions Transient and persistent WRF during hospitalization for acute heart failure were associated with higher adjusted risks for 90-day all-cause postadmission mortality. Patients with persistent WRF had worse outcomes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract Background A subset of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure experience in-hospital worsening heart failure, defined as persistent or worsening signs or symptoms requiring an ...escalation of therapy. Methods and Results We analyzed data from the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) linked to Medicare claims to develop and validate a risk model for in-hospital worsening heart failure. Our definition of in-hospital worsening heart failure included events such as escalation of medical therapy (eg, inotropic medications) more than 12 hours after admission. We considered candidate risk prediction variables routinely assessed at admission, including age, medical history, biomarkers, and renal function. We used logistic regression with robust standard errors to generate a risk model in a 66% random derivation sample; we validated the model in the remaining 34%. We evaluated the calibration and discrimination of the model in both samples. We evaluated 23,696 patients hospitalized with acute heart failure. Baseline characteristics were well matched in the derivation and validation samples, and the occurrence of in-hospital worsening heart failure was similar in both samples (15.4% and 15.6%, respectively). In the multivariable model, the strongest predictors of in-hospital worsening heart failure were increased troponin and creatinine. The model was well calibrated and had good discrimination in the derivation sample ( c statistic, 0.74) and validation sample ( c statistic, 0.72). Conclusions The ADHERE worsening heart failure risk model is a clinical tool with good discrimination for use in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure to identify those at increased risk for in-hospital worsening heart failure. This tool may be useful to target treatment strategies for patients at high risk for in-hospital worsening heart failure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Highlights • The relationship between obesity and health outcomes such as mortality and heart failure (HF) in African Americans was further explored from the Jackson Heart Study • Increasing body ...mass index (BMI) was not associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality in African Americans • However, increasing BMI was associated with increasing risk for prevalent HF and HF hospitalization in African Americans • Obesity remains a major public health concern and should be considered as an important risk factor for long-term morbidity in African American populations and a potential target for intervention
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Early physician follow-up after a heart failure (HF) hospitalization is associated with lower risk of readmission. However, factors associated with early physician follow-up are not well understood. ...We identified 30,136 patients with HF ≥65 years at 225 hospitals participating in the Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE) registry or the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) registry from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2006. We linked these clinical data to Medicare claims data for longitudinal follow-up. Using logistic regression models with site-level random effects, we identified predictors of physician follow-up within 7 days of hospital discharge. Overall 11,420 patients (37.9%) had early physician follow-up. Patients residing in hospital referral regions with higher physician concentration were significantly more likely to have early follow-up (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.48, for highest vs lowest quartile). Patients in rural areas (0.84, 0.78 to 0.91) and patients with lower socioeconomic status (0.79, 0.74 to 0.85) were less likely to have early follow-up. Women (0.87, 0.83 to 0.91) and black patients (0.84, 0.77 to 0.92) were less likely to receive early follow-up. Patients with greater co-morbidity were less likely to receive early follow-up. In conclusion, physician follow-up within 7 days after discharge from a HF hospitalization varied according to regional physician density, rural location, socioeconomic status, gender, race, and co-morbid conditions. Strategies are needed to ensure access among vulnerable populations to this supply-sensitive resource.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is used increasingly in older patients, yet the risks and benefits are not completely understood. With such uncertainty, local medical opinion may ...influence catheter ablation use. Methods In a 100% sample of Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009, we investigated variation in use by hospital referral region (HRR) for 20,176 catheter ablation procedures. Results Across 274 HRRs, median age was 71.2 years (interquartile range 70.5-71.8), a median of 98% of patients were white, and a median of 39% of patients were women. The median age-standardized prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 77.1 (69.4-84.2) per 1,000 beneficiaries; the median rate of catheter ablation was 3.5 (2.4-4.9) per 1,000 beneficiaries. We found no significant associations between the rate of catheter ablation and prevalence of atrial fibrillation ( P = .99), end-of-life Medicare expenditures per capita ( P = .09), or concentration of cardiologists ( P = .45) but a slight association with Medicare expenditures per capita (linear regression estimate 0.016; 95% CI 0.001-0.031; P = .04). Examined HRR characteristics explained only 2% of the variation in HRR-level rates of catheter ablation (model R2 = 0.016). Conclusion The rate of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in older patients was low, varied substantially by region, and was not associated with the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, the availability of cardiologists, or end-of-life resource use and was only slightly associated with overall Medicare expenditures per capita.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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