Disease-State Understanding and Experience of Patients Receiving Continuous Intravenous Inotropic Support as Palliative Therapy: A Multicenter Survey.

Background: The use of continuous intravenous inotropic support (CIIS) as palliative therapy in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) has increased over the past decade. CIIS improves New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class but does not impact survival. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine patients' understanding of the therapeutic intent of CIIS, prognostic awareness, and quality of life with CIIS. Design: We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients with advanced HF receiving CIIS as palliative therapy between 2020 and 2022. Settings/Subjects: An investigator-developed survey instrument was administered to outpatients on CIIS in the United States via telephone. Measurements: Survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Forty-eight patients, 63% male, 81% African American/Black, with a mean age of 68.9 (standard deviation 12.3) years, participated in this study. The majority of patients responded that they expected CIIS to make them feel better (79%) and increase longevity (75%), but few expected that CIIS would cure their HF (19%). Patients described their overall quality of life on CIIS as not better/worse (19%), somewhat better (46%), and significantly better (35%) and reported high treatment satisfaction (87% were at least somewhat satisfied). Conclusions: In this study, patients report improved quality of life with CIIS as palliative therapy. Patients on CIIS as palliative therapy expected increased survival on CIIS, which is incongruent with current evidence. Further studies on how we can improve care processes so that patients have accurate prognostic and disease-state awareness, and receive goal concordant care, are warranted.

Determinants of Health and Outcomes in Medicare Recipients With Heart Disease: A Population Study.

CONTEXT: Heart disease (HD) is a primary cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. While there is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the contribution of social determinants of health (SDoH) to HD outcomes, the impact of combined or individual SDoH on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with HD is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to explore the relationship of SDoH with HRQoL, advance care planning, and treatment preferences in Medicare beneficiaries with HD. METHODS: The study design was a secondary data analysis using latent class analysis (LCA) and multivariable analysis of NHATS participants with HD, Round 8, that included End of Life Plans and Care questions. RESULTS: 1202 participants, median age 81 years, 57% female, 70% non-Hispanic White, 20% non-Hispanic Black, 10% Other. LCA identified two SDoH risk profiles (low/high), using 12 measures within the NHATS Economic and Social Consequences key concept area. The high-risk SDoH profile participants were more likely to have fair/poor HRQoL, and identify as female, non-White (P < 0.0001); and less likely to have completed advance care planning (P < 0.0001). High-risk SDoH participants were more likely to want life-prolonging treatments (P < 0.0001), however, this association was not significant after adjusting for age, sex, and race (P = 0.344). CONCLUSION: Higher risk SDoH profiles are associated with reduced HRQoL, reduced advance care planning completion, female sex, and non-White race in a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries. These findings provide opportunities to improve SDoH-related care practices in older patients with HD.