Cardiogenic Shock in Older Adults: A Focus on Age-Associated Risks and Approach to Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Cardiogenic shock continues to portend poor outcomes, conferring short-term mortality rates of 30% to 50% despite recent scientific advances. Age is a nonmodifiable risk factor for mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock and is often considered in the decision-making process for eligibility for various therapies. Older adults have been largely excluded from analyses of therapeutic options in patients with cardiogenic shock. As a result, despite the association of advanced age with worse outcomes, focused strategies in the assessment and management of cardiogenic shock in this high-risk and growing population are lacking. Individual programs oftentimes develop upper age limits for various interventional strategies for their patients, including heart transplantation and durable left ventricular assist devices. However, age as a lone parameter should not be used to guide individual patient management decisions in cardiogenic shock. In the assessment of risk in older adults with cardiogenic shock, a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach is central to developing best practices. In this American Heart Association scientific statement, we aim to summarize our contemporary understanding of the epidemiology, risk assessment, and in-hospital approach to management of cardiogenic shock, with a unique focus on older adults.

Principles for Health Information Collection, Sharing, and Use: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

The evolution of the electronic health record, combined with advances in data curation and analytic technologies, increasingly enables data sharing and harmonization. Advances in the analysis of health-related and health-proxy information have already accelerated research discoveries and improved patient care. This American Heart Association policy statement discusses how broad data sharing can be an enabling driver of progress by providing data to develop, test, and benchmark innovative methods, scalable insights, and potential new paradigms for data storage and workflow. Along with these advances come concerns about the sensitive nature of some health data, equity considerations about the involvement of historically excluded communities, and the complex intersection of laws attempting to govern behavior. Data-sharing principles are therefore necessary across a wide swath of entities, including parties who collect health information, funders, researchers, patients, legislatures, commercial companies, and regulatory departments and agencies. This policy statement outlines some of the key equity and legal background relevant to health data sharing and responsible management. It then articulates principles that will guide the American Heart Association's engagement in public policy related to data collection, sharing, and use to continue to inform its work across the research enterprise, as well as specific examples of how these principles might be applied in the policy landscape. The goal of these principles is to improve policy to support the use or reuse of health information in ways that are respectful of patients and research participants, equitable in impact in terms of both risks and potential benefits, and beneficial across broad and demographically diverse communities in the United States.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Older Adult Population: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Diagnostic and therapeutic advances during the past decades have substantially improved health outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Both age-related physiological changes and accumulated cardiovascular risk factors increase the susceptibility to acute coronary syndrome over a lifetime. Compared with younger patients, outcomes for acute coronary syndrome in the large and growing demographic of older adults are relatively worse. Increased atherosclerotic plaque burden and complexity of anatomic disease, compounded by age-related cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbid conditions, contribute to the worse prognosis observed in older individuals. Geriatric syndromes, including frailty, multimorbidity, impaired cognitive and physical function, polypharmacy, and other complexities of care, can undermine the therapeutic efficacy of guidelines-based treatments and the resiliency of older adults to survive and recover, as well. In this American Heart Association scientific statement, we (1) review age-related physiological changes that predispose to acute coronary syndrome and management complexity; (2) describe the influence of commonly encountered geriatric syndromes on cardiovascular disease outcomes; and (3) recommend age-appropriate and guideline-concordant revascularization and acute coronary syndrome management strategies, including transitions of care, the use of cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care services, and holistic approaches. The primacy of individualized risk assessment and patient-centered care decision-making is highlighted throughout.

Early postpartum blood pressure screening is associated with increased detection of cardiovascular risk factors in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, are risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Guidelines recommend that women with HDP be screened for the development of hypertension (HTN) within 6-12 months postpartum. However, the extent to which this early blood pressure (BP) screening is being performed and the impact on detection of CV risk factors is unknown. METHODS: Women with HDP and without pre-existing hypertension (HTN) who had at least 6 months of clinical follow-up were categorized by postpartum BP screening status: early BP screen (6-12 months after delivery) or late BP screen (≥12 months after delivery). Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with early screening. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling examined the association between early screening and detection of incident CV risk factors: HTN, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus type 2, or hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: Among 4194 women with HDP, 1172 (28%) received early BP screening. Older age, pre-existing hyperlipidemia, diabetes, sickle cell disease, hypothyroidism, gestational diabetes, and delivery during or after 2014 were independently associated with early BP screening, whereas Hispanic ethnicity was associated with late BP screening. Early BP screening was most commonly performed at a primary care visit. After a median follow-up of 3.7 years, 1012 (24%) women had at least 1 new risk factor detected. Even after adjustment for baseline risk, women receiving early BP screening had a significantly higher rate of incident CV risk factor detection than women receiving late BP screening (56% vs 28%; adj. HR 2.70, 95%CI: 2.33-3.23, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Early postpartum BP screening was performed in a minority of women with HDP, but was associated with greater detection of CV risk factors. More intensive postpartum CV screening and targeted interventions are needed to optimize CV health in this high-risk population of women with HDP.

Effect of Thromboprophylaxis on Clinical Outcomes After COVID-19 Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have an increased incidence of thromboembolism. The role of extended thromboprophylaxis after hospital discharge is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether anticoagulation is superior to placebo in reducing death and thromboembolic complications among patients discharged after COVID-19 hospitalization. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04650087). SETTING: Done during 2021 to 2022 among 127 U.S. hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 18 years or older hospitalized with COVID-19 for 48 hours or more and ready for discharge, excluding those with a requirement for, or contraindication to, anticoagulation. INTERVENTION: 2.5 mg of apixaban versus placebo twice daily for 30 days. MEASUREMENTS: The primary efficacy end point was a 30-day composite of death, arterial thromboembolism, and venous thromboembolism. The primary safety end points were 30-day major bleeding and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. RESULTS: Enrollment was terminated early, after 1217 participants were randomly assigned, because of a lower than anticipated event rate and a declining rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Median age was 54 years, 50.4% were women, 26.5% were Black, and 16.7% were Hispanic; 30.7% had a World Health Organization severity score of 5 or greater, and 11.0% had an International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism risk prediction score of greater than 4. Incidence of the primary end point was 2.13% (95% CI, 1.14 to 3.62) in the apixaban group and 2.31% (CI, 1.27 to 3.84) in the placebo group. Major bleeding occurred in 2 (0.4%) and 1 (0.2%) and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding occurred in 3 (0.6%) and 6 (1.1%) apixaban-treated and placebo-treated participants, respectively. By day 30, thirty-six (3.0%) participants were lost to follow-up, and 8.5% of apixaban and 11.9% of placebo participants permanently discontinued the study drug treatment. LIMITATIONS: The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines decreased the risk for hospitalization and death. Study enrollment spanned the peaks of the Delta and Omicron variants in the United States, which influenced illness severity. CONCLUSION: The incidence of death or thromboembolism was low in this cohort of patients discharged after hospitalization with COVID-19. Because of early enrollment termination, the results were imprecise and the study was inconclusive. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institutes of Health.

Comparing the Classification of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions Using the 2012 and 2017 Appropriate Use Criteria: Insights From 245,196 Patients in the NCDR CathPCI Registry.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate use criteria (AUC) have been developed to promote the rational use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among clinicians and to provide benchmarking feedback to hospitals. The original AUC were published in 2012 and subsequently updated in 2017 to reflect emerging, contemporary evidence however the degree to which the updated guidance re-classifies PCI appropriateness is unknown. METHODS: Elective PCI cases from March 1, 2018 until June 30, 2021 were identified from within the NCDR CathPCI database. PCI cases were classified as 'appropriate,' 'uncertain' or 'inappropriate' under 2012 AUC and 'appropriate,' 'may be appropriate' or 'rarely appropriate' under 2017 AUC; those with missing data elements were termed 'not mappable.' Groups that 'remained appropriate' (appropriate in both 2012 and 2017), 'became non-appropriate' ('appropriate' in 2012 but became either 'may be appropriate' or 'rarely appropriate in 2017) and 'became appropriate' ('appropriate' in 2017 but were 'uncertain' or 'inappropriate' in 2012) were descriptively compared. Concordance was assessed by calculation of Cohen's Kappa. RESULTS: A total of 245,196 patients underwent elective PCI across 1669 centers. By 2012 AUC, 44% were classified 'appropriate,' 28% were 'uncertain' and 16% were 'inappropriate' compared with 2017 AUC which considered 34% 'appropriate', 56% may be 'appropriate' and 4% 'rarely appropriate'. Overall fair agreement was observed with a Kappa statistic of 0.40 (95%CI 0.396-0.403). Compared with PCI that 'remained appropriate' under the 2017 AUC, PCI that 'became non-appropriate' in 2017 were more likely to be asymptomatic, less likely to be on anti-anginals and less likely to have complex lesions. Compared with PCI that 'became non-appropriate', PCI that 'became appropriate' had a higher proportion of atypical and non-anginal symptoms and were less likely to have had positive functional tests. Procedural related outcomes were similar across all groups. A total of 29 429 PCI (12.0%) were not mappable by 2012 AUC while 16 077 (6.6%) were not mappable by 2017 AUC. CONCLUSIONS: In this contemporary analysis of patients undergoing PCI in the United States, only fair agreement between the 2012 and updated 2017 AUC was observed. While some of this reflects the intention of the updated guidance, the large proportion that were considered 'maybe appropriate' or who 'became non-appropriate' reflect the difficulties of documenting and implementing contemporary AUC guidance.

Variation in resource utilization and mortality among patients with varying MR type and severity.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists regarding the relationships between resource use and outcomes in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). We examined resource utilization and outcomes across MR type and severity. METHODS: Using the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory Database, we identified patients with an index echo demonstrating moderate or severe MR (2000-2016) and examined 5-year cumulative rates of resources (ie, TTE, TEE, cardiac catheterization, cardiology/CTS referral, MV surgery/TEER, hospitalizations) by severity and type. We performed a multivariable landmark analysis of resource use during a 6 to 12 month period and 5-year mortality; and a multivariable analysis of the association between MR type and 5-year hospitalization costs. RESULTS: Among 4,511 patients with moderate or severe MR, 84.7% had moderate MR and 42.2% had secondary ischemic MR. The median age was 70 years-moderate, 66 years-severe. The mean 5-year cumulative resource utilization rate was 11.1 encounters/patients. Among patients with moderate or severe MR, there was significant variation in utilization of each resource by MR type (all P < .05). For severe MR, the performance of cardiac catheterization or MV surgery during the landmark period was associated with significantly lower mortality; for moderate MR, CTS referral during the landmark was associated with significantly lower mortality (P < .05). Patients with secondary ischemic and non-ischemic MR had significantly higher 5-year hospitalization costs compared with primary myxomatous MR (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Resource utilization and outcomes vary by MR type and severity. Utilization of resources, such as TTE, during guideline-recommended surveillance periods was not associated with a reduction in mortality while other care (catheterization or surgery) was associated with improved survival.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Presentation and Outcomes for Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: Findings From the American Heart Association's COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed longstanding racial and ethnic inequities in health risks and outcomes in the United States. We aimed to identify racial and ethnic differences in presentation and outcomes for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS: The American Heart Association COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry is a retrospective observational registry capturing consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We present data on the first 7868 patients by race/ethnicity treated at 88 hospitals across the United States between January 17, 2020, and July 22, 2020. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure) and COVID-19 cardiorespiratory ordinal severity score (worst to best: death, cardiac arrest, mechanical ventilation with mechanical circulatory support, mechanical ventilation with vasopressors/inotrope support, mechanical ventilation without hemodynamic support, and hospitalization alone. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between race/ethnicity and each outcome adjusting for differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and presentation features, and accounting for clustering by hospital. RESULTS: Among 7868 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 33.0% were Hispanic, 25.5% were non-Hispanic Black, 6.3% were Asian, and 35.2% were non-Hispanic White. Hispanic and Black patients were younger than non-Hispanic White and Asian patients and were more likely to be uninsured. Black patients had the highest prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Black patients also had the highest rates of mechanical ventilation (23.2%) and renal replacement therapy (6.6%) but the lowest rates of remdesivir use (6.1%). Overall mortality was 18.4% with 53% of all deaths occurring in Black and Hispanic patients. The adjusted odds ratios for mortality were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.76-1.14) for Black patients, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.73-1.11) for Hispanic patients, and 1.31 (95% CI, 0.96-1.80) for Asian patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients. The median odds ratio across hospitals was 1.99 (95% CI, 1.74-2.48). Results were similar for major adverse cardiovascular events. Asian patients had the highest COVID-19 cardiorespiratory severity at presentation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.16-1.90]). CONCLUSIONS: Although in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ by race/ethnicity after adjustment, Black and Hispanic patients bore a greater burden of mortality and morbidity because of their disproportionate representation among COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Sex disparities in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether there is equitable distribution across sexes of treatment and outcomes for aortic valve replacement (AVR), via surgical (SAVR) or transcatheter (TAVR) methods, in symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (ssAS) patients. METHODS: Using de-identified data, we identified 43,822 patients with ssAS (2008-2016). Multivariate competing risk models were used to determine the likelihood of any AVR, while accounting for the competing risk of death. Association between sex and 1-year mortality, stratified by AVR status, was evaluated using multivariate Cox regression models with AVR as a time-dependent variable. RESULTS: Among patients with ssAS, 20,986 (47.9%) were female. Females were older (median age 81 vs. 78, P<0.001), more likely to have body mass index <20 (8.5% vs. 3.5%), and home oxygen use (4.4% vs. 3.4%, P<0001 for all). Overall, 12,129 (27.7%) patients underwent AVR for ssAS. Females were less likely to undergo AVR compared with males (24.1% vs. 31.0%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-0.83), but when treated, were more likely to undergo TAVR (37.9% vs. 30.9%, adjusted HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.15-1.27). Untreated females and males had similarly high rates of mortality at 1 year (31.1% vs. 31.3%, adjusted HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94-1.03). Among those undergoing AVR, females had significantly higher mortality (10.2% vs. 9.4%, adjusted HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.41), driven by increased SAVR-associated mortality (9.0% vs. 7.6%, adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.69). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment rates for ssAS patients remain suboptimal with disparities in female treatment.

Association between intensive care unit utilization for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and patient experience.

Routine intensive care unit (ICU) utilization for patients with initially stable non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction is not associated with improved short- or long-term patient outcomes; however, the association with patient experience has not been reported. Using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient survey data linked to ICU use data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry, we found no association between hospital-level ICU utilization and metrics of patient experience, including communication, staff responsiveness, and overall satisfaction.

Relationship Between Operator Volume and Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies show an inverse association between operator procedural volume and short-term adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the association between procedural volume and longer-term outcomes is unknown. METHODS: Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI registry data linked with Medicare claims data, we examined the association between operator PCI volume and long-term outcomes among patients ≥65 years of age. Operators were stratified by average annual PCI volume (counting PCIs performed in patients of all ages): low- (<50 PCIs), intermediate- (50-100), and high- (>100) volume operators. One-year unadjusted rates of death and major adverse coronary events (MACEs; defined as death, readmission for myocardial infarction, or unplanned coronary revascularization) were calculated with Kaplan-Meier methods. The proportional hazards assumption was not met, and risk-adjusted associations between operator volume and outcomes were calculated separately from the time of PCI to hospital discharge and from hospital discharge to 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, 723 644 PCI procedures were performed by 8936 operators: 2553 high-, 2878 intermediate-, and 3505 low-volume operators. Compared with high- and intermediate-volume operators, low-volume operators more often performed emergency PCI, and their patients had fewer cardiovascular comorbidities. Over 1-year follow-up, 15.9% of patients treated by low-volume operators had a MACE compared with 16.9% of patients treated by high-volume operators ( P=0.004). After multivariable adjustment, intermediate- and high-volume operators had a significantly lower rate of in-hospital death than low-volume operators (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.96 for intermediate versus low; odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75-0.83 for high versus low). There were no significant differences in rates of MACEs, death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization between operator cohorts from hospital discharge to 1-year follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio for MACEs, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.96-1.01 for intermediate versus low; hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.04 for high versus low). CONCLUSIONS: Unadjusted 1-year outcomes after PCI were worse for older adults treated by operators with higher annual volume; however, patients treated by these operators had more cardiovascular comorbidities. After risk adjustment, higher operator volume was associated with lower in-hospital mortality and no difference in postdischarge MACEs.

Beliefs, risk perceptions, and lipid management among patients with and without diabetes: Results from the PALM registry.

Intensive lipid management is critical to reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We performed an observational study of 7628 patients with (n = 2943) and without DM (n = 4685), enrolled in the Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) registry and treated at 140 outpatient clinics across the United States in 2015. Patient self-estimated CV risk, patient-perceived statin benefit and risk, observed statin therapy use and dosing were assessed. RESULTS: Patients with DM were more likely to believe that their CV risk was elevated compared with patients without DM (39.1% vs 29.3%, P < .001). Patients with DM were more likely to receive a statin (74.2% vs 63.5%, P < .001) but less likely to be treated with guideline-recommended statin intensity (36.5% vs 46.9%, P < .001), driven by the low proportion (16.5%) of high risk (ASCVD risk ≥7.5%) primary prevention DM patients treated with a high intensity statin. Patients with DM treated with guideline-recommended statin intensity were more likely to believe they were at high CV risk (44.9% vs 38.4%, P = .005) and that statins can reduce this risk (41.1% vs 35.6%, P = .02), compared with patients treated with lower than guideline-recommended statin intensity. Compared with patients with an elevated HgbA1c, patients with well-controlled DM were no more likely to be on a statin (77.9% vs 79.3%, P = .43). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide study, the majority of patients with DM were treated with lower than guideline-recommended statin intensity. Patient education and engagement may help providers improve lipid therapy for these high-risk patients.

Rationale and design of PROACT Xa: A randomized, multicenter, open-label, clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apixaban versus warfarin in patients with a mechanical On-X Aortic Heart Valve.

Vitamin K antagonists are the only approved oral anticoagulants for long-term prophylaxis against valve thrombosis and thromboembolism in patients with a mechanical heart valve. Despite the proven efficacy and safety of anticoagulation with the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor apixaban compared with warfarin in high-risk populations including subjects with atrial fibrillation or with venous thromboembolism, it remains unknown whether patients with a mechanical heart valve can be safely managed with apixaban. The On-X Aortic Heart Valve and On-X Ascending Aortic Prosthesis with the Vascutek Gelweave Valsalva Graft may have lower rates of valve thrombosis and thromboembolism than conventional bileaflet and tilting disc valves due its unique pyrolytic carbon composition and flared inlet design. DESIGN: PROACT Xa is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial comparing apixaban with warfarin in patients with an On-X Aortic Heart Valve or On-X Ascending Aortic Prosthesis with the Vascutek Gelweave Valsalva Graft. The study will randomize approximately 1,000 patients from approximately 60 sites in North America who underwent aortic valve replacement at least 3 months prior. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receiving apixaban 5 mg twice daily or warfarin with a target international normalized ratio of 2.0-3.0. The last randomized participant will be followed for at least 2 years. The primary efficacy outcome is the composite of valve thrombosis and valve-related thromboembolism, and the primary safety outcome is major bleeding. Assuming the primary outcome occurs in warfarin-anticoagulated patients at a rate of 1.75%/patient-year, the study has more than 90% power to assess noninferiority of apixaban treatment with an absolute noninferiority margin of 1.75%/patient-year. A second co-primary analysis is to compare the hazard rate for the apixaban arm to twice the objective performance criterion for thromboembolism and valve thrombosis, that is, 3.4%/patient-year. SUMMARY: PROACT Xa will determine whether patients with an On-X Aortic Heart Valve can be anticoagulated with apixaban as an alternative to warfarin.

Hospital Variation in Adherence Rates to Secondary Prevention Medications and the Implications on Quality.

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence is important to improve the long-term outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that there is significant variation among US hospitals in terms of medication adherence after MI, and that patients treated at hospitals with higher medication adherence after MI will have better long-term cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We identified 19 704 Medicare patients discharged after acute MI from 347 US hospitals participating in the ACTION Registry-GWTG (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With the Guidelines) from January 2, 2007, to October 1, 2010. Using linked Medicare Part D prescription filling data, medication adherence was defined as proportion of days covered >80% within 90 days after discharge. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to compare 2-year major adverse cardiovascular events among hospitals with high, moderate, and low 90-day medication adherence. RESULTS: By 90 days after MI, overall rates of adherence to medications prescribed at discharge were 68% for ß-blockers, 63% for statins, 64% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and 72% for thienopyridines. Adherence to these medications up to 90 days varied significantly among hospitals: ß-blockers (proportion of days covered >80%; 59% to 75%), statins (55% to 69%), thienopyridines (64% to 77%), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (57% to 69%). Compared with hospitals in the lowest quartile of 90-day composite medication adherence, hospitals with the highest adherence had lower unadjusted and adjusted 2-year major adverse cardiovascular event risk (27.5% versus 35.3%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.96). High-adherence hospitals also had lower adjusted rates of death or readmission (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.96), whereas there was no difference in mortality after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Use of secondary prevention medications after discharge varies significantly among US hospitals and is inversely associated with 2-year outcomes. Hospitals may improve medication adherence after discharge and patient outcomes through better coordination of care between inpatient and outpatient settings.

Ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease: A report from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be performed in the same procedure as diagnostic coronary angiography (ad hoc PCI). This study aimed to evaluate current rates of ad hoc PCI use and associated risks of adverse outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We identified 550,742 patients with stable CAD who underwent PCI in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry from 2009 to 2017. We compared in-hospital bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI), and mortality between patients receiving ad hoc versus non-ad hoc PCI using logistic regression with inverse probability weighted propensity adjustment. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2017, 82.9% of patients underwent ad hoc PCI. Patients who did not undergo ad hoc PCI had higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery bypass graft. Ad hoc PCI was associated with lower bleeding risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.79-0.87) but no differences in risks of AKI (aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-1.00) or mortality (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 0.97-1.23) compared with non-ad hoc PCI. Ad hoc PCI was associated with AKI risk in patients with glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min (interaction P < .001), mortality risk in multivessel PCI (interaction P = .031), and risks of AKI and mortality in PCI of chronic total occlusions (interaction P = .045 and .002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ad hoc PCI is extremely common among US patients with stable CAD and is associated with lower bleeding risk but no differences in risks of AKI or mortality compared with non-ad hoc PCI.

Current landscape of hybrid revascularization: A report from the NCDR CathPCI Registry.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid revascularization, combining percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), may be used differently across hospitals. How outcomes compare with multivessel PCI is unknown. METHODS: We studied hybrid revascularization use in patients in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry from 2009 to 2017 who underwent PCI for multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) at 711 hospitals, excluding patients with prior CABG, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, emergency/salvage CABG, or PCI without stent placement. In-hospital mortality associated with hybrid revascularization versus multivessel PCI was compared using a multivariable logistic model. RESULTS: Among 775,000 patients with multivessel CAD, 1,126 (0.2%) underwent hybrid revascularization and 256,865 (33%) were treated with multivessel PCI. Although 358 (50.4%) hospitals performed hybrid revascularizations, most (97.3%) performed <1 per year. Most patients (68.7%) treated with hybrid revascularization underwent CABG after PCI; only 79.4% of these patients were discharged on P2Y12 inhibitors. Patients who underwent hybrid revascularization were younger and more likely to have significant left main or proximal left anterior descending disease. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality rates were higher among patients treated with hybrid revascularization than multivessel PCI (1.5% vs 0.9%, P = .02), a difference that was not significant after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.92-2.59). CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid revascularization remains an infrequently used treatment modality for multivessel CAD. Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was no different between hybrid revascularization and multivessel PCI; however, patients who underwent hybrid revascularization were less likely to be discharged on P2Y12 inhibitor therapy despite stent implantation.

The association of pre- and posthospital medication adherence in myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to optimal medical therapy following myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as stent thrombosis, recurrent cardiovascular events, and death. Whether adherence to medications prior to MI predicts post-MI medication adherence is unknown. METHODS: We assessed adherence to P2Y12 inhibitors and statins before and after admission for MI among 8,147 MI patients who had Medicare insurance with Part D prescription coverage. Adherence was defined as a proportion of days covered with medication fills ≥80%. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between pre- and post-MI P2Y12 inhibitor adherence. As few patients were on P2Y12 inhibitors pre-MI, we also examined the association of pre-MI statin adherence with post-MI P2Y12 inhibitor and statin adherence. RESULTS: Pre-MI medication nonadherence was observed in 427 of 2,633 (16%) patients on preadmission P2Y12 inhibitors and 1,233 of 6,934 (18%) patients on preadmission statins. Nonadherent patients were more likely to be of nonwhite race and have multiple prior hospital admissions. Patients who were nonadherent to P2Y12 inhibitors pre-MI were substantially less likely to adhere to P2Y12 inhibitors at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.33, 95% CI 0.25-0.43) and 1 year post-MI (adjusted OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.21-0.39) compared with patients who were adherent pre-MI. Pre-MI statin nonadherence was also associated with lower post-MI adherence to P2Y12 inhibitors at 90 days (adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.79) and 1 year (adjusted OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.29-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Prior medication adherence predicts post-MI adherence to P2Y12 inhibitors. Increasing accessibility of medication adherence data in the medical record may be an important tool to identify patients at higher risk for post-MI medication nonadherence and target efforts to improve adherence.

Racial differences in long-term outcomes among black and white patients with drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: Some studies suggest that black patients may have worse outcomes after drug-eluting stent (DES) placement. There are limited data characterizing long-term outcomes by race. The objective was to compare long-term outcomes between black and white patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES implantation. METHODS: We analyzed 915 black and 3,559 white (n = 4,474) consecutive patients who underwent DES placement at Duke University Medical Center from 2005 through 2013. Over 6-year follow up, we compared rates of myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, revascularization, and major bleeding between black and white patients. A multivariable Cox regression model was fit to adjust for potentially confounding variables. Dual-antiplatelet therapy use over time was determined by patient follow-up surveys and compared by race. RESULTS: Black patients were younger; were more often female; had higher body mass indexes; had more diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and renal disease; and had lower median household incomes than white patients (P < .001). At 6 years after DES placement, black relative to white patients had higher unadjusted rates of MI (12.1% vs 10.1%, hazard ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.57, P = .05) and major bleeding (17.8% vs 14.3%, hazard ratio 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.54, P = .01), but there were no significant differences in other outcomes. After multivariable adjustment, there were no statistically significant racial differences in any of these outcomes at 6 years. Similarly, dual-antiplatelet therapy use was comparable between racial groups. CONCLUSIONS: Unadjusted rates of MI and major bleeding over long-term follow up were higher among black patients compared to white patients, but these differences may be explained by racial differences in comorbid disease.

Hospital participation in clinical trials for patients with acute myocardial infarction: Results from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the proportion of hospitals in the United States that offer clinical trial enrollment opportunities and how patient outcomes differ between hospitals that do and do not participate in clinical trials. METHODS: In the nationwide Chest Pain-MI registry, we described the proportion of hospitals that enrolled patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical trials from 2009 to 2014. Hospital-level adherence to every eligible MI performance measure was compared between hospitals that did and did not enroll patients in clinical trials. Using linked Medicare data, we also compared 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: death, MI, heart failure, or stroke) among patients ≥65 years old treated at trial versus nontrial hospitals. RESULTS: Among 766 hospitals, 430 (56.1%) enrolled ≥1 MI patient in a clinical trial during the study period, but the proportion of hospitals enrolling patients in clinical trials declined from 36.8% in 2009 to 26.6% in 2014. Complete adherence to performance measures was delivered to a greater proportion of patients at trial hospitals than nontrial hospitals (72.6% vs 64.9%, P < .001; adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.12). One-year MACE rates were also lower for trial hospitals (adjusted HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals are becoming less likely to engage in clinical trials for patients with MI. Patients admitted to hospitals that participated in clinical trials more often received guideline-adherent care and had better long-term outcomes.

Practice-level variation in statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control in the United States: Results from the Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) registry.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to guideline-recommended statin recommendations in the United States is suboptimal. Patients' likelihood to be treated according to guidelines may vary by the practice in which they are treated. METHODS: Variation in the use of statin therapy in 5445 patients, with known or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and meeting a statin treatment indication, was examined across 74 US Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) Registry clinics. Multivariable generalized linear mixed modeling was used to determine the median odds ratio (MOR) for statin use and 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline-recommended statin intensity by practice. MOR quantifies between-practice variation by comparing the odds of receiving guideline-recommended statin treatment in a patient from a randomly selected practice with a similar patient from another random practice. Risk-adjusted low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control (<100 and <70 mg/dL) was compared among practice tertiles based on percentage of eligible patients receiving recommended statin intensity. RESULTS: Among 74 practices (43.2% cardiology) comprised of 300 healthcare providers enrolling 5445 patients (56.2% with ASCVD), statin use at the guideline-recommended intensity at practices varied widely (12.7-71.4%; adjusted MOR 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.64). Results were consistent when evaluated for any statin use overall (adjusted MOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.48-1.99) and when stratified by primary versus secondary prevention patients. Relative to practices with lowest or mid-tertile statin use of statins, highest tertile clinics were more frequently cardiology practices (68.0% vs 48.0% vs 12.5%, P < .001). Compared with lowest tertile clinics, patients at highest tertile clinics were more likely to achieve LDL-C <70 mg/dL (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.04) and <100 mg/dL (adjusted OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.41-2.25). CONCLUSIONS: US clinics varied widely in their adherence to guideline recommendations for statin therapy, which contributed to significant differences in LDL-C levels.