Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Rare Complication of Acute Hepatitis E Infection.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an aggressive hematological disorder caused by uncontrolled activation of cytotoxic T-cells (CTL), natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages leading to hyperinflammation and cytokine storm. The clinical course is characterized by high-grade fever, cytopenia, and multiorgan dysfunction. HLH is classified as either primary/familial or secondary, the latter being most often triggered by infections, malignancies, and autoimmune disorders. Viral infections are commonly known to cause HLH with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza virus, adenovirus, and parvovirus being most often implicated. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has infrequently been reported to cause HLH with less than five cases being reported in the literature. We report a case of a young man who presented with hepatitis E-associated HLH.

Real-world evaluation of an algorithmic machine-learning-guided testing approach in stable chest pain: a multinational, multicohort study.

Aims: An algorithmic strategy for anatomical vs. functional testing in suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) (Anatomical vs. Stress teSting decIsion Support Tool; ASSIST) is associated with better outcomes than random selection. However, in the real world, this decision is rarely random. We explored the agreement between a provider-driven vs. simulated algorithmic approach to cardiac testing and its association with outcomes across multinational cohorts. Methods and results: In two cohorts of functional vs. anatomical testing in a US hospital health system [Yale; 2013-2023; n = 130 196 (97.0%) vs. n = 4020 (3.0%), respectively], and the UK Biobank [n = 3320 (85.1%) vs. n = 581 (14.9%), respectively], we examined outcomes stratified by agreement between the real-world and ASSIST-recommended strategies. Younger age, female sex, Black race, and diabetes history were independently associated with lower odds of ASSIST-aligned testing. Over a median of 4.9 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.4-7.1) and 5.4 (IQR: 2.6-8.8) years, referral to the ASSIST-recommended strategy was associated with a lower risk of acute myocardial infarction or death (hazard ratioadjusted: 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-0.85, P < 0.001 and 0.74 [95% CI 0.60-0.90], P = 0.003, respectively), an effect that remained significant across years, test types, and risk profiles. In post hoc analyses of anatomical-first testing in the Prospective Multicentre Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain (PROMISE) trial, alignment with ASSIST was independently associated with a 17% and 30% higher risk of detecting CAD in any vessel or the left main artery/proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, respectively. Conclusion: In cohorts where historical practices largely favour functional testing, alignment with an algorithmic approach to cardiac testing defined by ASSIST was associated with a lower risk of adverse outcomes. This highlights the potential utility of a data-driven approach in the diagnostic management of CAD.

Medicare Coverage and Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs for Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Medications.

This cross-sectional study evaluates the association between Medicare coverage and patient out-of-pocket costs for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic medications.

Pragmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers About Treatment of Hyperlipidemia (PROMPT-LIPID): A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) is underutilized for very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. PROMPT-LIPID (PRagmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers about Treatment of HyperLIPIDemia) sought to determine whether electronic health record (EHR) alerts improve 90-day LLT intensification in patients with very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. METHODS: PROMPT-LIPID was a pragmatic trial in which cardiovascular and internal medicine clinicians within Yale New Haven Health (New Haven, CT) were cluster-randomized to receive an EHR alert with individualized LLT recommendations or no alert for outpatients with very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), ≥70 mg/dL. The primary outcome was 90-day LLT intensification (change to high-intensity statin and addition of ezetimibe or PCSK9i [proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors]). Secondary outcomes included LDL-C level, proportion of patients with LDL-C of <70 or < 55 mg/dL, rate of major adverse cardiovascular events, ED visit incidence, and 6-month mortality. Results were analyzed using logistic and linear regression clustered at the provider level. RESULTS: The no-alert group included 47 clinicians and 1370 patients (median age, 71 years; 50.1% female, median LDL-C, 93 mg/dL); the alert group included 49 clinicians and 1130 patients (median age, 72 years; 47% female, median LDL-C 91, mg/dL). The primary outcome was observed in 14.1% of patients in the alert group as compared with 10.4% in the no-alert group. There were no differences in any secondary outcomes at 6 months. Among 542 patients whose clinicians (n=46) did not dismiss the EHR alert recommendations, LLT intensification was significantly greater (21.2% versus 10.4%, odds ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.48-3.66]). CONCLUSIONS: With a real-time, targeted, individualized EHR alert as compared with usual care, the proportion of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with LLT intensification was numerically higher but not statistically significant. Among clinicians who did not dismiss the alert, there was a > 2-fold increase in LLT intensification. EHR alerts, coupled with strategies to reduce clinician dismissal, may help address persistent gaps in LDL-C management. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04394715, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04394715.

Optimizing Care Delivery in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States: Proceedings of a Multidisciplinary Roundtable Discussion and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 37 million individuals in the United States (US) have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD have a substantial morbidity and mortality, which contributes to a huge economic burden to the healthcare system. A limited number of clinical pathways or defined workflows exist for CKD care delivery in the US, primarily due to a lower prioritization of CKD care within health systems compared with other areas (e.g., cardiovascular disease [CVD], cancer screening). CKD is a public health crisis and by the year 2040, CKD will become the fifth leading cause of years of life lost. It is therefore critical to address these challenges to improve outcomes in patients with CKD. METHODS: The CKD Leaders Network conducted a virtual, 3 h, multidisciplinary roundtable discussion with eight subject-matter experts to better understand key factors impacting CKD care delivery and barriers across the US. A premeeting survey identified topics for discussion covering the screening, diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of CKD across the care continuum. Findings from this roundtable are summarized and presented herein. RESULTS: Universal challenges exist across health systems, including a lack of awareness amongst providers and patients, constrained care team bandwidth, inadequate financial incentives for early CKD identification, non-standardized diagnostic classification and triage processes, and non-centralized patient information. Proposed solutions include highlighting immediate and long-term financial implications linked with failure to identify and address at-risk individuals, identifying and managing early-stage CKD, enhancing efforts to support guideline-based education for providers and patients, and capitalizing on next-generation solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Payers and other industry stakeholders have opportunities to contribute to optimal CKD care delivery. Beyond addressing the inadequacies that currently exist, actionable tactics can be implemented into clinical practice to improve clinical outcomes in patients at risk for or diagnosed with CKD in the US.

Epidemiology and risk factors for hyperkalaemia in heart failure.

Patients with heart failure (HF), particularly those with impaired renal function receiving renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis), are at risk of hyperkalaemia; when hyperkalaemia is severe, this can have serious clinical consequences. The incidence, prevalence, and risk factors for hyperkalaemia reported in randomized trials of RAASis may not reflect clinical practice due to exclusion of patients with elevated serum potassium (sK+ ) or severe renal impairment: information on patients managed in routine clinical care is important to understanding the actual burden of hyperkalaemia. This paper reviews the available clinical epidemiology data on hyperkalaemia in HF and considers areas requiring further research. Observational studies published since 2017 that focused on hyperkalaemia, included patients with HF, and had ≥1000 participants were considered. Hyperkalaemia occurrence in HF varied widely from 7% to 39% depending on the setting, HF severity, follow-up length, and concomitant medications. Rates were lowest in patients with newly diagnosed HF and highest in patients with greater disease severity; comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes, and RAASi use, reflected commonly identified risk factors for hyperkalaemia in patients with HF. Hyperkalaemia was most often mild; however, from the limited data available, persistence of mild hyperkalaemia was associated with an increased risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. There were also limited data available on the progression of hyperkalaemia. Recurrence was common, occurring in one-quarter to two-fifths of hyperkalaemia cases. Despite HF guidelines recommending close monitoring of sK+ , 55-93% of patients did not receive appropriate testing before or after initiation of RAASi or in follow-up to moderate/severe hyperkalaemia detection. Many of the observational studies were retrospective and from a single country. There is a need for international, prospective, longitudinal, observational studies, such as the CARE-HK in HF study (NCT04864795), to understand hyperkalaemia's prevalence, incidence, and severity; to identify and characterize cases that persist, progress, and recur; to highlight the importance of sK+ monitoring when using RAASi; and to assess the impact of newer HF therapies and potassium binders in clinical practice. Data from both clinical trials and observational studies with adjustments for confounding variables will be needed to assess the contribution of hyperkalaemia to clinical outcomes.

Implications of Atrial Fibrillation for Guideline-Directed Therapy in Patients With Heart Failure: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common cardiovascular conditions that frequently coexist. Among patients with HF, more than one-half also have AF. Both are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the prevalence of each is increasing globally, and this trend is expected to continue owing to an aging population and increased life expectancy. Diagnosis of AF in a patient with HF is associated with greater symptom burden, more frequent hospitalizations, and a worse prognosis. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF can affect the incidence of AF. Once present, AF can influence the efficacy of some components of GDMT for HF. In this review, we discuss the effect of GDMT for HF across the spectrum of ejection fraction on prevention of AF as well as the benefit of GDMT in patients with vs without AF.

Heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction: A review of disease burden and remaining unmet medical needs within a new treatment landscape.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF), including its definition, diagnosis, and epidemiology; clinical, humanistic, and economic burdens; current pharmacologic landscape in key pharmaceutical markets; and unmet needs to identify key knowledge gaps. We conducted a targeted literature review in electronic databases and prioritized articles with valuable insights into HFmrEF/HFpEF. Overall, 27 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 66 real-world evidence studies, 18 clinical practice guidelines, and 25 additional publications were included. Although recent heart failure (HF) guidelines set left ventricular ejection fraction thresholds to differentiate categories, characterization and diagnosis criteria vary because of the incomplete disease understanding. Recent epidemiological data are limited and diverse. Approximately 50% of symptomatic HF patients have HFpEF, more common than HFmrEF. Prevalence varies with country because of differing definitions and study characteristics, making prevalence interpretation challenging. HFmrEF/HFpEF has considerable mortality risk, and the mortality rate varies with study and patient characteristics and treatments. HFmrEF/HFpEF is associated with considerable morbidity, poor patient outcomes, and common comorbidities. Patients require frequent hospitalizations; therefore, early intervention is crucial to prevent disease burden. Recent RCTs show promising results like risk reduction of composite cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization. Costs data are scarce, but the economic burden is increasing. Despite new drugs, unmet medical needs requiring new treatments remain. Thus, HFmrEF/HFpEF is a growing global healthcare concern. With improving yet incomplete understanding of this disease and its promising treatments, further research is required for better patient outcomes.

Bundled Payments for Care Improvement and Quality of Care and Outcomes in Heart Failure.

Importance: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) program was launched in 2013 with a goal to improve care quality while lowering costs to Medicare. Objective: To compare changes in the quality and outcomes of care for patients hospitalized with heart failure according to hospital participation in the BPCI program. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used a difference-in-difference approach to evaluate the BPCI program in 18 BPCI hospitals vs 211 same-state non-BPCI hospitals for various process-of-care measures and outcomes using American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry and CMS Medicare claims data from November 1, 2008, to August 31, 2018. Data were analyzed from May 2022 to May 2023. Exposures: Hospital participation in CMS BPCI Model 2 Heart Failure, which paid hospitals in a fee-for-service process and then shared savings or required reimbursement depending on how the total cost of an episode of care compared with a target price. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary end points included 7 quality-of-care measures. Secondary end points included 9 outcome measures, including in-hospital mortality and hospital-level risk-adjusted 30-day and 90-day all-cause readmission rate and mortality rate. Results: During the study period, 8721 patients were hospitalized in the 23 BPCI hospitals and 94 530 patients were hospitalized in the 224 same-state non-BPCI hospitals. Less than a third of patients (30 723 patients, 29.8%) were 75 years or younger; 54 629 (52.9%) were female, and 48 622 (47.1%) were male. Hospital participation in BPCI Model 2 was not associated with significant differential changes in the odds of various process-of-care measures, except for a decreased odds of evidence-based ß-blocker at discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = .04). Participation in the BPCI was not associated with a significant differential change in the odds of receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors at discharge, receiving an aldosterone antagonist at discharge, having a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)-defibrillator or CRT pacemaker placed or prescribed at discharge, having implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) counseling or an ICD placed or prescribed at discharge, heart failure education being provided among eligible patients, or having a follow-up visit within 7 days or less. Participation in the BPCI was associated with a significant decrease in odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.86; P = .002). Participation was not associated with a significant differential change in hospital-level risk-adjusted 30-day or 90-day all-cause readmission rate and 30-day or 90-day all-cause mortality rate. Conclusion and Relevance: In this study, hospital participation in the BPCI Model 2 Heart Failure program was not associated with improvement in process-of-care quality measures or 30-day or 90-day risk-adjusted all-cause mortality and readmission rates.

Addressing Structural Racism Through Public Policy Advocacy: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Heart Association created a new 2024 Impact Goal with health equity at its core, in recognition of the increasing health disparities in our country and the overwhelming evidence of the damaging effect of structural racism on cardiovascular and stroke health. Concurrent with the announcement of the new Impact Goal was the release of an American Heart Association presidential advisory on structural racism, recognizing racism as a fundamental driver of health disparities and directing the American Heart Association to advance antiracist strategies regarding science, business operations, leadership, quality improvement, and advocacy. This policy statement builds on the call to action put forth in our presidential advisory, discussing specific opportunities to leverage public policy in promoting overall well-being and rectifying those long-standing structural barriers that impede the progress that we need and seek for the health of all communities. Although this policy statement discusses difficult aspects of our past, it is meant to provide a forward-looking blueprint that can be embraced by a broad spectrum of stakeholders who share the association's commitment to addressing structural racism and realizing true health equity.

Approval, Evidence, and "Off-Label" Device Utilization: The Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Story.

BACKGROUND: Following regulatory approval, medical devices may be used "off-label." Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is indicated to reduce recurrent stroke but has been proposed for other indications, including migraine, transient ischemic attack, and diving decompression illness. We sought to evaluate PFO closure rates and indications relative to the timing of regulatory approval and publication of key randomized trials. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the OptumLabs Data Warehouse of US commercial insurance enrollees from 2006 to 2019. We quantified PFO closure among individuals with ≥2 years of preprocedure coverage to establish indications, classified hierarchically as stroke/systemic embolism, migraine, transient ischemia attack, or other. RESULTS: We identified 5315 patients undergoing PFO closure (51.8% female, 29.2%≥60 years old), which increased from 4.75 per 100 000 person-years in 2006 to 6.60 per 100 000 person-years in 2019. Patients aged ≥60 years accounted for 29.2% of closures. Procedure volumes corresponded weakly with supportive clinical publications and device approval. Among patients with PFO closure, 58.6% underwent closure for stroke/systemic embolism, 10.2% for transient ischemia attack, 8.8% for migraine, and 22.4% for other indications; 17.6% of patients had atrial fibrillation at baseline; and 11.9% developed atrial fibrillation postprocedure. Those aged ≥60 years and male were less likely to undergo closure for migraine than stroke/systemic embolism. CONCLUSIONS: From 2006 to 2019, PFO closure use was consistently low and corresponded weakly with clinical trial publications and regulatory status. Nearly half of patients underwent PFO closure for indications unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration. Regulators and payers should coordinate mechanisms to promote utilization for approved indications to ensure patient safety and should facilitate clinical trials for other possible indications.

Rationale, Design, and Patient Characteristics of a Cluster-Randomized Pragmatic Trial to Improve Mineralocorticoid Antagonist Use.

BACKGROUND: Despite robust evidence and strong guideline recommendations supporting use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) to improve outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), these medications remain underused in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The goal is to determine if providing a tailored best practice alert (BPA) to outpatient providers suggesting guideline-recommended MRAs or information about available hyperkalemia treatment, if present, for patients with HFrEF will increase short-term MRA prescriptions. METHODS: PROMPT-MRA (Pragmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers About Treatment With Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists) is a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, controlled study. A total of 119 providers were randomized to receive a BPA or usual care. During an outpatient visit with participating providers, the BPA displayed recent laboratory test values and ejection fraction. The alert suggested guideline-recommended MRAs for eligible patients with a serum potassium of <5.0 mEq/L or novel potassium binders for those with a serum potassium of ≥5.0 mEq/L, each linked to an order set containing the corresponding medication and laboratory monitoring. RESULTS: PROMPT-MRA completed enrollment with 1,210 patients. The primary outcome of PROMPT-MRA is to determine if a tailored BPA for outpatients with HFrEF will lead to higher MRA prescriptions 6 months following randomization compared with usual care. Secondary outcomes included incidence of hyperkalemia, use of novel potassium binders, heart failure hospitalizations, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: If effective, the BPA can be scaled to improve population health outcomes with increased MRA prescribing among eligible patients with HFrEF, with or without a history of hyperkalemia. (Pragmatic Trial of Alerts for Use of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists [PROMPT-MRA]; NCT04903717).

Impact of Digital Health Technology on Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Digital health tools may improve quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure (HF) by promoting self-care, knowledge, and engagement. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effect of 3 digital technologies on QoL in patients with HF. METHODS: A total of 182 patients were randomized to usual care or one of the technologies promoting self-care: Bodyport (cardiac scale), Conversa (conversational platform), or Noom (smartphone application). The primary outcome was 90-day change in QoL, as assessed by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Overall Summary Score (OSS). RESULTS: A total of 151 participants (83%) completed their 90-day surveys. The median age of enrolled participants was 61 years (IQR: 53-69 years), and 37.9% were women. No group had any significant change in KCCQ OSS or improvement relative to usual care. However, symptoms and physical function at 90 days, as assessed by the Total Symptom Score (TSS) and Clinical Summary Score (CSS), were significantly improved in the Noom group relative to usual care: TSS median change of +4.2 points (IQR -1 to +16.7) vs -1 points (IQR: -13.5 to +7.8; P = 0.006); CSS median change of +2.8 points (IQR: -1 to +14.6) vs -3.1 points (IQR: -10.2 to +3; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Three digital interventions showed no independent effect on QoL as assessed by the KCCQ OSS. However, participants randomized to the Noom technology demonstrated improved KCCQ TSS and CSS relative to usual care. Although digital tools may be an important component of longitudinal care for patients with HF, larger studies are needed to better understand their effectiveness and optimal deployment. (Evaluating Efficacy of Digital Health Technology in the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure; NCT04394754).

Late-onset Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation after time-dependent discontinuation of prophylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a rare complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Primary prophylaxis for 6-12 months post-HSCT is the standard approach. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal duration of prophylaxis. METHODS: We identified patients who developed PJP more than 1-year post-HSCT. All patients had previously received 12 months of PJP prophylaxis. PJP was diagnosed based on clinical findings and the detection of P. jirovecii in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CD4+ T-cell percentage was determined using flow cytometry. Data expressed as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Ten patients developed PJP at 17.5 months (16-24 months) post-HSCT. PJP diagnosis occurred 5.5 months (3-15 months) after discontinuing prophylaxis. Eight patients received anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) as graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. At diagnosis, only one patient had lymphopenia; all patients had CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts ≥0.2 × 109 /L (median 0.337 × 109 /L). Three patients had concomitant bacterial infections. The clinical presentation was mild; only three required hospitalization, none of them required intensive care and there were no deaths. CONCLUSION: There is a need to develop risk-adapted prophylactic strategies in the contemporary era using ATG-based GVHD prophylaxis.

Prognostic Impact of Repeated NT-proBNP Measurements in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Although clinical studies have demonstrated the association between a single N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurement and clinical outcomes in chronic heart failure, the biomarker is frequently measured serially in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the added prognostic value of repeated NT-proBNP measurements compared with single measurements alone for chronic heart failure patients. METHODS: In the GUIDE-IT (Guiding Evidence Based Therapy Using Biomarker Intensified Treatment in Heart Failure) study, 894 study participants with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were enrolled at 45 outpatient sites in the United States and Canada. Repeated NT-proBNP levels were measured over a 2-year study period. Associations between repeated NT-proBNP measurements and trial endpoints were assessed using a joint longitudinal and survival model. RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline covariates, each doubling of the baseline NT-proBNP level was associated with a HR of 1.17 (95% CI: 1.08-1.28; P = 0.0003) for the primary trial endpoint of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization. Serial measurements increased the adjusted HR for the primary trial endpoint to 1.66 (95% CI: 1.50-1.84; P < 0.0001), and a similar increased risk was observed across secondary trial endpoints. In joint modeling, an increase in NT-proBNP occurred weeks before the onset of adjudicated events. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated NT-proBNP measurements are a strong predictor of outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction with an increase in concentration occurring well before event onset. These results may support routine NT-proBNP monitoring to assist in clinical decision making. (Guiding Evidence Based Therapy Using Biomarker Intensified Treatment in Heart Failure [GUIDE-IT]; NCT01685840).

Clinical Phenotyping with an Outcomes-driven Mixture of Experts for Patient Matching and Risk Estimation.

Observational medical data present unique opportunities for analysis of medical outcomes and treatment decision making. However, because these datasets do not contain the strict pairing of randomized control trials, matching techniques are to draw comparisons among patients. A key limitation to such techniques is verification that the variables used to model treatment decision making are also relevant in identifying the risk of major adverse events. This article explores a deep mixture of experts approach to jointly learn how to match patients and model the risk of major adverse events in patients. Although trained with information regarding treatment and outcomes, after training, the proposed model is decomposable into a network that clusters patients into phenotypes from information available before treatment. This model is validated on a dataset of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. The mixture of experts approach can predict the outcome of mortality with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 ± 0.01 while jointly discovering five potential phenotypes of interest. The technique and interpretation allow for identifying clinically relevant phenotypes that may be used both for outcomes modeling as well as potentially evaluating individualized treatment effects.

Artificial Intelligence, Computational Simulations, and Extended Reality in Cardiovascular Interventions.

Artificial intelligence, computational simulations, and extended reality, among other 21st century computational technologies, are changing the health care system. To collectively highlight the most recent advances and benefits of artificial intelligence, computational simulations, and extended reality in cardiovascular therapies, we coined the abbreviation AISER. The review particularly focuses on the following applications of AISER: 1) preprocedural planning and clinical decision making; 2) virtual clinical trials, and cardiovascular device research, development, and regulatory approval; and 3) education and training of interventional health care professionals and medical technology innovators. We also discuss the obstacles and constraints associated with the application of AISER technologies, as well as the proposed solutions. Interventional health care professionals, computer scientists, biomedical engineers, experts in bioinformatics and visualization, the device industry, ethics committees, and regulatory agencies are expected to streamline the use of AISER technologies in cardiovascular interventions and medicine in general.

Defining a path toward improved heart failure care.

Defining a path toward improved heart failure (HF) care is essential, as there is a clear need to improve HF treatment quality, outcomes, and value. This article reviews potential strategies to help improve the quality of HF clinical care and decrease costs. To start, HF phenotyping may be useful in guiding patient treatment, as some phenotypes are associated with higher hospitalization costs and longer length of stay. Identifying and addressing social determinants of health that may be barriers to optimal health may improve management of HF and help to prevent disease progression. In addition, patient-reported outcomes can be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment regimens and assessing which treatments lead to a genuine improvement in quality of life (QOL). Recent innovations in payment reform have seen the implementation of value-based payment (VBP) models over the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) models. FFS models can lead to low-quality care focused on treating illness instead of supporting wellness initiatives. By contrast, VBP models aim to decrease excessive health care costs, thereby increasing incentives to hospitals that deliver high-quality patient care. Further, novel care delivery approaches, such as hospital-at-home and other digital tools, can provide patients with lower-cost care and are associated with improved QOL, including reductions in hospital readmission.