Outcomes With Ultrafiltration Among Hospitalized Patients With Acute Heart Failure (from the National Inpatient Sample).

Acute heart failure (HF) management is a complex and often involves a delicate balance of both cardiac and renal systems. Although pharmacologic diuresis is a mainstay of the pharmacologic management of decompensated HF, ultrafiltration (UF) represents a nonpharmacologic approach in the setting of diuretic resistance. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009 through 2014 hospitalization data from the National Inpatient Sample. The study population consisted of hospitalizations with a discharge Diagnosis Related Groups of HF who were older than 18 years of age, did not have end-stage kidney disease, acute kidney injury and had not undergone hemodialysis or hemofiltration. There were 6,174 hospitalizations which included UF among the 7,799,915 hospitalizations for HF. Hospitalizations which included UF were among patients significantly younger in age (68.1 ± 1.0 vs 73.8 ± 0.1 years), male (61.9% vs 47.7%), and with higher prevalence of co-morbid conditions including chronic kidney disease (58% vs 31%), diabetes mellitus (53% vs 42%), and higher rates of co-morbidity (Charlson comorbidity score ≥2, 92% vs 80%). All-cause mortality was significantly higher among hospitalizations which included an UF (4.68% vs 2.24%). Hospitalizations with UF had a longer mean length of stay (6.2 vs 4.3 days, p <0.01) average total charges ($42,035 vs 24,867 USD, p <0.01) as compared with those without UF. Hospitalizations with UF were associated with a greater adjusted odds of all-cause mortality (odds ratio: 3.36, [95% confidence interval 1.76,6.40]), greater than DRG-level target length of stay (odds ratio, 2.46; [95 confidence interval 1.65,3.67]), and a 72% increase in the average hospital charges. In conclusion, hospitalizations which included UF identified a subgroup of HF patients with more co-morbid conditions who are at higher risk of mortality and increased resource burden in terms of length of stay and costs. These findings also highlight that the need for UF may identify patients who are most likely to benefit from a multidisciplinary cardiorenal approach to alter the trajectory of their disease.

Etiologies, predictors, and economic impact of readmission within 1 month among patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on readmission among patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), a commonly reversible cause of heart failure. HYPOTHESIS: We sought to identify etiologies and predictors for readmission among TC patients. METHODS: We queried the National Readmissions Database for 2013-2014 to identify patients with primary admission for TC using ICD-9-CM code 429.83. Patients readmitted to hospital within 1 month after discharge were further evaluated to identify etiologies, predictors, and resultant economic burden of readmission. Additionally, we analyzed readmission for TC at 6 months. RESULTS: We studied 5997 patients admitted with TC, of whom 1.2% experienced in-hospital mortality. Median age was 67 years, with 91.5% being female. Among survivors, 10.3% were readmitted within 1 month; 25% of the initial 1-month readmissions occurred within 4 days, 50% within 10 days, and 75% within 20 days from discharge. The most common etiologies for readmission were cardiac (26%), respiratory (16%), and gastrointestinal (11%) causes. Heart failure was the most common cardiac etiology. Significant predictors of increased 1-month readmission included systemic thromboembolic events, length of stay ≥3 days, and underlying psychoses. Obesity and private insurance predicted lower 1-month readmission. The annual national cost impact for index admission and 1-month readmissions was ≈$112 million. Recurrent TC was seen among 1.9% of patients readmitted within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Though the overall rate of 1-month readmission following TC is low, associated economic burden from readmission is still significant. Patients are readmitted mostly for noncardiac causes. Readmission for another episode of TC within 6 months was uncommon.

Etiologies, Predictors, and Economic Impact of 30-Day Readmissions Among Patients With Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a pregnancy-associated cause of heart failure. Given the significant impact of heart failure on healthcare, we sought to identify etiologies and predictive factors for readmission in PPCM. We queried the 2013 to 2014 National Readmissions Database to identify patients admitted with a diagnosis of PPCM. Patients who were readmitted within 30 days were evaluated to identify etiologies and predictors of readmission. We identified 6,977 index admissions with PPCM. Of the 6,880 (98.6%) patients who survived the index hospitalization, 30-day readmission rate was 13%. Seventy-six percent of readmitted patients were admitted once, and the other 24% were readmitted at least twice within 30 days of discharge. Length of stay was ≥8 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08 to 3.77), multiparity (aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.92), coronary artery disease (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.67), and long-term anticoagulation use (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.73 to 3.64) were independently associated with increased risk of 30-day readmission. Among the readmissions, 48% were due to cardiac causes, where PPCM and related complications (24%) were the most common cardiac cause followed by heart failure (16%). The annual cost of stay for index admissions was $64.2 million (average cost for index admission was $16,892). The annual charges attributed to readmission within 30 days were ≈$9 million. Cardiac etiologies were the most common cause for 30-day readmissions in PPCM patients, with a readmission rate of 13%. Long-term anticoagulation use, multiparity, coronary disease and length of stay predicted higher 30-day readmission.