Patient Cognitive Status and Physician Recommendations for Cardiovascular Disease Treatment: Results of Two Nationwide, Randomized Survey Studies.

BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend that older patients (65+) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia receive similar guideline-concordant care after cardiovascular disease (CVD) events as those with normal cognition (NC). However, older patients with MCI and dementia receive less care for CVD and other conditions than those with NC. Whether physician recommendations for guideline-concordant treatments after two common CVD events, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (stroke), differ between older patients with NC, MCI, and early-stage dementia is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To test the influence of patient cognitive status (NC, MCI, early-stage dementia) on physicians' recommendations for guideline-concordant treatments for AMI and stroke. DESIGN: We conducted two parallel, randomized survey studies for AMI and stroke in the US using clinical vignettes where the hypothetical patient's cognitive status was randomized between physicians. PARTICIPANTS: The study included cardiologists, neurologists, and generalists who care for most patients hospitalized for AMI and stroke. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was a composite quality score representing the number of five guideline-concordant treatments physicians recommended for a hypothetical patient after AMI or stroke. KEY RESULTS: 1,031 physicians completed the study (58.5% response rate). Of 1,031 respondents, 980 physicians had complete information. After adjusting for physician factors, physicians recommended similar treatments after AMI and stroke in hypothetical patients with pre-existing MCI (adjusted ratio of expected composite quality score, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.94, 1.02]; P = 0.36) as hypothetical patients with NC. Physicians recommended fewer treatments to hypothetical patients with pre-existing early-stage dementia than to hypothetical patients with NC (adjusted ratio of expected composite quality score, 0.90 [0.86, 0.94]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In these randomized survey studies, physicians recommended fewer guideline-concordant AMI and stroke treatments to hypothetical patients with early-stage dementia than those with NC. We did not find evidence that physicians recommend fewer treatments to hypothetical patients with MCI than those with NC.

Cardiac Involvement and Arrhythmias Associated with Myotonic Dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy is an autosomal dominant genetic disease of nucleotide expansion resulting in neuromuscular disease with two distinct subtypes. There are significant systemic manifestations of this condition including progressive muscular decline, neurologic abnormalities, and cardiac disease. Given the higher prevalence of cardiac dysfunction compared to the general population, there is significant interest in early diagnosis and prevention of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Cardiac dysfunction has an origin in abnormal and unstable nucleotide repeats in the DMPK and CNBP genes which have downstream effects leading to an increased propensity for arrhythmias and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Current screening paradigms involve the use of routine screening electrocardiograms, ambulatory electrocardiographic monitors, and cardiac imaging to stratify risk and suggest further invasive evaluation. The most common cardiac abnormality is atrial arrhythmia, however there is significant mortality in this population from high-degree atrioventricular block and ventricular arrhythmia. In this review, we describe the cardiac manifestations of myotonic dystrophy with an emphasis on arrhythmia which is the second most common cause of death in this population after respiratory failure.

Site-level variation in and practices associated with dabigatran adherence.

IMPORTANCE: Unlike warfarin, which requires routine laboratory testing and dose adjustment, target-specific oral anticoagulants like dabigatran do not. However, optimal follow-up infrastructure and modifiable site-level factors associated with improved adherence to dabigatran are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess site-level variation in dabigatran adherence and to identify site-level practices associated with higher dabigatran adherence. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Mixed-methods study involving retrospective quantitative and cross-sectional qualitative data. A total of 67 Veterans Health Administration sites with 20 or more patients filling dabigatran prescriptions between 2010 and 2012 for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were sampled (4863 total patients; median, 51 patients per site). Forty-seven pharmacists from 41 eligible sites participated in the qualitative inquiry. EXPOSURE: Site-level practices identified included appropriate patient selection, pharmacist-driven patient education, and pharmacist-led adverse event and adherence monitoring. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Dabigatran adherence (intensity of drug use during therapy) defined by proportion of days covered (ratio of days supplied by prescription to follow-up duration) of 80% or more. RESULTS: The median proportion of patients adherent to dabigatran was 74% (interquartile range [IQR], 66%-80%). After multivariable adjustment, dabigatran adherence across sites varied by a median odds ratio of 1.57. Review of practices across participating sites showed that appropriate patient selection was performed at 31 sites, pharmacist-led education was provided at 30 sites, and pharmacist-led monitoring at 28 sites. The proportion of adherent patients was higher at sites performing appropriate selection (75% vs 69%), education (76% vs 66%), and monitoring (77% vs 65%). Following multivariable adjustment, association between pharmacist-led education and dabigatran adherence was not statistically significant (relative risk [RR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83-1.06). Appropriate patient selection (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25), and provision of pharmacist-led monitoring (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11-1.41) were associated with better patient adherence. Additionally, longer duration of monitoring and providing more intensive care to nonadherent patients in collaboration with the clinician improved adherence. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients treated with dabigatran, there was variability in patient medication adherence across Veterans Health Administration sites. Specific pharmacist-based activities were associated with greater patient adherence to dabigatran.

Adherence to dabigatran therapy and longitudinal patient outcomes: insights from the veterans health administration.

BACKGROUND: Dabigatran is a novel oral anti-coagulant (NOAC) that reduces risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). It does not require routine monitoring with laboratory testing which may have an adverse impact on adherence. We aimed to describe adherence to dabigatran in the first year after initiation and assess the association between non-adherence to dabigatran and clinical outcomes in a large integrated healthcare system. METHODS: We studied a national cohort of 5,376 patients with NVAF, initiated on dabigatran between October-2010 and September-2012 at all Veterans Affairs hospitals. Adherence to dabigatran was calculated as proportion of days covered (PDC) and association between PDC and outcomes was assessed using standard regression techniques. RESULTS: Mean age of the study cohort was 71.3 ± 9.7 years; 98.3% were men and mean CHADS2 score was 2.4 ± 1.2 (mean CHA2DS2VASc score 3.2 ± 1.4). Median PDC was 94% (IQR 76%-100%; mean PDC 84% ± 22%) over a median follow-up of 244 days (IQR 140-351). A total of 1,494 (27.8%) patients had a PDC <80% and were classified as non-adherent. After multivariable adjustment, lower adherence was associated with increased risk for combined all-cause mortality and stroke (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.07-1.19 per 10% decrease in PDC). Adherence to dabigatran was not associated with non-fatal bleeding or myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: In the year after initiation, adherence to dabigatran for a majority of patients is very good. However, 28% of patients in our cohort had poor adherence. Furthermore, lower adherence to dabigatran was associated with increased adverse outcomes. Concerted efforts are needed to optimize adherence to NOACs.

Invasive coronary procedure use and outcomes among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: insights from the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking Program.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in the general population and US veterans in particular and is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). We compared the patient characteristics and postprocedural outcomes of veterans with and without PTSD undergoing coronary angiography. METHODS: This is a multicenter observational study of patients who underwent coronary angiography in Veterans Affairs hospitals nationally from October 2007 to September 2011. We described patient characteristics at angiography, angiographic results, and after coronary angiography, we compared risk-adjusted 1-year rates of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization by the presence or absence of PTSD. RESULTS: Overall, of 116,488 patients undergoing angiography, 14,918 (12.8%) had PTSD. Compared with those without PTSD, patients with PTSD were younger (median age 61.9 vs 63.7; P < .001), had higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors, and were more likely to have had a prior MI (26.4% vs 24.7%; P < .001). Patients with PTSD were more likely to present for stable angina (22.4% vs 17.0%) or atypical chest pain (58.5% vs 48.6%) and less likely to have obstructive CAD identified at angiography (55.9% vs 62.2%; P < .001). After coronary angiography, PTSD was associated with lower unadjusted 1-year rates of MI (hazard ratio (HR), 0.86; 95% CI [0.75-1.00]; P = 0.04), revascularization (HR, 0.88; 95% CI [0.83-0.93]; P < .001), and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.66; 95% CI [0.60-0.71]; P < .001). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk, PTSD was no longer associated with 1-year rates of MI or revascularization but remained associated with lower 1-year all-cause mortality (HR, 0.91; 95% CI [0.84-0.99]; P = .03). Findings were similar after further adjustment for depression, anxiety, alcohol or substance use disorders, and frequency of outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Among veterans undergoing coronary angiography in the Veterans Affairs, those with PTSD were more likely to present with elective indications and less likely to have obstructive CAD. After coronary angiography, PTSD was not associated with adverse 1-year outcomes of MI, revascularization, or all-cause mortality.

Shared plasma metabolomic profiles of cognitive and mobility decline predict future dementia.

Experiencing decline in both cognition and mobility is associated with a substantially higher dementia risk than cognitive decline only. Metabolites associated with both cognitive and mobility declines may be early predictors of dementia and reveal specific pathways to dementia. We analyzed data from 2450 participants initially free of dementia who had 613 metabolites measured in plasma in 1998-1999 (mean age = 75.2 ± 2.9 years old, 37.8% Black, 50% women) from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Dementia diagnosis was determined by race-specific decline in 3MS scores, medication use, and hospital records through 2014. Cognition and mobility were repeatedly measured using 3MS and a 20-m walking test up to 10 years, respectively. We examined metabolite associations with changes in 3MS (n = 2046) and gait speed (n = 2019) using multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, sex, race, and baseline performance and examined metabolite associations with dementia risk using Cox regression. During a mean follow-up of 9.3 years, 534 (21.8%) participants developed dementia. On average, 3MS declined 0.47/year and gait declined 0.04 m/sec/year. After covariate adjustment, 75 metabolites were associated with cognitive decline, and 111 metabolites were associated with gait decline (FDR-adjusted p < 0.05). Twenty-six metabolites were associated with both cognitive and gait declines. Eighteen of 26 metabolites were associated with dementia risk (p < 0.05), notably amino acids, glycerophospholipids (lysoPCs, PCs, PEs), and sphingolipids. Results remained similar after adjusting for cardiovascular disease or apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carrier status. During aging, metabolomic profiles of cognitive decline and mobility decline show distinct and shared signatures. Shared metabolomic profiles suggest that inflammation and deficits in mitochondria and the urea cycle in addition to the central nervous system may play key roles in both cognitive and mobility declines and predict dementia. Future studies are warranted to investigate longitudinal metabolite changes and metabolomic markers with dementia pathologies.

Prognosis Communication in Heart Failure: Experiences and Preferences of End-Stage Heart Failure Patients and Care Partners.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) overestimate survival compared with model-predicted estimates, but the reasons for this discrepancy are poorly understood. We characterized how patients with end-stage HF and their care partners understand prognosis and elicited their preferences around prognosis communication. METHODS: We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with patients with end-stage HF and their care partners between 2021 and 2022 at a tertiary care center in Michigan. Participants were asked to describe barriers they faced to understanding prognosis. All interviews were coded and analyzed using an iterative content analysis approach. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with end-stage HF and 15 care partners participated, including 7 dyads. The median patient age was 66.5 years (range, 31-80) and included 9 of 15 (60%) White participants and 9 of 15 (60%) were males. Care partners included 10 of 15 (67%) White participants and 6 of 15 (40%) were males. Care partners were partners (n=7, 47%), siblings (n=4, 27%), parents (n=2, 13%), and children (n=2, 13%). Most patients demonstrated a poor understanding of their prognosis. In contrast, care partners commonly identified the patient's rapidly declining trajectory. Patients and care partners described ineffective prognosis communication with clinicians, common barriers to understanding prognosis, and similar suggestions on improving prognosis communication. Barriers to understanding prognosis included (1) conversation avoidance by physicians, (2) information inconsistency across different physicians, (3) distractions during prognosis communication due to emphasis on other conditions, and (4) confusion related to the use of medical jargon. Most patients and care partners wanted discussions around prognosis to begin early in the course of the disease, repeated routinely using layperson's terms, incorporating both quality of life and survival assessments, and involving care partners. Both patients and care partners did not expect precise survival estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with end-stage HF demonstrate a poor understanding of their prognosis compared with their care partners. Patients and care partners are open to discussing prognosis early, using direct and patient-centered language.

Trajectory of Cognitive Function After Incident Heart Failure.

Background: The size/magnitude of cognitive changes after incident heart failure (HF) are unclear. We assessed whether incident HF is associated with changes in cognitive function after accounting for pre-HF cognitive trajectories and known determinants of cognition. Methods: This pooled cohort study included adults without HF, stroke, or dementia from six US population-based cohort studies from 1971-2019: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Northern Manhattan Study. Linear mixed-effects models estimated changes in cognition at the time of HF (change in the intercept) and the rate of cognitive change over the years after HF (change in the slope), controlling for pre-HF cognitive trajectories and participant factors. Change in global cognition was the primary outcome. Change in executive function and memory were secondary outcomes. Cognitive outcomes were standardized to a t-score metric (mean [SD], 50 [10]); a 1-point difference represented a 0.1-SD difference in cognition. Results: The study included 29,614 adults (mean [SD] age was 61.1 [10.5] years, 55% female, 70.3% White, 22.2% Black 7.5% Hispanic). During a median follow-up of 6.6 (Q1-Q3: 5-19.8) years, 1,407 (4.7%) adults developed incident HF. Incident HF was associated with an acute decrease in global cognition (-1.08 points; 95% CI -1.36, -0.80) and executive function (-0.65 points; 95% CI -0.96, -0.34) but not memory (-0.51 points; 95% CI -1.37, 0.35) at the time of the event. Greater acute decreases in global cognition after HF were seen in those with older age, female sex and White race. Individuals with incident HF, compared to HF-free individuals, demonstrated faster declines in global cognition (-0.15 points per year; 95% CI, -0.21, -0.09) and executive function (-0.16 points per year; 95% CI -0.23, -0.09) but not memory ( -0.11 points per year; 95% CI -0.26, 0.04) compared with pre-HF slopes. Conclusions: In this pooled cohort study, incident HF was associated with an acute decrease in global cognition and executive function at the time of the event and faster declines in global cognition and executive function over the following years.

Mechanical Circulatory Support and Critical Care Management of High-Risk Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Hemodynamically significant pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a widely prevalent, underdiagnosed condition associated with mortality rates as high as 30%. The main driver of poor outcomes is acute right ventricular failure that remains clinically challenging to diagnose and requires critical care management. Treatment of high-risk (or massive) acute PE has traditionally included systemic anticoagulation and thrombolysis. Mechanical circulatory support, including both percutaneous and surgical approaches, are emerging as treatment options for refractory shock due to acute right ventricular failure in the setting of high-risk acute pulmonary embolism.

Sex, Racial, and Geographic Disparities in Pulmonary Embolism-related Mortality Nationwide.

Rationale: Acute pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of cardiovascular death. There are limited data on the national mortality trends from pulmonary embolism. Understanding these trends is crucial for addressing the mortality and associated disparities associated with pulmonary embolism. Objectives: To analyze the national mortality trends related to acute pulmonary embolism and determine the overall age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) per 100,000 population for the study period and assess changes in AAMR among different sexes, races, and geographic locations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using mortality data of individuals aged ⩾15 years with pulmonary embolism listed as the underlying cause of death in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database from January 2006 to December 2019. These data are produced by the National Center for Health Statistics. Results: A total of 109,992 pulmonary embolism-related deaths were noted in this dataset nationwide between 2006 and 2019. Of these, women constituted 60,113 (54.7%). The AAMR per 100,000 was not significantly changed, from 2.84 in 2006 to 2.81 in 2019 (average annual percentage change [AAPC], 0.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.1 to 0.5; P = 0.15). AAMR increased for men throughout the study period compared with women (AAPC, 0.7 for men; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.2; P = 0.004 vs. AAPC, -0.4 for women; 95% CI, -1.1 to 0.3; P = 0.23, respectively). Similarly, AAMR for pulmonary embolism increased for Black compared with White individuals, from 5.18 to 5.26 (AAPC, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.0 to 0.7; P = 0.05) and 2.82 to 2.86 (AAPC, 0.0; 95% CI, -0.6 to 0.6; P = 0.99), respectively. Similarly, AAMR for pulmonary embolism was higher in rural areas than in micropolitan and large metropolitan areas during the study period (4.07 [95% CI, 4.02 to 4.12] vs. 3.24 [95% CI, 3.21 to 3.27] vs. 2.32 [95% CI, 2.30-2.34], respectively). Conclusions: Pulmonary embolism mortality remains high and unchanged over the past decade, and enduring sex, racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in pulmonary embolism. Targeted efforts to decrease pulmonary embolism mortality and address such disparities are needed.

Association Between Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cognition.

Importance: The magnitude of cognitive change after incident myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. Objective: To assess whether incident MI is associated with changes in cognitive function after adjusting for pre-MI cognitive trajectories. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included adults without MI, dementia, or stroke and with complete covariates from the following US population-based cohort studies conducted from 1971 to 2019: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Northern Manhattan Study. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to January 2022. Exposures: Incident MI. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was change in global cognition. Secondary outcomes were changes in memory and executive function. Outcomes were standardized as mean (SD) T scores of 50 (10); a 1-point difference represented a 0.1-SD difference in cognition. Linear mixed-effects models estimated changes in cognition at the time of MI (change in the intercept) and the rate of cognitive change over the years after MI (change in the slope), controlling for pre-MI cognitive trajectories and participant factors, with interaction terms for race and sex. Results: The study included 30 465 adults (mean [SD] age, 64 [10] years; 56% female), of whom 1033 had 1 or more MI event, and 29 432 did not have an MI event. Median follow-up was 6.4 years (IQR, 4.9-19.7 years). Overall, incident MI was not associated with an acute decrease in global cognition (-0.18 points; 95% CI, -0.52 to 0.17 points), executive function (-0.17 points; 95% CI, -0.53 to 0.18 points), or memory (0.62 points; 95% CI, -0.07 to 1.31 points). However, individuals with incident MI vs those without MI demonstrated faster declines in global cognition (-0.15 points per year; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.10 points per year), memory (-0.13 points per year; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.04 points per year), and executive function (-0.14 points per year; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.08 points per year) over the years after MI compared with pre-MI slopes. The interaction analysis suggested that race and sex modified the degree of change in the decline in global cognition after MI (race × post-MI slope interaction term, P = .02; sex × post-MI slope interaction term, P = .04), with a smaller change in the decline over the years after MI in Black individuals than in White individuals (difference in slope change, 0.22 points per year; 95% CI, 0.04-0.40 points per year) and in females than in males (difference in slope change, 0.12 points per year; 95% CI, 0.01-0.23 points per year). Conclusions: This cohort study using pooled data from 6 cohort studies found that incident MI was not associated with a decrease in global cognition, memory, or executive function at the time of the event compared with no MI but was associated with faster declines in global cognition, memory, and executive function over time. These findings suggest that prevention of MI may be important for long-term brain health.

Effects of Body Mass Index on Presentation and Outcomes of COVID-19 among Heart Transplant and Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients: A Multi-Institutional Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to pose a significant threat to patients receiving advanced heart failure therapies. The current study was undertaken to better understand the relationship between obesity and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplant. We performed a retrospective review of patients with a heart transplant or LVAD who presented to one of the participating 11 institutions between April 1 and November 30, 2020. Patients were grouped by body mass index (BMI) into obese (BMI ≥ 30 k/m2) and nonobese cohorts (BMI < 30 kg/m2). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate effects of obesity on outcomes of interest. Across all centers, 162 heart transplant and 81 LVAD patients were identified; 54 (33%) and 38 (47%) were obese, respectively. Obese patients tended to have more symptoms at presentation. No differences in rates of hospitalization or ICU admission were noted. Obese patients with LVADs were more likely to require mechanical ventilation (39% vs. 8%, p < 0.05). No differences in renal failure or secondary infection were noted. Mortality was similar among heart transplant patients (11% [obese] vs. 16% [nonobese], p = 0.628) and LVAD patients (12% vs. 15%, p = 1.0). BMI was not associated with increased adjusted odds of mortality, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation (all p > 0.10). In summary, acute presentations of SARS-CoV-2 among heart transplant and LVAD recipients carry a significantly higher mortality than the general population, although BMI does not appear to impact this. Further studies on the longer-term effects of COVID-19 on this population are warranted.

Carvedilol or sustained-release metoprolol for congestive heart failure: a comparative effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Relative effectiveness of carvedilol and metoprolol succinate has never been compared in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: From January 1998 to December 2008, 3,716 consecutive patients with ejection fraction (EF) ≤40%, initiated and maintained on carvedilol or metoprolol succinate, were enrolled and followed until June 2010. The primary end point was all-cause mortality, and the secondary end points were readmissions from HF and follow up EFs at 1, 3, and 5 years. HF etiology (ischemic or nonischemic) was a significant effect modifier, and separate analysis was performed for these subcohorts. Compared with those on carvedilol, patients on metoprolol succinate were less likely to experience mortality in the ischemic HF cohort (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-0.66) but were more likely to die in the nonischemic HF cohort (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10-1.28). Follow-up EF was similar by type of beta-blocker used in both ischemic and nonischemic HF cohorts. Furthermore, no significant difference was noted in the incidence of HF hospitalizations by beta-blocker type used in both ischemic and nonischemic HF cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Metoprolol succinate was associated with an improved survival in patients with ischemic HF, and carvedilol was associated with an improved survival in patients with nonischemic HF.

Use and Out-of-Pocket Cost of Sacubitril-Valsartan in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background Current guidelines recommend use of sacubitril-valsartan in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Early data suggested low uptake of sacubitril-valsartan, but contemporary data on real-world use and their associated cost are limited. Methods and Results This was a retrospective study of individuals enrolled in Optum Clinformatics, a national insurance claims data set from 2016 to 2018. We included all adult patients with HFrEF with 2 outpatient encounters or 1 inpatient encounter with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), diagnosis of HFrEF and 6 months of continuous enrollment, also receiving ß-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers within 6 months of HFrEF diagnosis. We included 70 245 patients with HFrEF, and 5217 patients (7.4%) received sacubitril-valsartan prescriptions. Patients receiving care through a cardiologist compared with a primary care physician alone were more likely to receive sacubitril-valsartan (odds ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.52-1.71]). Monthly out-of-pocket (OOP) cost for sacubitril-valsartan, compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, was higher for both commercially insured patients (mean, $69 versus $6.74) and Medicare Advantage (mean, $62 versus $2.52). For patients with commercial insurance, OOP cost was lower in 2016 than in 2018. For patients with Medicare Advantage, there was a significant geographic variation in the OOP costs across the country, ranging from $31 to $68 per month across different regions, holding all other patient-related factors constant. Conclusions Sacubitril-valsartan use was infrequent among patients with HFrEF. Patients receiving care with a cardiologist were more likely to receive sacubitril-valsartan. OOP costs remain high, potentially limiting use. Significant geographic variation in OOP costs, unexplained by patient factors, was noted.

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation Order Rates in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Pneumonia.

Background Descriptions of do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) orders in heart failure (HF) are limited. We describe use of DNAR orders in HF hospitalizations relative to other common conditions, focusing on race. Methods and Results This was a retrospective study of all adult hospitalizations for HF, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia from 2010 to 2016 using the California State Inpatient Dataset. Using a hierarchical multivariable logistic regression model with random effects for the hospital, we identified factors associated with DNAR orders for each condition. For racial variation, hospitals were divided into quintiles based on proportion of Black patients cared for. Our cohort comprised 399 816 HF, 190 802 AMI, 192 640 COPD, and 269 262 pneumonia hospitalizations. DNAR orders were most prevalent in HF (11.9%), followed by pneumonia (11.1%), COPD (7.9%), and AMI (7.1%). Prevalence of DNAR orders did not change from 2010 to 2016 for each condition. For all conditions, DNAR orders were more common in elderly people, women, and White people with significant site-level variation across 472 hospitals. For HF and COPD, hospitalizations at sites that cared for a higher proportion of Black patients were less likely associated with DNAR orders. For AMI and pneumonia, conditions such as dementia and malignancy were strongly associated with DNAR orders. Conclusions DNAR orders were present in 12% of HF hospitalizations, similar to pneumonia but higher than AMI and COPD. For HF, we noted significant variability across sites when stratified by proportion of Black patients cared for, suggesting geographic and racial differences in end-of-life care.

Non-patient factors associated with infections in LVAD recipients: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Infections are the most common complication in recipients of durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and expenditures. The existing literature examining factors associated with infection in LVAD recipients is limited and principally comprises single-center studies. This scoping review synthesizes all available evidence related to identifying modifiable, non-patient factors associated with infections among LVAD recipients. METHODS: Published studies were identified through searching 5 bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science Core Collection. Inclusion criteria required examination of factors associated with infections among recipients of contemporary, implantable, continuous flow LVADs. Key study characteristics were extracted by 4 independent reviewers and current literature described narratively. The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model was used to develop a taxonomy for non-patient related factors (e.g., tasks, tools, technologies, organization, and environment) associated with infections following LVAD implantation. All analyses took place between February 2019 and May 2021. FINDINGS: A total of 43 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority of included studies were observational (n = 37), single-center (n = 29), from the U.S. (n = 38), and focused on driveline infections (n = 40). Among the 22 evaluated sub-domains of non-patient related factors, only two: increasing center experience and establishing a silicone-skin interface at the driveline exit site, were identified as consistently being associated with a lower risk of infection. CONCLUSION: This review identified 43 studies that described non-patient related factors associated with infection in LVAD recipients. Only two factors were consistently associated with lower infection risk in LVAD recipients: increasing experience and establishing a silicone-skin interface at driveline exit site. The large variability in reporting across multiple studied interventions limited the ability to discern their effectiveness.

Patient factors associated with left ventricular assist device infections: A scoping review.

Infections are widely prevalent in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients and associated with adverse events including mortality and rehospitalizations. Current evidence examining factors associated with infections in this setting predominantly comprises single-center observational data. We performed a scoping review to systematically summarize all existing studies examining patient-related factors associated with infections after LVAD implantation. Studies published between 01/06 and 02/19 were identified through searching 5 bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science Core Collection. Inclusion criteria required examination of patient-related factors associated with infections among recipients of contemporary implantable, continuous flow LVADs. Key study characteristics were extracted by four independent reviewers and current literature described narratively. All analyses took place between February 2019 and May 2021. A total of 31 studies met inclusion criteria. All included studies were observational, and most commonly focused on driveline infections (n = 17). Factors studied most commonly included body composition (n = 8), diabetes and other comorbidities (n = 8), and psychosocial/socio-economic factors (n = 6). Studies were frequently single-center with heterogeneity in definition of infectious outcomes as well as exposure variables. Patient race and sex did not correlate with infection risk. There was no consistent association noted between obesity, diabetes, or psychosocial/socio-economic factors and infections in LVAD recipients. Two studies reported a significant association between malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia and post implant infections. This review summarizes 31 studies that described patient-related factors associated with infection after LVAD implantation. Patient related comorbidities, especially body composition and diabetes, were most commonly evaluated, but were not consistently associated with infections after LVAD implantation.

Current status and barriers in pulmonary hypertension care delivery in India: A qualitative analysis.

Although pulmonary hypertension (PH) is widely prevalent in India, care delivery for this condition has unique challenges in a lower middle-income country (LMIC). To describe care delivery for patients with PH and associated barriers in India. We interviewed physicians across eight healthcare systems in India about PH clinical care using semi-structured enquiries to understand care delivery and associated challenges in their specific practice as well as the associated health system. Qualitative analysis was performed using content analysis methodology. Physicians reported that common causes for PH in their practice were rheumatic mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease, and congenital heart disease (CHD). No center had a dedicated PH program. Only one center had a specific protocol for PH management. Diagnostic evaluations were limited, and right heart catheterizations were recommended for patients with CHD. Pulmonary vasodilator therapy was used for severe symptoms or markers of severe disease. Agents used to treat PH were widely variable across physicians and prostacyclins are unavailable in India. Barriers included limited training in PH for physicians, lack of consensus guidelines for PH specific to LMIC, and lack of financial incentives for health care systems to organize dedicated PH programs. Other barriers included poor patient health literacy and socioeconomic barriers that limit ability to test and treat PH. PH care delivery in India is variable with widely differing clinical practices. Dedicated training in PH management and establishing guidelines specific to LMIC like India can form the first step forward.

Advancing Quality Metrics for Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant: Analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs Database.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation are at risk for death and postoperative adverse outcomes. Interhospital variability and concordance of quality metrics were assessed using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs). METHODS: A total of 22 173 patients underwent primary, durable LVAD implantation across 160 hospitals from 2012 to 2020, excluding hospitals performing <10 implant procedures. Observed and risk-adjusted operative mortality rates were calculated for each hospital. Outcomes included operative and 90-day mortality, a composite of adverse events (operative mortality, bleeding, stroke, device malfunction, renal dysfunction, respiratory failure), and secondarily failure to rescue. Rates are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]). Hospital performance was evaluated using observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios for mortality and the composite outcome. RESULTS: Interhospital variability existed in observed (median, 7.2% [IQR, 5.1%-9.6%]) mortality. The rates of adverse events varied across hospitals: major bleeding, 15.6% (IQR, 11.4%-22.4%); stroke, 3.1% (IQR, 1.6%-4.7%); device malfunction, 2.4% (IQR, 0.8%-3.7%); respiratory failure, 10.5% (IQR, 4.6%-15.7%); and renal dysfunction, 6.4% (IQR, 3.2%-9.6%). The O/E ratio for operative mortality varied from 0.0 to 6.1, whereas the O/E ratio for the composite outcome varied from 0.28 to 1.99. Hospital operative mortality O/E ratios were more closely correlated with the 90-day mortality O/E ratio (r = 0.74) than with the composite O/E ratio (r = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: This study reported substantial interhospital variability in performance for hospitals implanting durable LVADs. These findings support the need to (1) report hospital-level performance (mortality, composite) and (2) undertake benchmarking activities to reduce unwarranted variability in outcomes.