Prevalence and temporal trends of prostate diseases among inpatients with cardiovascular disease: a nationwide real-world database survey in Japan.

Introduction: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are major prostate diseases that potentially share cardiometabolic risk factors and an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the prevalence of prostate diseases among patients with established CVD remains unclear. Materials and methods: This nationwide retrospective study assessed the prevalence and temporal trend of prostate diseases (i.e., BPH or PCa) among patients hospitalized for CVDs in Japan. We used a claims database (the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure Combination), which included data on 6,078,487 male patients recorded from 1,058 hospitals between April 2012 and March 2020. We conducted the Cochran-Armitage trend test and calculated the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The prevalence of prostate diseases over the entire study period was 5.7% (BPH, 4.4%; PCa, 1.6%). When dividing the overall cohort into age categories (<65, 65-74, and ≥75 years old), the prevalence was 1.1%, 4.7%, and 9.9%, respectively (P for trend <0.05). In addition, the annual prevalence showed a modest increasing trend over time. Patients admitted for heart failure (HF) were significantly associated with a higher incidence of coexisting prostate diseases than those admitted for non-HF causes [aOR 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01-1.03)] or acute coronary syndrome [aOR 1.19 (95% CI, 1.17-1.22)]. Conclusions: The nationwide real-world database revealed that the prevalence of prostate diseases is increasing among patients hospitalized for CVD, particularly HF. Attention to detailed causality and continued surveillance are needed to further clarify the clinical characteristics of prostate diseases among patients with CVD.

Long-Term Follow-up Study of Hospitalizations for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Kobe-City and Other Districts Under the Hyogo Smoking Ban Legislation　- A Nationwide Database Study.

BACKGROUND: Hyogo Prefecture has managed smoking ban legislation with partial restrictions in public places (Hyogo-L) since 2013. Previous studies have reported a significant decrease in admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Kobe-city, but not in other districts of Hyogo Prefecture in the 2 years after Hyogo-L. The aim of the present study was to define the long-term effect of Hyogo-L.Methods and Results: The JROAD-DPC dataset was used to collect information on the number of hospitalizations for ACS in Hyogo Prefecture, and in Osaka-city without smoking ban legislation, from April 2013 to March 2020. Poisson regression analysis was performed to calculate incident rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). ACS records of 3,101 in Kobe-city, 11,375 in areas of Hyogo Prefecture other than Kobe-city and 11,079 in Osaka-city were collected for admissions. The incidence of ACS reduced significantly over time in Kobe-city [IRR (95% CI); 0.96 (0.94-0.97)], but did not reduce in the others. The decrease in Kobe-city was observed in ACS patients without smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, but not in those with such risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term ACS reduction or non-reduction under Hyogo-L was determined at the initial period and the same scenario continued, supporting the importance of legislation and compliance with the smoking ban. The lowering effect was remarkable in ACS patients without risk factors such as non-smoking.

Benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy to loop diuretics in management of heart failure.

BACKGROUND: We sought to compare the outcomes of patients receiving combination therapy of diuretics and neurohormonal blockers, with a matched cohort with monotherapy of loop diuretics, using real-world big data. METHODS: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC). After exclusion criteria, we identified 78,685 patients who were first hospitalized with heart failure (HF) between April 2015 and March 2017. Propensity score (PS) was estimated with logistic regression model, with neurohormonal blockers (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor : ACEi or angiotensin receptor blocker : ARB, ?-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists : MRA) as the dependent variable and 24 clinically relevant covariates to compare the in-hospital mortality between monotherapy of loop diuretics and combination therapies. RESULTS: On PS-matched analysis, patients with ACEi?/?ARB, ?-blockers, and MRA had lower total in-hospital mortality and in-hospital mortality within 7 days, 14 days and 30 days. In the sub-group analysis, regardless of clinical characteristics including elderly people and cancer, patients treated with a combination of loop diuretics and neurohormonal blockers had significantly lower in-hospital mortality than matched patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate the benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy to loop diuretics in the management of HF. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 41-53, February, 2023.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors treatment or discontinuation effects on mortality: evidence of xanthine oxidase inhibitors withdrawal syndrome.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI) on mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases. XOI withdrawal has been reported to increased mortality risk due to rapid adenosine triphosphate (ATP) deficiency. This study aims to determine whether XOI treatment reduces mortality and whether XOI withdrawal increases mortality. Methods: This is a real-world database study using the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases (J-ROAD). We analyzed 1,648,891 hospitalized patients aged 20-90 with acute coronary syndrome or heart failure. In the first study, mortality rates were compared between patients without urate-lowering agents (n = 1,292,486) and those with XOI agents (n = 315,388, excluding 41,017 on other urate-lowering agents). In the second study, mortality rates were compared between the XOI continuous medication group (n = 226,261) and the XOI withdrawal group (n = 89,127). Results: After multiple adjustments, XOI treatment group showed significantly lower mortality compared with that without any urate-lowering agent (odds ratio (OR), 0.576, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.567-0.587, p < .001). In the sub-analysis, the group with allopurinol (OR, 0.578; 95% CI, 0.557-0.600), febuxostat (OR, 0.610; 95% CI, 0.599-0.622), and topiroxostat (HR, 0.545; 95% CI, 0.473-0.628) showed lower OR of mortality compared with that without any urate-lowering agent. XOI withdrawal group led to significantly higher death rates compared to XOI continuous group (19.8% vs. 0.03%; p < .001). Conclusion: XOI treatment for patients with cardiovascular diseases is associated with reduced mortality. Conversely, XOI withdrawal is linked to elevated mortality risk. This emphasizes the importance of both prescribing and discontinuing XOI carefully to optimize patient outcomes.

Efficacy of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation After Cardiac Surgery　- Verification Using Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination Data.

Background: The current status of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after cardiac surgery and the introduction of early CR (E-CR) in Japan are not fully understood. In this study, the current status of E-CR and its efficacy were investigated by the Academic Committee of the Japanese Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. Methods and Results: We examined the rate of introduction of E-CR and its effects among 220,122 patients who underwent major cardiac and thoracic vascular surgery, as registered in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) classification system, between April 2012 and March 2018. In this study, E-CR was defined as CR starting within 1 day after surgery. Patients with and without E-CR were propensity score matched and analyzed for clinical outcomes. Of all patients participating in CR after surgery, E-CR was initiated in 52.1%, 56.9%, 47.4%, and 54.1% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, aortic surgery, and other cardiovascular surgery, respectively. After propensity score matching, outcomes for E-CR were significantly superior to non-E-CR in terms of in-hospital deaths, Barthel Index score at discharge, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. Conclusions: E-CR after cardiac surgery was effective in terms of prognosis, hospital stay, and medical costs. This study is the first report using big data in Japan. The results indicate that further introduction of E-CR needs to be recommended in the future.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by Kawasaki disease requires more intensive therapy: Insights from the Japanese registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure combination.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) induces coronary arteritis, which causes subsequent coronary aneurysms, and contributes to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the differences regarding real-world treatment selection and mortality between AMI-complicated KD and AMI due to typical atherosclerosis (AMI-non KD) are unknown. AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the current treatment strategy and prognosis of AMI-complicated KD compared with AMI due to typical atherosclerosis. METHOD: We used data from 2012 to 2019 from a nationwide claim database, the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure Combination. RESULTS: Compared to the AMI-non KD patients (n = 70,227), the AMI-complicated KD patients (n = 73): (1) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) less often and more coronary artery bypass grafting, intracoronary thrombolysis or intravenous coronary thrombolysis more often; (2) underwent stentless PCI using old balloon angioplasty or rotablator, when they underwent PCI; and (3) needed in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intensive mechanical therapy such as intra-aortic balloon pump, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support or a respirator. Both the AMI-non KD and AMI-complicated KD patients had similar in-hospital mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with AMI-non KD patients, AMI-complicated KD patients underwent non-PCI strategies such as bypass surgery or thrombolysis, and required intensive therapy with mechanical supports more often, but presented similar in-hospital mortality. When the AMI-complicated KD patients underwent PCI, stentless PCI using balloon angioplasty or rotablator was performed more often compared with the AMI-non KD patients.

Features and Outcomes of Histologically Proven Myocarditis With Fulminant Presentation.

BACKGROUND: Fulminant myocarditis presentation (FMP) is a rare and severe presentation of myocarditis. The natural history of FMP and its clinical features associated with poor outcomes are incompletely understood because there is a lack of generalizable evidence. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients hospitalized with histologically proven myocarditis who underwent catecholamine or mechanical support from 235 cardiovascular training hospitals across Japan between April 2012 and March 2017. Clinical features and the prognostic predictors of death or heart transplantation within 90 days on the basis of clinical and pathologic findings were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: This study included 344 patients with histologically proven FMP (median age, 54 years; 40% female). The median follow-up was 600 days (interquartile range, 36 to 1599 days) and the cumulative risk of death or heart transplantation at 90 days was 29% (n=98). Results from multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that older age, nonsinus rhythm, low left ventricular wall motion (<40%) on admission, and ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation on admission day were associated with worse 90-day survival. Severe histologic damage (damaged cardiomyocytes comprising ≥50% of the total cardiomyocytes) was associated with a worse 90-day prognosis in patients with lymphocytic myocarditis. CONCLUSIONS: The results from analyses of data from this multicenter registry demonstrated that patients with FMP are at a higher risk of death or heart transplantation in real-world settings. These observations inform which clinical and pathologic findings may be useful for prognostication in FMP. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr; Unique identifier: UMIN000039763.

Contemporary use of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus: a comparison of DPP4 inhibitors in a nationwide electric health database of the superaged society.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of recent data reflecting the actual use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes (DM) in the superaged society. The present study investigated the association between the use of SGLT2 inhibitors and one-year prognosis in patients hospitalized across a broad spectrum of HF patients with DM in the superaged society using the Nationwide Electric Health Database in Japan. METHODS: The patients hospitalized with the first episode of acute HF were identified from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan between April 2014 and March 2019. A cohort of 2,277 users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 41,410 users of the active comparator, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors were compared. A propensity score-matched cohort study of 2,101 users of each inhibitor was also conducted. A multivariable multilevel mixed-effects survival model was conducted with adjustments, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Among 300,398 patients discharged with HF in 4,176 hospitals, 216,016 (71.9%) were 75 years or older, and 60,999 (20.3%) took antidiabetic medications. Among them, the patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors were younger and had a more severe status than those treated with DPP4 inhibitors. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower mortality risk and HF readmission. In propensity-matched cohorts, SGLT2 inhibitor use was associated with a lower risk of mortality and HF readmission than DPP-4 inhibitor use (HR [95% CI]; 0.70 [0.56, 0.89] and 0.52 [0.45, 0.61], respectively). Very elderly (≥ 75 years) patients showed similar results. Favorable effects were also observed across all age groups, including ≥ 75 years, in patients with coronary artery disease or atrial fibrillation and with concomitant ß-blocker, diuretics, or insulin. CONCLUSION: The use of SGLT2 inhibitors at discharge was associated with a lower risk of one-year mortality and HF readmission in patients across a broad spectrum of HF with DM in the superaged society. The findings further support the benefits of using SGLT2 inhibitors in very elderly HF care and complement the current evidence.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction Without Cardiogenic Shock.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present in the emergency department in a hemodynamically stable condition (i.e., non-cardiogenic shock) (AMI-NCS). However, few studies specifically focused on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of AMI-NCS patients. Temporal trends in clinical characteristics, in-hospital occurrence of in-hospital adverse outcomes, and the effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were examined.Methods and Results: Between April 2012 and March 2018, 176,275 AMI-NCS patients (67.7% of the total AMI population; 25.4% female; mean age 68.6±13.1 years) were identified in a nationwide Japanese administrative database. During the 6-year study period, AMI-NCS patients have been getting older and had an increasing burden of comorbidities. The rates of 30-day all-cause mortality and in-hospital complications were 2.6% and 30.5%, respectively. Thirty-day all-cause mortality did not change significantly over time, whereas in-hospital complications, especially major non-cardiac events, increased progressively. On multivariable analyses, higher age, higher Killip class, atrial fibrillation, chronic renal failure, and malignancy were independently associated with both increased 30-day mortality and in-hospital complications. PPCI was independently associated with lower mortality and in-hospital complications. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical background of AMI-NCS patients has been becoming more complex with increasing age and the burden of comorbidities, with increased in-hospital complications. More active and appropriate application of PPCI may further decrease adverse events and improve survival of AMI-NCS patients.

Trends and Factors Associated With Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation　- Data From Japanese Nationwide Databases.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have comprehensively evaluated the trends and factors associated with CR participation across major cardiovascular diseases in Japan.Methods and Results: This study performed a nationwide cross-sectional study using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan and the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. This study described the nationwide trends and evaluated patient- and hospital-level associated factors of CR participation for patients with acute heart failure (AHF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute aortic dissection (AAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and after cardiovascular surgery using mixed-effect logistic regression analysis. Although the annual number of patients who underwent CR has increased during the study period, the total number of patients participating in outpatient CR was lower than that of inpatient CR. The outpatient CR participation rate was lower for patients with AHF (3.5%), AAD (3.2%), and PAD (1.7%), compared with ACS (7.9%) and after surgery (9.4%). Age, sex, body mass index, Barthel index, Charlson comorbidity index, and institutional capacity were identified as significant associated factors of CR participation in inpatient and outpatient settings. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in outpatient CR was still low, and higher age, multi-comorbidity, and low institutional capacity contributed to the lower outpatient CR participation rate. Identification of the associated factors may help cardiologists to increase CR participation.

Impact of cancer on short-term in-hospital mortality after primary acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the second most common cause of mortality among cancer survivors, after death from cancer. We sought to assess the impact of cancer on the short-term outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), by analysing data obtained from a large-scale database. METHODS: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination. We identified patients who were hospitalised for primary AMI between April 2012 and March 2017. Propensity Score (PS) was estimated with logistic regression model, with cancer as the dependent variable and 21 clinically relevant covariates. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We split 1 52 208 patients into two groups with or without cancer. Patients with cancer tended to be older (cancer group 73±11 years vs non-cancer group 68±13 years) and had smaller body mass index (cancer group 22.8±3.6 vs non-cancer 23.9±4.3). More patients in the non-cancer group had hypertension or dyslipidaemia than their cancer group counterparts. The non-cancer group also had a higher rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (cancer 92.6% vs non-cancer 95.2%). Patients with cancer had a higher 30-day mortality (cancer 6.0% vs non-cancer 5.3%) and total mortality (cancer 8.1% vs non-cancer 6.1%) rate, but this was statistically insignificant after PS matching. CONCLUSION: Cancer did not significantly impact short-term in-hospital mortality rates after hospitalisation for primary AMI.

Effect of holiday admission for acute aortic dissection on in-hospital mortality in Japan: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted on weekends have higher mortality than those admitted on weekdays. However, whether the "weekend effect" results in a higher mortality after admission for acute aortic dissection (AAD),-classified according to Stanford types-remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between admission day and in-hospital mortality in AAD Type A and B. METHODS: We used data from the Japanese registry of all Cardiac and Vascular Diseases Diagnostic Procedure Combination, a nationwide claim-based database with data from 953 certified hospitals, and enrolled in-patients with AAD admitted between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2016. Based on the admission day, we stratified patients into groups (Weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays/holidays). The influence of the admission day on in-hospital mortality was assessed via multi-level logistic regression analysis. We also performed a Stanford type-based stratified analysis. RESULTS: Among the included 25,641 patients, in-hospital mortality was 16.0%. The prevalence of patients admitted with AAD was relatively higher on weekdays. After adjustment for covariates, patients admitted on a Sunday/holiday showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.33, p<0.001) than patients admitted on weekdays. Among patients admitted on a Sunday/holiday, only the subgroup of Stanford Type A showed a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality. (Stanford Type A, non-surgery vs. surgery groups: 95% CI 1.06-1.48 vs. 1.17-1.68, p<0.001 for both groups, OR 1.25 vs. 1.41, respectively, Stanford Type B, non-surgery vs. surgery groups: 95% CI 0.64-1.09 vs. 0.40-2.10; p = 0.182 vs. 0.846; OR 0.84 vs. 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, patients with AAD Type A admitted on a Sunday/holiday may have an increased in-hospital mortality risk.

Association of hospital performance measures with readmissions for patients with heart failure: A report from JROAD-DPC study.

BACKGROUND: Measuring quality of care is central to quality improvement. Improving outcomes for heart failure (HF) may relate to hospital care delivery. However, there is limited nationwide data on the relationship between hospital-level HF performance measures and clinical outcomes. METHODS: From the Japanese Registry of All cardiac and vascular Diseases (JROAD-DPC) database, 83,567 HF patients hospitalised in 731 certificated hospitals in 2014 by the Japanese Circulation Society were analysed. Five performance measures were prescription rate of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and measurement rate of echocardiography and B-type natriuretic peptide during hospitalisation. Relationships between these measures and 1-year readmission due to HF were analysed. Composite performance score (CPS) obtained from the five performance measures and outcomes were also analysed. We also investigated the relationships between CPS and hospital structural factors. RESULTS: From the cohort (mean age; 78.2 years, woman 48.4%), HF readmission rate at 1 year was 19.6% (n = 16,368). Readmission rate decreased with higher quartiles of prescription rate in each medication and diagnostic performance rates. The highest CPS group was associated with a 15% risk reduction in HF readmission compared with the lowest CPS group (hazard ratio, 0.85, 95% confidence interval [0.80-0.89], p < 0.001) after covariate adjustment. Several structural factors such as number of cardiology specialists, hospital case volume for HF, and presence of cardiac surgery division were associated with high CPS. CONCLUSION: Higher hospital performance measures for HF were inversely associated with HF readmissions.

Acute Hospital Mortality of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer From Registry Data.

Background The prognosis of patients with cancer-venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not well known because of a lack of registry data. Moreover, there is also no knowledge on how specific types are related to prognosis. We sought to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer-associated VTE, compared with a matched cohort without cancer using real-world registry data of VTE. Methods and Results This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the JROAD-DPC (Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination). Of 5 106 151 total patients included in JROAD-DPC, we identified 49 580 patients who were first hospitalized with VTE from April 2012 to March 2017. Propensity score was estimated with a logistic regression model, with cancer as the dependent variable and 18 clinically relevant covariates. After propensity matching, there were 25 148 patients with VTE with or without cancer. On propensity score-matched analysis with 25 148 patients with VTE, patients with cancer had higher total in-hospital mortality within 7 days (1.3% versus 1.1%, odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% CI, 1.31-2.11; P<0.0001), 14 days (2.5% versus 1.5%, OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.72-2.49; P<0.0001), and 30 days (4.8% versus 2.0%, OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 2.45-3.31; P<0.0001). On analysis for each type of cancer, in-hospital mortality in 11 types of cancer was significantly high, especially pancreas (OR, 12.96; 95% CI, 6.41-26.20), biliary tract (OR, 8.67; 95% CI, 3.00-25.03), and liver (OR, 7.31; 95% CI, 3.05-17.50). Conclusions Patients with cancer had a higher in-hospital acute mortality for VTE than those without cancer, especially in pancreatic, biliary tract, and liver cancers.

Institutional Characteristics and Prognosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction With Cardiogenic Shock in Japan　- Analysis From the JROAD/JROAD-DPC Database.

BACKGROUND: The high mortality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock (i.e., Killip class IV AMI) remains a challenge in emergency cardiovascular care. This study aimed to examine institutional factors, including the number of JCS board-certified members, that are independently associated with the prognosis of Killip class IV AMI patients.Methods and Results:In the Japanese registry of all cardiac and vascular diseases-diagnosis procedure combination (JROAD-DPC) database (years 2012-2016), the 30-day mortality of Killip class IV AMI patients (n=21,823) was 42.3%. Multivariate analysis identified age, female sex, admission by ambulance, deep coma, and cardiac arrest as patient factors that were independently associated with higher 30-day mortality, and the numbers of JCS board-certified members and of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) cases per year as institutional factors that were independently associated with lower mortality in Killip class IV patients, although IABP was associated with higher mortality in Killip classes I-III patients. Among hospitals with the highest quartile (≥9 JCS board-certified members), the 30-day mortality of Killip class IV patients was 37.4%. CONCLUSIONS: A higher numbers of JCS board-certified members was associated with better survival of Killip class IV AMI patients. This finding may provide a clue to optimizing local emergency medical services for better management of AMI patients in Japan.

Association between Vitamin D and Heart Failure Mortality in 10,974 Hospitalized Individuals.

A broad range of chronic conditions, including heart failure (HF), have been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Existing clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in chronic HF patients have been inconclusive. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with vitamin D supplementation, compared with a matched cohort using real-world big data of HF hospitalization. This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC). After exclusion criteria, we identified 93,692 patients who were first hospitalized with HF between April 2012 and March 2017 (mean age was 79 ± 12 years, and 52.2% were male). Propensity score (PS) was estimated with logistic regression model, with vitamin D supplementation as the dependent variable and clinically relevant covariates. On PS-matched analysis with 10,974 patients, patients with vitamin D supplementation had lower total in-hospital mortality (6.5 vs. 9.4%, odds ratio: 0.67, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality within 7 days and 30 days (0.9 vs. 2.5%, OR, 0.34, and 3.8 vs. 6.5%, OR: 0.56, both p < 0.001). In the sub-group analysis, mortalities in patients with age < 75, diabetes, dyslipidemia, atrial arrhythmia, cancer, renin-angiotensin system blocker, and ß-blocker were not affected by vitamin D supplementation. Patients with vitamin D supplementation had a lower in-hospital mortality for HF than patients without vitamin D supplementation in the propensity matched cohort. The identification of specific clinical characteristics in patients benefitting from vitamin D may be useful for determining targets of future randomized control trials.

Impact of structural and process quality indicators on the outcomes of acute aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The mortality of acute aortic dissection (AAD) remains high, and evidence-to-practice gaps exist in real-world treatment. We explored the first quality indicators (QIs) for AAD management and evaluated the associations between the achievement of these QIs and the outcome in a nationwide administrative database. METHODS: A systematic search was performed to establish initial index items for QIs. An evaluation was performed through an expert consensus meeting using the Delphi method. We studied 18 348 patients who had AAD (type A: 10 131; type B: 8217) in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases database between April 2012 and May 2015. The associations between the achievement of QIs [categorized into tertiles (low, middle and high)] and in-hospital mortality were determined by multivariable mixed logistic regression analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We developed a total of 9 QIs (5 structural and 4 process). Lower achievement rates of QIs were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in both types [type A = middle: odds ratio (OR) 4.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.301-4.90; P < 0.001; low: OR 15.68; 95% CI 11.67-21.06; P < 0.001 vs high; type B = middle: OR 3.48; 95% CI 2.19-5.53; P < 0.001; low: OR 7.79; 95% CI 4.65-13.06; P < 0.001 vs high]. Various sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. High achievement rates of QIs were significantly associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. Evaluating each hospital's management using QIs would help to equalize treatment quality and demonstrate the evidence-to-practice gaps in real-world treatments for AAD.

Impact of Hospital Practice Factors on Mortality in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure in Japan　- An Analysis of a Large Number of Health Records From a Nationwide Claims-Based Database, the JROAD-DPC.

BACKGROUND: An inverse relationship exists between hospital case volume and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, hospital performance factors associated with mortality in HF patients have not been examined. We aimed to identify these using exploratory factor analysis and assess the relationship between these factors and 7-day, 30-day, and in-hospital mortality among HF patients in Japan.Methods and Results:We analyzed the records of 198,861 patients admitted to 683 certified hospitals of the Japanese Circulation Society between 2012 and 2014. Records were obtained from the nationwide database of the Japanese Registry Of All cardiac and vascular Diseases-Diagnostic Procedure Combination (JROAD-DPC). Using exploratory factor analysis, 90 hospital survey items were grouped into 5 factors, according to their collinearity: "Interventional cardiology", "Cardiovascular surgery", "Pediatric cardiology", "Electrophysiology" and "Cardiac rehabilitation". Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between these factors and mortality. The 30-day mortality was 8.0%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed the "Pediatric cardiology" (odds ratio (OR) 0.677, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.628-0.729, P<0.0001), "Electrophysiology" (OR 0.876, 95% CI: 0.832-0.923, P<0.0001), and "Cardiac rehabilitation" (OR 0.832, 95% CI: 0.792-0.873, P<0.0001) factors were associated with lower mortality. In contrast, "Interventional cardiology" (OR 1.167, 95% CI: 1.070-1.272, P<0.0001) was associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital factors, including various cardiovascular therapeutic practices, may be associated with the early death of HF patients.

Current status of the management and outcomes of acute aortic dissection in Japan: Analyses of nationwide Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnostic Procedure Combination data.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and management, the mortality of acute aortic dissection remains high. This study aims to clarify the current status of the management and outcome of acute aortic dissection in Japan. METHODS: A total of 18,348 patients with acute aortic dissection (type A: 10,131, type B: 8217) in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases database between April 2012-March 2015 were studied. Characteristics, clinical presentation, management, and in-hospital outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Seasonal onset variation (autumn- and winter-dominant) was found in both types. More than 90% of patients underwent computed tomography for primary diagnosis. The overall in-hospital mortality of types A and B was 24.3% and 4.5%, respectively. The mortality in type A patients managed surgically was significantly lower than in those not receiving surgery (11.8% (799/6788) vs 49.7% (1663/3343); p<0.001). The number of cases managed endovascularly in type B increased 2.2-fold during the period, and although not statistically significant, the mortality gradually decreased (5.2% to 4.1%, p=0.49). Type A showed significantly longer length of hospitalization (median 28 days) and more than five times higher medical costs (6.26 million Japanese yen) than those in type B. The mean Barthel index at discharge was favorable in both type A (89.0±22.6) and type B (92.6±19.0). More than two-thirds of type A patients and nearly 90% of type B patients were directly discharged home. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study elucidated the clinical features and outcomes in contemporary patients with acute aortic dissections in real-world clinical practice in Japan.

Sex differences in Japanese patients with ruptured aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the sex differences in clinical presentation and outcomes of Japanese patients with ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA) using a large nationwide claims-based database in Japan. METHODS: We identified patients hospitalized in certified teaching hospitals in Japan with rAA between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2015. Patients' characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between men and women. The Barthel index was used for evaluating functional status at discharge by examining the ability to perform basic daily activities. RESULTS: Of 7086 eligible patients, 32.3% (2291/7086) were women. Women were older than men (81.9 years vs 76.1 years; P < .001), had higher prevalence of coma at admission (33.2% vs 25.2%; P < .001), and were less likely to undergo emergency operation including endovascular aneurysm repair (35.7% vs 51.1%; P < .001). The unadjusted mortality rate (62.5% vs 52.0%; P < .001) and Barthel index at discharge (78.7 vs 86.1; P < .001) were significantly worse in women than in men. However, multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analyses showed that female sex itself was not an independent predictor for in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-1.04; P = .17). Older age, coma at admission, and vasopressor use were detected as independent predictors for in-hospital death. The same results were confirmed for each rupture site. Stratified analyses showed that older women (threshold, 80 years; OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98; P = .028) and those who underwent emergency operation (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.93; P = .009) showed significantly better outcomes than men. CONCLUSIONS: In a univariate analysis, female patients with rAA showed worse mortality than men because of their older age, more severe clinical presentation, and low emergency operation rate. However, after adjustment for covariates, female sex itself was not associated with increased mortality.