Lactate Dehydrogenase and Hemorrhagic Stroke During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) is a devastating complication during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) but markers of risk stratification during COVID-19 are unknown. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a readily available biomarker of cell injury and permeability. We sought to determine whether an elevated LDH before ECMO placement is related to the occurrence of HS during ECMO for COVID-19. METHODS: Adult patients with COVID-19 requiring ECMO between March 2020 and February 2022 were included. LDH values prior to ECMO placement were captured. Patients were categorized into high (> 750 U/L) or low (≤ 750 U/L) LDH groups. Multivariable regression modeling was used to determine the association between LDH and HS during ECMO. RESULTS: There were 520 patients that underwent ECMO placement in 17 centers and 384 had an available LDH. Of whom, 122 (32%) had a high LDH. The overall incidence of HS was 10.9%, and patients with high LDH had a higher incidence of HS than those with low LDH level (17% vs 8%, p = 0.007). At 100 days, the probability of a HS was 40% in the high LDH group and 23% in those with a low LDH, p = 0.002. After adjustment for clinical covariates, high LDH remained associated with subsequent HS (aHR: 2.64, 95% CI 1.39-4.92). Findings were similar when restricting to patients supported by venovenous ECMO only. CONCLUSION: Elevated LDH prior to ECMO cannulation is associated with a higher incidence of HS during device support. LDH can risk stratify cases for impending cerebral bleeding during ECMO.

De Novo Renal Failure and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics and outcomes associated with concomitant renal and respiratory failure in patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: This is a case series of patients from a U.S. healthcare system in New York City. All adult patients (≥ 18 yr) admitted to the hospital with positive coronavirus disease 2019 testing between March 10, 2020, and March 31, 2020, who required mechanical ventilatory support were included. Patients who remained hospitalized were followed through May 1, 2020. INTERVENTIONS: Renal replacement therapy included at least one session of dialysis, continued venovenous hemofiltration, or peritoneal dialysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, laboratory markers, 30-day in-hospital outcomes, ventilator days, and survival to discharge were included. Multivariate predictors for mortality and need for renal replacement therapy were identified. A total of 330 patients were included in this analysis and were most commonly greater than or equal to 70 years (40%), male (61%), Black or African American (41%), and Hispanic or Latino (38%). Renal replacement therapy was required in 101 patients (29%), most commonly among Blacks or African Americans (50%). Elevated d-dimer, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were associated with renal replacement therapy, compared with the nondialysis cohort. Overall, 243 patients (74%) died and 56 (17%) were discharged from the hospital, of which 9 (3%) required renal replacement therapy. Male sex (odds ratio, 2.0; 1.1-3.5; p = 0.020), Black race (odds ratio, 1.8; 1.0-3.1; p = 0.453), and history of hypertension (odds ratio, 2.7; 1.3-5.4; p = 0.005) were predictors for requiring renal replacement therapy. Risk factors for in-hospital mortality included age greater than or equal to 60 years (odds ratio, 6.2; 3.0-13.0; p < 0.0001), male sex (odds ratio, 3.0; 1.4-6.4; p = 0.004), and body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (odds ratio, 2.1; 1.0-4.4; p = 0.039). Concomitant renal failure in critical coronavirus disease 2019 was not a significant predictor of death (odds ratio, 2.3; 0.98-5.5; p = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: This case series concludes that respiratory failure conveys significant mortality risk in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and that survival with concomitant renal failure is rare.

Practices of Referring Patients to Advanced Heart Failure Centers.

BACKGROUND: Therapies for advanced heart failure (AHF) improve the likelihood of survival in a growing population of patients with stage D heart failure (HF). Successful implementation of these therapies is dependent upon timely and appropriate referrals to AHF centers. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients referred to 9 AHF centers for evaluation for AHF therapies. Patients' demographics, referring providers' characteristics, referral circumstances, and evaluation outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The majority of referrals (n = 515) were male (73.4%), and a majority of those were in the advanced state of the disease: very low left ventricular ejection fraction (<20% in 51.5%); 59.4% inpatient; and high risk Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profiles (74.5% profile 1-3). HF cardiologists (49.1%) were the most common originating referral source; the least common (4.9%) were electrophysiologists. Common clinical triggers for referral included worsening HF (30.0%), inotrope dependence (19.6%), hospitalization (19.4%), and cardiogenic shock (17.8%). Most commonly, AHF therapies were not offered because patients were too sick (38.0%-45.1%) or for psychosocial reasons (20.3%-28.6%). Compared to non-HF cardiologists, patients referred by HF cardiologists were offered an AHF therapy more often (66.8% vs 58.4%, P = 0.0489). Of those not offered any AHF therapy, 28.4% received home inotropic therapy, and 14.5% were referred to hospice. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter review of AHF referrals, HF cardiologists referred the most patients despite being a relatively small proportion of the overall clinician population. Late referral was prevalent in this high-risk patient population and correlates with worsened outcomes, suggesting a significant need for broad clinician education regarding the benefits, triggers and appropriate timing of referral to AHF centers for optimal patient outcomes.

Outflow graft obstruction in patients with the HM 3 LVAD: A percutaneous approach.

BACKGROUND: The use of the HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is expanding. Despite being associated with lower rates of adverse events and increased survival, outflow graft obstruction (OGO) has been reported in patients with HM3. The incidence and best management of this serious complication remain unclear. METHODS: We describe six cases of HM3 OGO occurring in five patients in our institutional HM3 cohort. Four cases underwent computed tomography angiography and in two percutaneous angiography was directly performed to confirm the diagnosis. In four cases, percutaneous repair of the OG was performed using common interventional cardiology (IC) techniques. RESULTS: Our institutional incidence of OGO was 7% (event rate of 0.05 per patient year); much higher than the previously reported incidence of 1.6%. All cases occurred in the bend relief covered segment. Only two patients had apparent OG twisting, and in two, OGO occurred despite placement of an anti-twist clip at the time of implant. External compression seems to play a role in most cases. Balloon "graftoplasty" and stent deployment via the femoral artery alleviated the obstruction and normalized LVAD flow in all patients who underwent percutaneous repair. The use of self-expanding stents allowed for downsizing of the procedural access site to 10 Fr. No serious procedure-related complications occurred. CONCLUSION: OGO is common in HM3 patients, external compression due to biomaterial accumulated surrounding the OG is a common etiology. Percutaneous repair using standard IC techniques is safe and feasible in cases of compression with or without partial twisting.

Factors Associated with Ipsilateral Limb Ischemia in Patients Undergoing Femoral Cannulation Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an important life-saving modality for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. Vascular complications, including clinically significant limb ischemia, may occur as a result of femoral artery cannulation for venoarterial (VA) ECMO. This study examines our institutional experience with femoral VA ECMO and the development of ipsilateral limb ischemia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all consecutive patients undergoing femoral VA ECMO between 2011 and 2016. The primary endpoint was clinical evidence of limb-threatening ischemia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors for limb ischemia after cannulation. RESULTS: Between March 2011 and September 2016, 154 patients underwent femoral cannulation for VA ECMO. Overall in-hospital mortality was 59.7%. Clinically significant ipsilateral limb ischemia occurred in 34 (22%) patients; 7 required four-compartment fasciotomy, and 3 of these patients required amputation. On univariate analysis, a history of pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke or transient ischemic attack was significantly associated with clinical limb ischemia. On multivariate analysis, younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.99), diabetes (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.08-7.12), pulmonary disease (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.38-10.78), and peripheral arterial disease (OR, 13.68; CI, 2.75-68.01) were associated with limb ischemia. Lack of prophylactic distal perfusion catheter and arterial cannula size were not independently associated with limb ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral ECMO cannulation can be associated with significant limb ischemia necessitating surgical intervention. Younger patients, as well as those with a history of diabetes, pulmonary disease, and peripheral arterial disease, may be at increased risk for this complication.

Aortic recoarctation and pseudoaneurysm five decades after repair.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital cardiac defect characterized by a narrowing of the proximal thoracic aorta. Despite excellent long-term results, surgical repair is rarely complicated by recoarctation. METHODS/RESULTS: We describe a case with the longest time to reintervention to date, featuring surgical repair of delayed aortic recoarctation and pseudoaneurysm 53 years after the initial operation. DISCUSSION: This case emphasizes the need for lifelong surveillance in this patient population and exemplifies a multidisciplinary approach in evaluating treatment options of complex aortic pathology, including open and endovascular considerations.

A bridge from HeartMate XVE to HeartMate 3.

Cardiac recovery after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is rare. Recurrent heart failure after device explantation is also rare. We describe a patient who is the recipient of a third-generation LVAD due to recurrent heart failure nearly one decade after successfully being bridged to recovery after implantation of a first-generation LVAD.

Comparison of Index Hospitalization Costs Between Robotic CABG and Conventional CABG: Implications for Hybrid Coronary Revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the direct costs of the index hospitalization and 30-day morbidity and mortality incurred during robotic and conventional coronary artery bypass grafting at a single institution based on hospital clinical and financial records. DESIGN: Retrospective study, propensity-matched groups with one-to-one nearest neighbor matching. SETTING: University hospital, a tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand eighty-eight consecutive patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from January 2007 to March 2012. INTERVENTIONS: One hundred forty-one matched pairs were created and analyzed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Robotic CABG was associated with a decrease in operative time (5.61±1.1 v 6.6±1.15 hours, p<0.001), a lower need for blood transfusion (12.8% v 22.6%, p = 0.04), a shorter length of stay (6 [4-9]) v 7 [5-11] days, p = 0.001), a shorter ICU stay (31 [24-49] hours v 52 [32-96.5] hours, p<0.001) and lower NY state complications composite rate (4.26% v 13.48%, p = 0.01). In spite of that, the cost of robotic procedures was not significantly different from matched conventional cases ($18,717.35 [11,316.1-34,550.6] versus $18,601 [13,137-50,194.75], p = 0.13), except 26 hybrid coronary revascularizations in which angioplasty was performed on the same admission (hybrid 25,311.1 [18,537.1-41,167.85] versus conventional 18,966.13 [13,337.75-56,021.75], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Robotically assisted CABG does not increase the cost of the index hospitalization when compared to conventional CABG unless hybrid revascularization is performed on the same admission.

Cardiac transplantation from infected donors: is it safe?

BACKGROUND: Transplantation of a cardiac allograft from an infected donor risks transmission of disease to the immunocompromised recipient. Such organs are often not utilized despite little supporting evidence. We sought to evaluate outcomes following cardiac transplant with the use of an infected allograft. METHODS: The UNOS/OPTN database was used to identify first time, adult heart transplant recipients from 1995 to 2009. Patients receiving allografts from blood culture positive donor (CPD) were compared to those who did not (NCPD). RESULTS: A total of 26,813 recipients were included. Nine hundred ninety-five (3.7%) received a heart from a CPD. Recipients of hearts from CPDs were more likely to be diabetic (24% vs. 20%, p = 0.01), hypertensive (42% vs. 38%, p = 0.02), status 1 (80% vs. 76%, p = 0.0021), have a BMI > 30 (19% vs. 16%, p = 0.001), on intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support (7% vs. 5%, p = 0.017), and worse functional status. Recipients with a CPD were more likely to be treated for a post-transplant infection (28% vs. 23%, p = 0.003) but not for an episode of rejection in the first year after transplantation (39% vs. 40%, p = 0.73). Receipt of a CPD allograft was not a multivariate predictor for mortality. CPD and NCPD survival was similar at one year (86% vs. 87%, p = 0.2585) and 15 years (34% vs. 36%, p = 0.0929). CONCLUSION: Use of allografts from CPD has no influence on survival despite the fact that these recipients tend to have a higher acuity and more comorbidities at the time of transplantation. Utilization of a heart from a donor with a confirmed blood stream infection should be carefully considered.

Cardiothoracic operating room blood gas workflow performance improvement initiative.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current workflow of blood gas ordering and testing in a cardiothoracic operating room to identify opportunities to streamline the process, using performance improvement methodologies. METHODS: Issues with specimen relabeling were identified that lead to delayed results and potential patient safety concerns. Blood gas specimen relabeling was evaluated for operating room cases from August 2018 to December 2022. An OpTime Epic Sidebar button for arterial blood gas and venous blood gas orders was created in January 2019 to streamline the ordering process so that laboratory barcode labels were then printed in the operating room and attached to the specimen, eliminating the need for relabeling by the technologists. RESULTS: This Epic Sidebar intervention led to a drastic improvement of appropriate labeling, which has been sustained. From March 2019 to January 2023, with our new workflow, over 95% of blood gas specimens arrived barcode labeled compared to less than 1% in the preintervention era. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary team with key stakeholders is important to address complex care issues. Performance improvement methodology is critical to develop interventions that hardwire the process. This intervention led to a sustained reduction in secondary relabeling of patient samples and improved timeliness of reporting of blood gas results.

Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Primary Graft Dysfunction After Cardiac Transplantation: Results of an A Priori Ventless Approach.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after cardiac transplantation is a devastating complication with increasing frequency lately in the setting of donation after circulatory death (DCD). Severe PGD is commonly treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) using central or peripheral cannulation. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of PGD after cardiac transplantation requiring ECMO support at our center from 2015 to 2020, focused on our now preferential approach using peripheral cannulation without a priori venting. During the study period, 255 patients underwent heart transplantation at our center and 26 (10.2%) of them required ECMO for PGD. Of 24 patients cannulated peripherally 19 (79%) were alive at 30 days and 17 (71%) 1 year after transplant; two additional patients underwent central ECMO cannulation due to unfavorable size of femoral vessels and concern for limb ischemia. Successful decannulation with full graft function recovery occurred in 22 of 24 (92%) patients cannulated peripherally. Six of them had an indwelling intra-aortic balloon pump placed before the transplantation. None of the other 18 patients received a ventricular vent. In conclusion, the use of an a priori peripheral and ventless ECMO approach in patients with PGD after heart transplant is an effective strategy associated with high rates of graft recovery and survival.

Exophiala dermatitidis fungal infective endocarditis on prosthetic mitral valve.

Fungal infective endocarditis, although rare, carries a high mortality risk. We present a case of successful multidisciplinary management of Exophiala dermatitidis infective endocarditis in an immunocompetent male with a bio-prosthetic mitral valve. This case highlights the clinical presentation and provides valuable treatment insights into this rare fungal entity. Prompt consideration of fungal pathogens in predisposed patients, expedited detection through non-culture-based tests, and a combined surgical and prolonged antifungal approach are pivotal.

Elevated glycosylated hemoglobin levels are associated with severe acute kidney injury following coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are at increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) following surgery. The significance of uncontrolled diabetes on kidney function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains controversial. Our aim was to study the association between pre-operative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and severe cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI) following CABG. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study including patients who underwent isolated CABG from 2010 to 2018 was performed. Patients were grouped into pre-operative HbA1c of <6.5 %, 6.5-8.5 %, and ≥8.5 %. Postoperative serum creatinine levels were queried for up to 30 days, and the 30-day risk of severe AKI was compared among groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study factors associated with severe CSA-AKI and the association of severe CSA-AKI with postoperative outcomes. Cox regression was used to study the association between severe CSA-AKI and all-cause mortality from the time of surgery to the last follow-up or death. RESULTS: A total of 2424 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients were primarily male (70.5 %), with a median age of 64 years (IQR 57-71). Median bypass and cross-clamp times were 95 (IQR 78-116) and 78 min (IQR 63-95). Severe CSA-AKI occurred within 30 days in 5.7 %, 6.7 %, and 9.1 % of patients with pre-op HbA1c of <6.5 %, 6.5-8.5 %, and ≥8.5 %, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, HbA1c >8.5 %, was independently associated with severe CSA-AKI 30 days after CABG (aOR 1.59, 95%CI 1.06-2.40). In addition, severe CSA-AKI was associated with increased 30- (aOR 15.83,95%CI 7.94-31.56) and 90- day mortality (aOR 9.54, 95%CI 5.46-16.67), prolonged length of stay (aOR 3.46,95%CI 2.41-4.96) and unplanned 30-day readmission (aOR 2.64, 95%CI 1.77-3.94). Lastly, severe CSA-AKI was associated with increased all-cause mortality (aHR 3.19, 95%CI 2.43-4.17). CONCLUSION: Elevated preoperative HbA1c (≥8.5 %) was independently associated with an increased 30-day risk of severe CSA-AKI, which is a consistent predictor of adverse outcomes after CABG. Delaying surgery to achieve optimal glycemic control in an elective setting may be reasonable.

Early Outcomes of Adult Heart Transplantation From COVID-19 Infected Donors.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on heart transplantation (HT) using COVID-19 donors. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated COVID-19 donor use, donor and recipient characteristics, and early post-HT outcomes. METHODS: Between May 2020 and June 2022, study investigators identified 27,862 donors in the United Network for Organ Sharing, with 60,699 COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) performed before procurement and with available organ disposition. Donors were considered "COVID-19 donors" if they were NAT positive at any time during terminal hospitalization. These donors were subclassified as "active COVID-19" (aCOV) donors if they were NAT positive within 2 days of organ procurement, or "recently resolved COVID-19" (rrCOV) donors if they were NAT positive initially but became NAT negative before procurement. Donors with NAT-positive status >2 days before procurement were considered aCOV unless there was evidence of a subsequent NAT-negative result ≥48 hours after the last NAT-positive result. HT outcomes were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,445 "COVID-19 donors" (COVID-19 NAT positive) were identified; 1,017 of these were aCOV, and 428 were rrCOV. Overall, 309 HTs used COVID-19 donors, and 239 adult HTs from COVID-19 donors (150 aCOV, 89 rrCOV) met study criteria. Compared with non-COV, COVID-19 donors used for adult HT were younger and mostly male (∼80%). Compared with HTs from non-COV donors, recipients of HTs from aCOV donors had increased mortality at 6 months (Cox HR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02-2.96; P = 0.043) and 1 year (Cox HR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.22-3.22; P = 0.006). Recipients of HTs from rrCOV and non-COV donors had similar 6-month and 1-year mortality. Results were similar in propensity-matched cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In this early analysis, although HTs from aCOV donors had increased mortality at 6 months and 1 year, HTs from rrCOV donors had survival similar to that seen in recipients of HTs from non-COV donors. Continued evaluation and a more nuanced approach to this donor pool are needed.

First reported use of the heartware HVAD in the US as bridge to transplant in an adolescent.

Limited options exist for mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation in pediatric patients with advanced heart failure. This is particularly true when it comes to intracorporeal technologies. We describe the first reported experience with the use of the HVAD in the US as a successful bridge to transplantation in a 13-yr-old patient.

Feasibility and Potential Impact of Heart Transplantation From Adult Donors After Circulatory Death.

BACKGROUND: A shortage of donation after brain death (DBD) donors for heart transplantation (HT) persists. Recent improvements in organ procurement from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors and promising early results of DCD-HTs from Europe and Australia have renewed interest in DCD-HT. OBJECTIVES: The current study evaluated donor and recipient characteristics, early outcomes, and potential impact of adult DCD-HT in the United States. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing registry was used to identify and compare adult DCD donors based on their use for HT between January 2020 and February 2021. Adult DCD-HTs with available post-HT outcomes data were compared with contemporary adult DBD-HTs during study period using Cox-regression analysis and propensity-matching. RESULTS: Of the 3,611 adult DCD donors referred during the study period, 136 were used for HT. DCD donors used for HT were younger (median age 29 years), and most were male (90%), and blood type O (79%). On comparing DCD-HT (n = 127) and DBD-HT (n = 2,961) meeting study criteria and with available data on post-HT outcomes, there was no significant difference in 30-day or 6-month mortality, primary graft failure up to 30 days, or other outcomes including in-hospital stroke, pacemaker insertion, hemodialysis, and post-HT length of hospital stay. Results were similar in propensity matched DCD-HT and DBD-HT cohorts. The number of potential adult DCD donors referred has increased substantially (n = 871 in 2010 to n = 3,045 in 2020), and the authors estimated that widespread adoption of DCD-HT could lead to approximately 300 additional adult HTs in the United States annually. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary analysis of adult DCD-HTs from the United States showed favorable early outcomes and suggested a potential for substantial increase in adult HT volumes with use of DCD donors.

Perioperative Cardiometabolic Targets and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Mortality in Patients With Diabetes.

Background Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery represents the preferred revascularization strategy for most patients with diabetes and multivessel disease. We aimed to evaluate the role of optimized, perioperative cardiometabolic targets on long-term survival in patients who underwent CABG. Methods and Results Single-institution retrospective study was conducted in patients with diabetes who underwent CABG between January 2010 and June 2018. Demographic, surgical, and cardiometabolic determinants were identified during the perioperative period. Clinical characteristics and longitudinal survival outcomes data were obtained. A total of 1534 patients with CABG were considered for analysis and 1273 met inclusion criteria. The mean age of patients was 63.3 years (95% CI, 62.7-63.8 years), and most were men (65%) and Hispanic or Latino (47%). Comorbidities included hypertension (95%) and dyslipidemia (88%). In total, 490 patients (52%) had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level >70 mg/dL. Furthermore, 390 patients (31%) had uncontrolled systolic blood pressure >130 mm Hg. Last, only 386 patients (29%) had a hemoglobin A1c level between 6% and 7%. At 5 years, 121 patients (10%) died. Failure to achieve goal systolic blood pressure was associated with all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.573; 95% CI, 1.048-2.362 [P=0.029]) and cardiovascular (HR, 2.023; 95% CI, 1.196-3.422 [P=0.009]) mortality at 5 years post-CABG. In contrast, prescription of a statin during the perioperative interval demonstrated a protective effect for all-cause (HR, 0.484; 95% CI, 0.286-0.819 [P=0.007]) and cardiovascular (HR, 0.459; 95% CI, 0.229-0.920 [P=0.028]) mortality. There was no association between achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or hemoglobin A1c level goals and mortality risk at 5 years. Conclusions Among patients with diabetes, blood pressure control and statin therapy were the most important perioperative cardiometabolic survival determinants 5 years after CABG.

Relation of Community-Level Socioeconomic Status to Delayed Diagnosis of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Acute type A aortic dissection requires timely diagnosis and intervention. Previous studies have examined risk factors associated with delayed diagnosis; however, the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) has not been previously studied. Our study examined the impact of various SES measures on time to diagnosis. We examined time to diagnosis in consecutive cases of acute type A aortic dissection at a single institution. SES variables included race/ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, and residence in a zip code with an increased Distressed Communities Index-an aggregate measure of community SES. Delayed diagnosis was defined as time to diagnosis in the upper quartile of the study population (>6.6 hours). A model predicting risk factors for delayed diagnosis was created using multivariable logistic regression. Our study included 124 patients with a median time to diagnosis of 3.36 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 1.83 to 6.63). A total of 92 patients were in the nondelayed cohort (median diagnosis time of 2.59 hours, IQR 1.49 to 4.18) and 32 patients were in the delayed cohort (median diagnosis time of 15.57 hours, IQR 9.34 to 28.75). In multivariable logistic regression, residence in a high-Distressed Communities Index zip code was associated with diagnostic delay (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.108, p = 0.008). Patient age (aOR 0.944, p = 0.011), chest pain at presentation (aOR 0.099, p = 0.004), back pain at presentation (aOR 0.247, p = 0.012), evidence of malperfusion syndrome (aOR 0.040, p <0.001), history of hyperlipidemia (aOR 3.507, p = 0.026), and history of congestive heart failure (aOR 0.061, p = 0.036) were also significantly associated. In conclusion, our findings suggest community-level SES affects time to diagnosis in acute type A aortic dissection.