Precipitating Clinical Factors, Heart Failure Characterization, and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Reduced, Borderline, and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the comparative frequency of precipitating clinical factors leading to hospitalization among heart failure (HF) patients with reduced, borderline, and preserved ejection fraction (EF) BACKGROUND: There are few data assessing the comparative frequency of clinical factors leading to HF among hospitalized among patients with reduced, borderline, and preserved EF. METHODS: We analyzed the factors potentially contributing to HF hospitalization among 99,825 HF admissions from 305 hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines-HF (GWTG-HF) database between January 2005 and September 2013 and assessed their association with length of stay and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 72.6 ± 14.2 years, 49% were female, and mean EF was 39.3 ± 17.2%. Common factors included pneumonia/respiratory process (28.2%), arrhythmia (21.7%), medication noncompliance (15.8%), worsening renal failure (14.7%), and uncontrolled hypertension (14.5%). In patients with borderline EF (EF 40% to 49%), pneumonia was associated with longer hospital stay, whereas dietary and medication noncompliance were associated with reduced length of stay. In patients with preserved EF (EF ≥50% or qualitative assessment of normal or mild dysfunction), pneumonia, weight gain, and worsening renal function were independently associated with longer lengths of stay. Worsening renal function and pneumonia were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality in all HF groups, and acute pulmonary edema was associated with higher mortality in reduced EF. Dietary noncompliance (14.7%) was associated with reduced mortality for all groups but reached statistical significance in the subgroups of reduced (odds ratio [OR]: 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46 to 0.91) and preserved systolic function (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.83). Patients presenting with ischemia had a higher mortality rate (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.69; and 1.72; 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.33, respectively, in the 2 groups). CONCLUSIONS: Potential precipitating factors among patients hospitalized with HF vary by EF group and are independently associated with clinical outcomes.

Wolf isotopic response manifesting as postherpetic granuloma annulare: a case series.

CONTEXT: Wolf isotopic response has infrequently been reported in the literature, mainly as isolated case reports. OBJECTIVE: To aid in recognition of the occurrence of postherpetic granuloma annulare for accurate histologic interpretation of granulomatous dermatitides. DESIGN: We report 5 cases of patients with Wolf isotopic response manifesting as granuloma annulare, developing in a site of previous herpes zoster, and discuss the clinicopathologic findings. RESULTS: Previous infection with herpes zoster or herpes simplex virus was found in 5 of 5 cases reported. The differential diagnosis of a dermal lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with multinucleated giant cells includes postherpetic granuloma annulare. CONCLUSIONS: All cases of postherpetic Wolf isotopic response reported in this series revealed granuloma annulare, with a perineurovascular or perifollicular pattern of lymphohistiocytic infiltration including multinucleated giant cells, and occurred following herpes zoster or herpes simplex infection, although herpes viral infection was not always associated with a subsequent isotopic eruption. Awareness of this entity can aid in the clinicopathologic diagnosis of granuloma annulare occurring at the site of prior herpes viral infection.

Diabetes, quality of care, and in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is frequently comorbid with heart failure (HF). It is unclear if comorbid diabetes is associated with quality of care and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: We analyzed 133,971 HF admissions from 431 hospitals between January 2005 and January 2010 comparing patients with and without diabetes. RESULTS: There were 54,352 (41%) patients hospitalized with HF with a history or newly diagnosed diabetes. After adjustment, patients with diabetes were as likely as patients without diabetes to appropriately receive the composite of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker and ß-blockers (odds ratio [OR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.94-1.04), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.92-1.05), evidence-based ß-blockers (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.98-1.1), and hydralazine/nitrates (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.99-1.2). However, patients with diabetes were less likely to receive smoking cessation counseling (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.98) and blood pressure control (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.78-0.84) and to attain the all-or-none composite measure (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99). Patients with diabetes were more likely to receive an aldosterone antagonist for reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.11), lipid-lowering agent (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.26-1.41), and influenza vaccination (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09). Diabetes was independently associated with longer hospital stay but not within-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: With few exceptions, the application of evidence-based care and in-hospital outcomes were similar whether or not diabetes was present in this large contemporary cohort of patients hospitalized with HF.

Payment source, quality of care, and outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between payment source and quality of care and outcomes in heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: HF is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of studies assessing the association of payment source with HF quality of care and outcomes. METHODS: A total of 99,508 HF admissions from 244 sites between January 2005 and September 2009 were analyzed. Patients were grouped on the basis of payer status (private/health maintenance organization, no insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid) with private/health maintenance organization as the reference group. RESULTS: The no-insurance group was less likely to receive evidence-based beta-blockers (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62 to 0.86), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.70), or anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.87). Similarly, the Medicaid group was less likely to receive evidence-based beta-blockers (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78 to 0.95) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78 to 0.96). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers were prescribed less frequently in the Medicare group (OR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.98). The Medicare, Medicaid, and no-insurance groups had longer hospital stays. Higher adjusted rates of in-hospital mortality were seen in patients with Medicaid (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.41) and in patients with reduced systolic function with no insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased quality of care and outcomes for patients with HF were observed in the no-insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare groups compared with the private/health maintenance organization group.