Association between cardiac, renal, and hepatic biomarkers and outcomes in patients with acute heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial injury, worsening renal function, and hepatic impairment are independent risk factors for poor patient acute heart failure (AHF) outcomes. Biomarkers of organ damage may be useful in identifying patients at risk for poor outcomes. The objective of this analysis was to assess the relationship between abnormal AHF biomarkers and outcomes in AHF patients. METHODS: AHF admissions (N = 104,794) data from the Cerner Health Facts® inpatient database were analyzed retrospectively. Multivariate predictive models determined the impact of biomarkers on mortality, readmission, length of stay (LOS), and cost from index admission through 180 days post discharge. Thirty and 60 day time windows are reported but 180 day results were consistent with 60 day outcomes. Biomarkers evaluated were aspartate transaminase (AST), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), high sensitivity cardiac troponin, bilirubin, alanine transaminase (ALT), sodium, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), uric acid, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-ProBNP, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), and hemoglobin. RESULTS: All biomarkers evaluated except hs-CRP, uric acid, and NT-ProBNP were significant (p < 0.0001) predictors of mortality at all timepoints; non-significance for these 3 biomarkers is likely due to low patient counts (1%-2%). Odds ratios for significant biomarkers of mortality ranged from 1.168-2.076 at index admission, 1.205-1.946 at 30 days post-discharge, and 1.233-1.991 at 60 days post-discharge. AST, eGFR, troponin, ALT, BNP, BUN, SCr, and hemoglobin were significant (p < 0.0001) predictors of readmission risk at all timepoints. AST, eGFR, troponin, bilirubin, BUN, SCr, and hemoglobin were significant (p < 0.0001) predictors of cumulative LOS at all timepoints. AST, eGFR, troponin, ALT, sodium, BUN, and hemoglogin were significant (p < 0.0001) cost predictors at 30 and 60 days post-discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function measures were associated with outcomes in patients hospitalized for AHF. Increased vigilance of renal biomarkers may be warranted to assess risk and promote proactive clinical management to improve outcomes.

Evaluation of mortality and readmissions following hospitalization with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of patient/clinical characteristics with mortality and readmission following a heart failure (HF)-related hospitalization. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Claims data, linked to laboratory, race/ethnicity, and mortality data, from a large US health plan were utilized to identify individuals with ≥1 inpatient claim with a diagnosis code for HF (1 January 2008-30 September 2012). Study variables were analyzed using descriptive and multivariable approaches to identify patient/clinical characteristics associated with post-discharge outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included post-discharge mortality and readmission. RESULTS: A total of 126,214 individuals were identified with a HF-related hospitalization; 19.1% with data to calculate chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage. For the overall sample, mortality probability was 4.9% and 13.4% at 1 and 6 months post-discharge, respectively (4.5% and 12.4% for subset with calculated CKD stage), while readmission (all-cause) probability was 14.8% and 39.6% at 1 and 6 months post-discharge, respectively (18.4% and 44.5% for subset with calculated CKD stage). Within the subset with calculated CKD stage, mortality and readmission probabilities differed by CKD stage (p < 0.001), with decreased renal function corresponding with increased risk of mortality and readmission. After multivariable adjustment, increasing age was associated with increased risk of mortality, while advancing CKD stage, various index hospitalization variables (i.e., pre-admission emergency room visit, intensive care unit during hospitalization), and baseline all-cause hospitalization were associated with both increased risk of mortality and all-cause 1 month readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Calculated CKD, various index hospitalization variables, and baseline all-cause hospitalization were associated with increased risk of mortality and all-cause 1 month readmission among patients hospitalized with HF. Risk of post-discharge readmission and mortality increased with worse renal function, suggesting that improved management of this subset may reduce the burden and cost of this disease. Key study limitations include those related to retrospective claims-based studies and that renal function data were available for a subset of study patients.

Association of persistent and transient worsening renal function with mortality risk, readmissions risk, length of stay, and costs in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Data comparing effects of transient worsening renal function (WRFt) and persistent WRF (WRFp) on outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. We determined the characteristics of hospitalized AHF patients who experienced no worsening renal function (non-WRF), WRFt, or WRFp, and the relationship between cohorts and AHF-related outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A patient's first AHF hospitalization (index) was identified in the Cerner Health Facts(®) database (January 2008-March 2011). Patients had WRF if serum creatinine (SCr) was ≥0.3 mg/dL and increased ≥25% from baseline, and they were designated as WRFp if present at discharge or WRFt if not present at discharge. A total of 55,436 patients were selected (non-WRF =77%, WRFp =10%, WRFt =13%). WRFp had greater comorbidity burden than WRFt. At index hospitalization, WRFp patients had the highest mortality, whereas WRFt patients had the longest length of stay (LOS) and highest costs. These trends were observed at 30, 180, and 365 days postdischarge and confirmed by multivariable analyses. WRF patients had more AHF-related readmissions than non-WRF patients. In sensitivity analyses of the patient subset with live index hospitalization discharges, postdischarge LOS and costs were highest in WRFt patients, whereas mortality associated with a HF hospitalization was significantly higher for WRF patients vs non-WRF patients, with no difference between WRFp and WRFt. CONCLUSION: In patients hospitalized for AHF, WRFp was associated with the highest mortality, whereas WRFt was associated with the highest LOS and costs. WRF patients had higher readmissions than non-WRF patients. Transient increases in SCr appear to be associated with detrimental outcomes, especially longer LOS and higher costs.

In-hospital worsening heart failure and associations with mortality, readmission, and healthcare utilization.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure experiences worsening clinical status and requires escalation of therapy. Worsening heart failure is an end point in many clinical trials, but little is known about its prevalence in clinical practice and its associated outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed inpatient data from the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry linked to Medicare claims to examine the prevalence and outcomes of patients with worsening heart failure, defined as the need for escalation of therapy at least 12 hours after hospital presentation. We compared patients with worsening heart failure to patients with an uncomplicated hospital course and patients with a complicated presentation. Of 63 727 patients hospitalized with acute heart failure, 11% developed worsening heart failure. These patients had the highest observed rates of mortality, all-cause readmission, and Medicare payments at 30 days and 1 year after hospitalization (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). The adjusted hazards of 30-day mortality were 2.56 (99% CI, 2.34 to 2.80) compared with an uncomplicated course and 1.29 (99% CI, 1.17 to 1.42) compared with a complicated presentation. The adjusted cost ratios for postdischarge Medicare payments at 30 days were 1.35 (99% CI, 1.24 to 1.46) compared with an uncomplicated course and 1.11 (99% CI, 1.02 to 1.22) compared with a complicated presentation. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital worsening heart failure was common and was associated with higher rates of mortality, all-cause readmission, and postdischarge Medicare payments. Prevention and treatment of in-hospital worsening heart failure represents an important goal for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.