The associations between direct and delayed critical care unit admission with mortality and readmissions among patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Although greater than 20% of patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) are admitted to a critical care unit, associated outcomes, and costs have not been delineated. We determined 30-day mortality, 30-day readmissions, and hospital costs associated with direct or delayed critical care unit admission. METHODS: In a population-based analysis, we compared HF patients who were admitted to critical care directly from the emergency department (direct), after initial ward admission (delayed), or never admitted to critical care during their hospital stay (ward-only). RESULTS: Among 178,997 HF patients (median age 80 [IQR 71-86] years, 49.6% men) 36,175 (20.2%) were admitted to critical care during their hospitalization (April 2003 to March 2018). Critical care patients were admitted directly from the emergency department (direct, 81.9%) or after initial ward admission (delayed, 18.1%). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause 30-day mortality were: 1.69 for direct (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.55, 1.84) and 4.92 for delayed (95% CI; 4.26, 5.68) critical care-admitted compared to ward-only patients. Multivariable-adjusted repeated events analysis demonstrated increased risk for all-cause 30-day readmission with both direct (HR 1.04, 95% CI; 1.01, 1.08, P = .013) and delayed critical care unit admissions (HR 1.20, 95% CI; 1.13, 1.28, P < .001). Median 30-day costs were $12,163 for direct admissions, $20,173 for delayed admissions, and $9,575 for ward-only patients (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: While critical care unit admission indicates increased risk of mortality and readmission at 30 days, those who experienced delayed critical care unit admission exhibited the highest risk of death and highest costs of care.

Characterization of hemodynamically stable acute heart failure patients requiring a critical care unit admission: Derivation, validation, and refinement of a risk score.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with acute heart failure (AHF) admitted to critical care units (CCUs) are low acuity and do not require CCU-specific therapies, suggesting that they could be managed in a lower-cost ward environment. This study identified the predictors of clinical events and the need for CCU-specific therapies in patients with AHF. METHODS: Model derivation was performed using data from patients in the ASCEND-HF trial cohort (n=7,141), and the Acute Heart Failure Emergency Management community-based registry (n=666) was used to externally validate the model and to test the incremental prognostic utility of 4 variables (heart failure etiology, troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP], ejection fraction) using net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement. The primary outcome was an in-hospital composite of the requirement for CCU-specific therapies or clinical events. RESULTS: The primary composite outcome occurred in 545 (11.4%) derivation cohort participants (n=4,767) and 7 variables were predictors of the primary composite outcome: body mass index, chronic respiratory disease, respiratory rate, resting dyspnea, hemoglobin, sodium, and blood urea nitrogen (c index=0.633, Hosmer-Lemeshow P=.823). In the validation cohort (n=666), 87 (13.1%) events occurred (c index=0.629, Hosmer-Lemeshow P=.386) and adding ischemic heart failure, troponin, and B-type natriuretic peptide improved model performance (net reclassification index 0.79, 95% CI 0.046-0.512; integrated discrimination improvement 0.014, 95% CI 0.005-0.0238). The final 10-variable clinical prediction model demonstrated modest discrimination (c index=0.702) and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P=.547). CONCLUSIONS: We derived, validated, and improved upon a clinical prediction model in an international trial and a community-based cohort of AHF. The model has modest discrimination; however, these findings deserve further exploration because they may provide a more accurate means of triaging level of care for patients with AHF who need admission.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Induced by Topical Application of Vitamin A.

A 21-year-old nonobese woman developed headaches and papilledema while excessively using 3 topical preparations of vitamin A. Neuroimaging studies were unremarkable and opening pressure on lumbar puncture was 300 mm H2O with normal cerebrospinal fluid composition. After discontinuation of the topical vitamin A preparations, the symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure resolved. The association of intracranial hypertension and topical vitamin A application has only been reported once previously.

Prospective validation and refinement of the APPROACH cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit readmission score.

PURPOSE: The APPROACH cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit (CVICU) readmission score has excellent discrimination and calibration for CVICU readmission after discharge to a surgical ward; however, it has not been prospectively validated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective consecutive cohort of 805 patients ≥18 years admitted to the CVICU after coronary artery bypass and/or valvular surgery, the APPROACH CVICU readmission score was calculated at the time of discharge to a surgical ward. The study compared observed versus predicted CVICU readmission and the model discrimination was evaluated using AUC c-index. The incremental prognostic utility of 6 pre-specified prospectively collected respiratory (re-intubation, tracheostomy, oxygen at discharge) and hemodynamic variables (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, inotropes at discharge) were tested using net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). RESULTS: A total of 37 (4.6%) patients were readmitted to the CVICU. The median CVICU length of stay (9.0 vs 2.0 days, p < .001) and all-cause in-hospital mortality (8.1% vs 0.4%, p < .001) was higher among readmitted patients. The model had good discrimination (c-index = 0.748). Systolic blood pressure at discharge yielded the largest improvement in model discrimination (c-index = 0.782; Hosmer-Lemshow p = .749). CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective validation cohort, the APPROACH CVICU readmission risk score had good discrimination and could be operationalized in future research and clinical practice.

Clinical Presentation, Predictors, and Outcomes Among Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (MRA)-Eligible Acute Heart Failure Patients in the Heart Function Assessment Registry Trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS).

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy is indicated after myocardial infarction in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) with an ejection fraction ≤40% and lacking contraindications. We analyzed clinical presentations, predictors, and outcomes of MRA-eligible patients within a prospective registry of patients with AHF from 18 hospitals in Saudi Arabia, from 2009 to 2010. For this subgroup, mortality rates were followed until 2013, and the clinical characteristics, management, predictors, and outcomes were compared between MRA-treated and non-MRA-treated patients. Of 2609 patients with AHF, 387 (14.8%) were MRA eligible, of which 146 (37.7%) were prescribed MRAs. Compared with non-MRA-treated patients, those prescribed MRAs more commonly exhibited non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, acute on chronic heart failure, past history of ischemic heart disease, and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction; were more commonly administered oral furosemide and digoxin; and had higher in-hospital recurrent congestive HF rates. Mortality did not significantly differ ( P > .05) between groups. In Saudi Arabia, 37.7% of eligible patients received MRA treatment, which is higher than that in developed countries. The lack of long-term survival benefit raises concerns about systematic problems, for example, proper follow-up and management after hospital discharge, warranting further investigation.