A Survey of Interventional Cardiologists' Attitudes and Beliefs About Public Reporting of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Examining safety of cardiac surgery in patients with preoperative cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

Although postoperative cardiac arrest is a well-studied complication of cardiac surgery, few guidelines exist regarding timing of surgery in preoperative cardiac arrest (pCA). We examined the association between delayed timing of operation and postoperative outcomes following cardiac surgery in a large cohort of pCA.

METHODS

Adults with a diagnosis of pCA undergoing a cardiac operation were identified in the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Those requiring surgery within 24 hours fo cardiac arrest were excluded. Patients who underwent a cardiac procedure after 5 days of cardiopulmonary resuscitation were classified as Delayed (others: Early). Multivariable regression models were constructed to evaluate associations between delayed timing of surgery with in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, hospitalization duration, and costs.

RESULTS

Of an estimated 9,240 patients meeting study criteria, 4,860 (52.6%) received delayed cardiac surgery. Following entropy balancing, delayed surgery was significantly associated with decreased odds of in-hospital mortality (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.75, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.58 - 0.97). However, delayed operation demonstrated greater odds of postoperative thromboembolic (AOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 - 2.04), and infectious (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.31 - 2.08) complications. Notably, delay did not alter odds of neurologic complication, and was linked to a decrement in per-day costs (β -$2,100, 95% CI -2,600 - -1,700).

CONCLUSIONS

While preoperative cardiac arrest remains challenging, the present study demonstrates the safety profile of delaying cardiac operation among patients tolerating at least 24 hours of a delay to surgery. Future studies are needed to elucidate the factors associated with favorable outcomes in this population.

Variation in Likelihood of Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Among US Hospitals

BACKGROUND

There may be variability in willingness to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in higher-risk patients who present with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to describe current treatment selection patterns and hospital-level variability.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified patients presenting with STEMI with a culprit lesion on coronary angiography between January 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023, using the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) CPMI (Chest Pain-Myocardial Infarction) registry. We compared patient-level characteristics of patients who did and did not undergo PCI at each hospital. There were 178 984 patients from 582 US hospitals presenting with STEMI who were included. Among patients with STEMI and a culprit lesion, 6180 did not undergo PCI (3.5%). Patients with a presentation of STEMI and a culprit lesion who did not undergo PCI were older (67 [interquartile range, 58-76]) years versus 62 ([interquartile range, 54-71] years, P<0.001), more likely to present with heart failure (15.0% versus 7.4%, P<0.001), and more likely to have cardiac arrest before arrival (9.7% versus 5.1%, P<0.001) than patients who underwent PCI. Patients who did not undergo PCI had higher predicted mortality rates (12.5%±17.9% versus 6.5%±11.5%, P<0.001) and observed mortality rates (21.7% versus 6.4%, P<0.001) compared with patients who underwent PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

There is variability in the percentage of patients with culprit lesions on invasive coronary angiography undergoing PCI for STEMI, with 3.5% of patients with STEMI not receiving PCI overall, and >5% of patients not undergoing PCI in a quarter of US hospitals. Differences in observed versus predicted mortality rates for patients who did or did not undergo PCI may highlight the effects of risk-avoidant behavior.

Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Mindset, Culture, and Continuous Improvement

The development of complex and higher-risk indicated procedures (CHIP) and chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has brought new challenges in terms of operator training. Although the technical aspects of learning CHIP/CTO PCI have been described in detail, very little has been discussed concerning the mental skills that the operator must possess or develop to be successful. Moreover, an at least equally important aspect of CHIP/CTO PCI program development is the professional culture of the institution where these complex procedures are performed, because this can mark the difference between a thriving and long-lasting program and one that is quickly bound to fail. This article analyzes the mental attributes of the CHIP/CTO PCI operator and outlines several leadership principles that can be applied to foster a growth culture and develop a thriving program.

Contemporary Risk Models for In-Hospital and 30-Day Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Risk models for mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are underutilized in clinical practice though they may be useful during informed consent, risk mitigation planning, and risk adjustment of hospital and operator outcomes. This review analyzed contemporary risk models for in-hospital and 30-day mortality after PCI.

RECENT FINDINGS

We reviewed eight contemporary risk models. Age, sex, hemodynamic status, acute coronary syndrome type, heart failure, and kidney disease were consistently found to be independent risk factors for mortality. These models provided good discrimination (C-statistic 0.85-0.95) for both pre-catheterization and comprehensive risk models that included anatomic variables. There are several excellent models for PCI mortality risk prediction. Choice of the model will depend on the use case and population, though the CathPCI model should be the default for in-hospital mortality risk prediction in the United States. Future interventions should focus on the integration of risk prediction into clinical care.

Lack of associations between hospital rating and outcomes in patients with an acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Public reporting of performance data has become a common tool in evaluation of healthcare providers. The rating may be misleading if the association between the measured variables and the outcome is weak.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Nationwide, register-based, cohort study. All Swedish patients hospitalised with an acute coronary syndrome during the time periods 2006-2010 and 2015-2017 were included in the study. Possible associations between cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for these patients and ranking scores for each hospital in a Swedish healthcare quality register for acute coronary syndromes were analysed. We found no association between the ranking score and mortality, and no or weak associations between the ranking score and readmissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Lack of associations between quality measurements and patient outcomes warrants improvement in ranking scores. Cautious use of the ranking results is necessary in comparisons between healthcare providers.

Influence of Major Adverse Events on Procedural Selection for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program

Background

Public reporting of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes has been associated with risk-averse attitudes, and pressure to avoid negative outcomes may hinder the care of high-risk patients referred for PCI in public reporting environments. It is unknown whether the occurrence of PCI-related major adverse events (MAEs) influences future case selection in nonpublic reporting environments. Here, we describe trends in PCI case selection among patients undergoing coronary angiography following MAEs in Veterans Affairs (VA) cardiac catheterization laboratories participating in a mandatory internal quality improvement program without public reporting of outcomes.

Methods

Patients who underwent coronary angiography between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2018, were identified and stratified by VA 30-day PCI mortality risk. The association between MAEs and changes in the proportion of patients proceeding from coronary angiography to PCI within 14 days was assessed.

Results

A total of 251,526 patients and 913 MAEs were included in the analysis. For each prespecified time period of 1, 2, and 4 weeks following an MAE, there were no significant changes in the proportion of patients undergoing coronary angiography who proceeded to PCI within 14 days for the overall cohort and for each tercile of VA 30-day PCI mortality risk.

Conclusions

There were no deviations from routine PCI referral practices following MAEs in this analysis of VA cardiac catheterization laboratories. Nonpublic reporting environments and quality improvement programs may be influential in mitigating PCI risk-aversion behaviors.

Medicare's Bundled Payments For Care Improvement Advanced Model: Impact On High-Risk Beneficiaries

Medicare's Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model (BPCI-A) is a voluntary Alternative Payment Model in which participating hospitals are held accountable for ninety-day episodes of care. To meet spending targets, hospitals must either decrease utilization or attract a less sick patient population; this could lead to the elimination of necessary care or avoidance of patients with medical or social vulnerability. We used publicly available data on BPCI-A participation, along with Medicare claims from the period 2017-19, to examine patient selection, changes in Medicare payment, and key clinical outcomes among three groups: patients with frailty, patients with multimorbidity, and patients with dual enrollment (both Medicare and Medicaid). We found no consistent change in patient selection associated with BPCI-A participation. Patients with frailty, multimorbidity, or dual enrollment were more expensive at baseline, but Medicare payments decreased similarly in these groups compared with lower-risk patients. There were no differential negative changes in clinical outcomes between BPCI-A participants and nonparticipants among patients with medical or social vulnerability.

Release of individual surgeon data to the public: patients' and surgeons' views

BACKGROUND

Limited surgeon-specific outcomes data are currently released to the public. Existing schemes generally result from the recommendations of public enquiries, addressing breaches to patient safety and malpractice. We found limited evidence in the literature about patients' or orthopaedic surgeons' wishes regarding the release of such data to the public.

METHODS

We surveyed 80 joint replacement patients and 41 orthopaedic surgeons regarding their wishes concerning collection and release of individual surgeon data to the public.

RESULTS

Of 80 patients, 30% (24/80) were aware of data on the NHS-My Choices website, 16% (13/80) had reviewed data prior to operation and 95% (76/80) wanted data concerning surgeons' experience, length of stay and complications including revisions. Patients expected more current monitoring of data than occurs. Of 41 surgeons, 20% (8/41) thought national joint registry (NJR) derived data accurately reflected their NHS work. Surgeons did not think this data improved patient outcomes (34%, 14/41), and that it reduced innovation (61%, 25/41) and training (75%, 31/41) and increased risk of adverse behaviour (61%, 25/41). Surgeons wanted a minimal data set accurately presented and risk adjusted.

CONCLUSION

In the future, it is likely that more individual surgeon data will be released to the public. There needs to be an agreed, accurate minimum dataset collected, reviewed in local clinical governance meetings and published with explanatory notes regarding the interfering variables and what conclusions can be drawn regarding the ability of the surgeon. This process needs to be overseen by an independent body trusted by the public.

Contemporary Clinical and Coronary Anatomic Risk Model for 30-Day Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures are increasing in clinical and anatomic complexity, likely increasing the calculated risk of mortality. There is need for a real-time risk prediction tool that includes clinical and coronary anatomic information that is integrated into the electronic medical record system.

METHODS

We assessed 70 503 PCIs performed in 73 Veterans Affairs hospitals from 2008 to 2019. We used regression and machine-learning strategies to develop a prediction model for 30-day mortality following PCI. We assessed model performance with and without inclusion of the Veterans Affairs SYNTAX score (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery), an assessment of anatomic complexity. Finally, the discriminatory ability of the Veterans Affairs model was compared with the CathPCI mortality model.

RESULTS

The overall 30-day morality rate was 1.7%. The final model included 14 variables. Presentation status (salvage, emergent, urgent), ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, age, congestive heart failure, prior valve disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, atrial fibrillation, elevated international normalized ratio, and the Veterans Affairs SYNTAX score were all associated with increased risk of death, while increasing body mass index, hemoglobin level, and prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery were associated with lower risk of death. C-index for the development cohort was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.92-0.94) and for the 2019 validation cohort and the site validation cohort was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.92) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio of predicting a mortality event in the top decile was 2.87% more accurate than the CathPCI mortality model. Inclusion of anatomic information in the model resulted in significant improvement in model performance (likelihood ratio test P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This contemporary risk model accurately predicts 30-day post-PCI mortality using a combination of clinical and anatomic variables. This can be immediately implemented into clinical practice to promote personalized informed consent discussions and appropriate preparation for high-risk PCI cases.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Operator Profiles and Associations With In-Hospital Mortality

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention is performed by operators with differing experience, technique, and case mix. It is unknown if operator practice patterns impact patient outcomes. We sought to determine if a cluster algorithm can identify distinct profiles of percutaneous coronary intervention operators and if these profiles are associated with patient outcomes.

METHODS

Operators performing at least 25 annual procedures between 2014 and 2018 were clustered using an agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm. Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was compared between clusters.

RESULTS

We identified 4 practice profiles among 7706 operators performing 2 937 419 procedures. Cluster 1 (n=3345) demonstrated case mix and practice patterns similar to the national median. Cluster 2 (n=1993) treated patients with lower clinical acuity and were less likely to use intracoronary diagnostics, atherectomy, and radial access. Cluster 3 (n=1513) had the lowest case volume, were more likely to work at rural hospitals, and cared for a higher proportion of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. Cluster 4 (n=855) had the highest case volume, were most likely to treat patients with high anatomic complexity and use atherectomy, intracoronary diagnostics, and mechanical support. Compared with cluster 1, adjusted in-hospital mortality was similar for cluster 2 (estimated difference, -0.03 [95% CI, -0.10 to 0.04]), higher for cluster 3 (0.14 [0.07-0.22]), and lower for cluster 4 (-0.15 [-0.24 to -0.06]).

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct percutaneous coronary intervention operator profiles are differentially associated with patient outcomes. A phenotypic approach to physician assessment may provide actionable feedback for quality improvement.

The future of hospital quality of care policy: A multi-stakeholder discrete choice experiment in Flanders, Belgium

BACKGROUND

Collaboration between policymakers, patients and healthcare workers in hospital quality of care policy setting can improve the integration of new initiatives. The aim of this study was to quantify preferences for various characteristics of a future quality policy in a broad group of stakeholders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

450 policymakers, clinicians, nurses, patient representatives and hospital board members in Flanders (Belgium) participated in five discrete choice experiments (DCE) on quality control, quality improvement, inspection, patient incidents and transparency. For each DCE, various attributes and levels were defined from a literature review and interviews with 12 international quality and patient safety experts.

RESULTS

For the attributes with the highest relative importance, participants exhibited a strong preference for quality control by an independent national organization and coordination of quality improvement initiatives at the level of hospital networks. The individual hospital was chosen over the government for setting up an action plan following patient complaints. Respondents also strongly preferred mandatory reporting of severe patient incidents and transparency by publicly reporting quality indicators at the hospital level.

CONCLUSIONS

A future quality model should focus on a multicomponent approach with external quality control, improvement actions on hospital network level and public transparency. DCEs provide an opportunity to incorporate the attitudes and views for individual components of a new policy recommendation.

Treatment Effect of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Dialysis Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Patients receiving maintenance dialysis have higher mortality following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) than patients not receiving dialysis. Whether pPCI confers a similar benefit to patients receiving dialysis remains unknown. We compared the effect of pPCI on in-hospital outcomes among patients hospitalized for STEMI and receiving maintenance dialysis to the effect among patients hospitalized for STEMI but not receiving dialysis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

We used the National-Inpatient-Sample (2016-2018) and included all adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI.

PREDICTORS

Primary exposure was PCI. Confounders included dialysis status, demographics, insurance, household income, comorbidities, and the elective nature of the admission.

OUTCOMES

In-hospital mortality, stroke, AKI, new dialysis requirements, vascular complications, gastrointestinal bleeding, blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, palliative care, and discharge destination.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

The average treatment effect [ATE] of pPCI was estimated using propensity score matching within ESRD and non-ESRD groups independently to explore if the effect is modified by ESRD status. Additionally, the average marginal effect [AME] was calculated accounting for the clustering within hospitals.

RESULTS

4,220 (1.07%) out of 413,500 hospitalizations were for patients receiving dialysis. The dialysis cohort was older (65.2±12.2 vs. 63.4±13.1, p<0.001), had more females (42.4% vs. 30.6%, p<0.001) and more comorbidities, but fewer White patients (41.1% vs. 71.7%, p<0.001). Patients receiving dialysis underwent less angiography (73.1% vs. 85.4%, p<0.001) or pPCI (57.5% vs. 79.8%, p<0.001). pPCI was associated with lower mortality in patients receiving dialysis (15.7% vs. 27.1%, p<0.001) as well as in those who were not (5.0% vs. 17.4%, p<0.001). The ATE on mortality did not differ significantly between patients receiving dialysis (-8.6% [-15.6%, -1.6%], p=0.02) and those who were not (-8.2% [-8.8%, -7.5%], p<0.001 (p-interaction=0.9). The AME method showed similar results (-9.4% [-14.8%, -4.0%], p<0.001) among patients receiving dialysis and those who were not (-7.9% [-8.5%, -7.4%], p<0.001) (p-interaction=0.59). Both the ATE and AME were comparable for other in-hospital outcomes in both groups.

LIMITATIONS

Administrative data, lack of pharmacotherapy and long-term outcome data, and residual confounding.

CONCLUSION

Compared with conservative management, pPCI for STEMI was associated with comparable reductions in short-term mortality among patients irrespective of their receipt of maintenance dialysis.

How Feedback Is Given Matters: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patient Satisfaction Feedback Delivery and Physician Well-being

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate how variation in the way patient satisfaction feedback is delivered relates to physician well-being and perceptions of its impact on patient care, job satisfaction, and clinical decision making.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional electronic survey was sent to faculty physicians from a large academic medical center in March 29, 2019. Physicians reported their exposure to feedback (timing, performance relative to peers, or channel) and related perceptions. The Professional Fulfillment Index captured burnout and professional fulfillment. Associations between feedback characteristics and well-being or perceived impact were tested using analysis of variance or logistic regression adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS

Of 1016 survey respondents, 569 (56.0%) reported receiving patient satisfaction feedback. Among those receiving feedback, 303 (53.2%) did not believe that this feedback improved patient care. Compared with physicians who never received feedback, those who received any type of feedback had higher professional fulfillment scores (mean, 6.6±2.1 vs 6.3±2.0; P=.03) but also reported an unfavorable impact on clinical decision making (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8 to 4.7; P<.001). Physicians who received feedback that included one-on-one discussions (as opposed to feedback without this channel) held more positive perceptions of the feedback's impact on patient care (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.0; P=.003), whereas perceptions were less positive in physicians whose feedback included comparisons to named colleagues (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.8; P=.003).

CONCLUSION

Providing patient satisfaction feedback to physicians was associated with mixed results, and physician perceptions of the impact of feedback depended on the characteristics of feedback delivery. Our findings suggest that feedback is viewed most constructively by physicians when delivered through one-on-one discussions and without comparison to peers.

A decade of commitment to hospital quality of care: overview of and perceptions on multicomponent quality improvement policies involving accreditation, public reporting, inspection and pay-for-performance

Background

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives such as accreditation, public reporting, inspection and pay-for-performance are increasingly being implemented globally. In Flanders, Belgium, a government policy for acute-care hospitals incorporates aforementioned initiatives. Currently, questions are raised on the sustainability of the present policy.

Objective

First, to summarise the various initiatives hospitals have adopted under government encouragement between 2008 and 2019. Second, to study the perspectives of healthcare stakeholders on current government policy.

Methods

In this multi-method study, we collected data on QI initiative implementation from governmental and institutional sources and through an online survey among hospital quality managers. We compiled an overview of QI initiative implementation for all Flemish acute-care hospitals between 2008 (n = 62) and 2019 (n = 53 after hospital mergers). Stakeholder perspectives were assessed via a second survey available to all healthcare employees and a focus group with healthcare policy experts was consulted. Variation between professions was assessed.

Results

QI initiatives have been increasingly implemented, especially from 2016 onwards, with the majority (87%) of hospitals having obtained a first accreditation label and all hospitals publicly reporting performance indicators, receiving regular inspections and having entered the pay-for-performance initiative. On the topic of external international accreditation, overall attitudes within the survey were predominantly neutral (36.2%), while 34.5% expressed positive and 29.3% negative views towards accreditation. In examining specific professional groups in-depth, we learned 58% of doctors regarded accreditation negatively, while doctors were judged to be the largest contributors to quality according to the majority of respondents.

Conclusions

Hospitals have demonstrated increased efforts into QI, especially since 2016, while perceptions on currently implemented QI initiatives among healthcare stakeholders are heterogeneous. To assure quality of care remains a top-priority for acute-care hospitals, we recommend a revision of the current multicomponent quality policy where the adoption of all initiatives is streamlined and co-created bottom-up.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07007-w.

Quality Improvement and Public Reporting in STEMI Care

Mortality rates for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remain high despite development of novel drugs and interventions over the past several decades. There is significant variability between hospitals in use of evidence-based treatments, and substantial opportunities exist to optimize care pathways and reduce disparities in care delivery. Quality improvement interventions implemented at local, regional, and national levels have improved care processes and patient outcomes. This article reviews evidence for quality improvement interventions along the spectrum of STEMI care, describes existing systems for quality measurement, and examines local and national policy interventions, with special attention to public reporting programs.

Is a hospital quality policy based on a triad of accreditation, public reporting and inspection evidence-based? A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Since 2009, hospital quality policy in Flanders, Belgium, is built around a quality-of-care triad, which encompasses accreditation, public reporting (PR) and inspection. Policy makers are currently reflecting on the added value of this triad.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review of the literature published between 2009 and 2020 to examine the evidence base of the impact accreditation, PR and inspection, both individually and combined, has on patient processes and outcomes. The following patient outcomes were examined: mortality, length of stay, readmissions, patient satisfaction, adverse outcomes, failure to rescue, adherence to process measures and risk aversion. The impact of accreditation, PR and inspection on these outcomes was evaluated as either positive, neutral (i.e. no impact observed or mixed results reported) or negative.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the current evidence base on the impact of accreditation, PR and inspection on patient processes and outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 69 studies, of which 40 were on accreditation, 24 on PR, three on inspection and two on accreditation and PR concomitantly. Identified studies reported primarily low-level evidence (level IV, n = 53) and were heterogeneous in terms of implemented programmes and patient populations (often narrow in PR research). Overall, a neutral categorization was determined in 30 articles for accreditation, 23 for PR and four for inspection. Ten of these recounted mixed results. For accreditation, a high number (n = 12) of positive research on adherence to process measures was discovered.

CONCLUSION

The individual impact of accreditation, PR and inspection, the core of Flemish hospital quality, was found to be limited on patient outcomes. Future studies should investigate the combined effect of multiple quality improvement strategies.

Interventional cardiologists' perceptions of percutaneous coronary intervention quality measurement and feedback

BACKGROUND

Interventional cardiologists receive feedback on their clinical care from a variety of sources including registry-based quality measures, case conferences, and informal peer interactions. However, the impact of this feedback on clinical care is unclear.

METHODS

We interviewed interventional cardiologists regarding the use of feedback to improve their care of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients. Interviews were assessed with template analysis using deductive and inductive techniques.

RESULTS

Among 20 interventional cardiologists from private, academic, and Department of Veterans Affairs practice, 85% were male, 75% performed at least 100 PCIs annually, and 55% were in practice for 5 years or more. All reported receiving feedback on their practice, including formal quality measures and peer learning activities. Many respondents were critical of quality measure reporting, citing lack of trust in outcomes measures and poor applicability to clinical care. Some respondents reported the use of process measures such as contrast volume and fluoroscopy time for benchmarking their performance. Case conferences and informal peer feedback were perceived as timelier and more impactful on clinical care. Respondents identified facilitators of successful feedback interventions including transparent processes, respectful and reciprocal peer relationships, and integration of feedback into collective goals. Hierarchy and competitive environments inhibited useful feedback.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite substantial resources dedicated to performance measurement and feedback for PCI, interventional cardiologists perceive existing quality measures to be of only modest value for improving clinical care. Catherization laboratories should seek to integrate quality measures into a holistic quality program that emphasizes peer learning, collective goals and mutual respect.

Effect of Publicly Reported Aortic Valve Surgery Outcomes on Valve Surgery in Injection Drug- and Non-Injection Drug-Associated Endocarditis

BACKGROUND

Injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) is rising and valve surgery is frequently indicated. The effect of initiating public outcomes reporting for aortic valve surgery on rates of valve surgery and in-hospital mortality for endocarditis is not known.

METHODS

For an interrupted time series analysis, we used data from the National Inpatient Sample, a representative sample of United States inpatient hospitalizations, from January 2010 to September 2015. We included individuals aged 18-65 with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis of endocarditis. We defined IDU-IE using a validated combination of ICD-9 codes. We used segmented logistic regression to assess for changes in valve replacement and in-hospital mortality rates after the public reporting initiation in January 2013.

RESULTS

We identified 7322 hospitalizations for IDU-IE and 23 997 for non-IDU-IE in the sample, representing 36 452 national IDU-IE admissions and 119 316 non-IDU admissions, respectively. Following the implementation of public reporting in 2013, relative to baseline trends, the odds of valve replacement decreased by 4.0% per quarter (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-0.99), with no difference by IDU status. The odds of an in-patient death decreased by 2.0% per quarter for both IDU-IE and non-IDU-IE cases following reporting (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating public reporting was associated with a significant decrease in valve surgery for all IE cases, regardless of IDU status, and a reduction in-hospital mortality for patients with IE. Patients with IE may have less access to surgery as a consequence of public reporting. To understand how reduced valve surgery impacts overall mortality, future studies should examine the postdischarge mortality rate.

Performance of Hospitals When Assessing Disease-Based Mortality Compared With Procedural Mortality for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Importance

Quality of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is commonly assessed by risk-adjusted mortality. However, this metric may result in procedural risk aversion, especially for high-risk patients.

Objective

To determine correlation and reclassification between hospital-level disease-specific mortality and PCI procedural mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This hospital-level observational cross-sectional multicenter analysis included hospitals participating in the Chest Pain-MI Registry, which enrolled consecutive adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of type I non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and hospitals in the CathPCI Registry, which enrolled consecutive adult patients treated with PCI with an indication of NSTEMI or STEMI, between April 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017.

Exposures

Inclusion into the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Chest Pain-MI and CathPCI registries.

Main Outcomes and Measures

For each hospital in each registry, a disease-based excess mortality ratio (EMR-D) for AMI was calculated, which represents a risk-adjusted observed to expected rate of mortality for AMI as a disease using the Chest Pain-MI Registry, and a procedure-based excess mortality ratio (EMR-P) for PCI was calculated using the CathPCI Registry.

Results

A subset of 625 sites participated in both registries, with a final count of 776 890 patients from the Chest Pain-MI Registry (509 576 men [65.6%]; 620 981 white [80.0%]; and median age, 64 years [interquartile range, 55-74 years]) and 853 386 patients from the CathPCI Registry (582 701 men [68.3%]; 691 236 white [81.0%]; and median age, 63 years [interquartile range, 54-73 years]). Among the 625 linked hospitals, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient between EMR-D and EMR-P produced a ρ of 0.53 (95% CI, 0.47-0.58), suggesting moderate correlation. Among the highest-performing tertile for disease-based risk-adjusted mortality, 90 of 208 sites (43.3%) were classified into a lower category for procedural risk-adjusted mortality. Among the lowest-performing tertile for disease-based risk-adjusted mortality, 92 of 208 sites (44.2%) were classified into a higher category for procedural risk-adjusted mortality. Bland-Altman plots for the overall linked cohort demonstrate a mean difference between EMR-P and EMR-D of 0.49% (95% CI, -1.61% to 2.58%; P < .001), with procedural mortality higher than disease-based mortality. However, among patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest, the mean difference between EMR-P and EMR-D was -0.64% (95% CI, -4.41% to 3.12%; P < .001), with procedural mortality lower than disease-based mortality.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study suggests that, for hospitals treating patients with AMI, there is only a moderate correlation between procedural outcomes and disease-based outcomes. Nearly half of hospitals in the highest tertile of performance for PCI performance were reclassified into a lower performance tertile when judged by disease-based metrics. Higher rates of mortality were observed when using disease-based metrics compared with procedural metrics when assessing patients with cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac arrest, signifying what appears to be potential risk avoidance among this highest-risk subset of patients.

Perceptions of Public and Nonpublic Reporting of Interventional Cardiology Outcomes and Its Impact on Practice: Insights From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking Program

Background

Physicians have expressed significant mistrust with public reporting of interventional cardiology outcomes. Similar data are not available on alternative reporting structures, including nonpublic quality improvement programs with internally distributed measures of interventional quality. We thus sought to evaluate the perceptions of public and nonpublic reporting of interventional cardiology outcomes and its impact on clinical practice.

Methods and Results

A standardized survey was distributed to 218 interventional cardiologists in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, with responses received from 62 (28%). The majority of respondents (90%) expressed some or a great deal of trust in the analytic methods used to generate reports in a nonpublic quality improvement system within Veterans Affairs, while a minority (35%) expressed similar trust in the analytic methods in a public reporting system that operates outside Veterans Affairs (P<0.001). Similarly, a minority of respondents (44%) felt that in‐hospital and 30‐day mortality accurately reflected interventional quality in a nonpublic quality improvement system, though a smaller proportion of survey participants (15%) felt that the same outcome reflected procedural quality in public reporting systems (P<0.001). Despite these sentiments, the majority of operators did not feel pressured to avoid (82% and 75%; P=0.383) or perform (72% and 63%; P=0.096) high‐risk procedures within or outside Veterans Affairs.

Conclusions

Interventional cardiologists express greater trust in analytic methods and clinical outcomes reported in a nonpublic quality improvement program than external public reporting environments. The majority of physicians did not feel pressured to avoid or perform high‐risk procedures, which may improve access to interventional care among high‐risk patients.

Association Between Current and Future Annual Hospital Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Mortality Rates

Importance

Multiple states publicly report a hospital's risk-adjusted mortality rate for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a quality measure. However, whether reported annual PCI mortality is associated with a hospital's future performance is unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the association between reported risk-adjusted hospital PCI-related mortality and a hospital's future PCI-related mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This study used data from the New York Percutaneous Intervention Reporting System from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2016, to assess hospitals that perform PCI.

Exposures

Public-reported, risk-adjusted, 30-day mortality after PCI.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary analysis evaluated the association between a hospital's reported risk-adjusted PCI-related mortality and future PCI-related mortality. The correlation between a hospital's observed to expected (O/E) PCI-related mortality rates each year and future O/E mortality ratios was assessed. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between index year O/E mortality and O/E mortality in subsequent years while adjusting for PCI volume and patient severity.

Results

This study included 67 New York hospitals and 960 hospital-years. Hospitals with low PCI-related mortality (O/E mortality ratio, ≤1) and high mortality (O/E mortality ratio, >1) had inverse associations between their O/E mortality ratio in the index year and the subsequent change in the ratio (hospitals with low mortality, r = -0.45; hospitals with high mortality, r = -0.60). Little of the variation in risk-adjusted mortality was explained by prior performance. An increase in the O/E mortality ratio from 1.0 to 2.0 in the index year was associated with a higher O/E mortality ratio of only 0.15 (95% CI, 0.02-0.27) in the following year.

Conclusions and Relevance

At hospitals with high or low PCI-related mortality rates, the rates largely regressed to the mean the following year. A hospital's risk-adjusted mortality rate was poorly associated with its future mortality. The annual hospital PCI-related mortality may not be a reliable factor associated with hospital quality to consider in a practice change or when helping patients select high-quality hospitals.

Motivating provision of high quality care: it is not all about the money

Mylène Lagarde, Luis Huicho, and Irene Papanicolas discuss different strategies policy makers can use to motivate health providers in order to improve quality of care

Effect of Public Reporting on the Utilization of Coronary Angiography After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

Public reporting of cardiovascular outcomes has been associated with risk aversion for potentially lifesaving procedures and may have spillover effects on nonreported but related procedures.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional analysis of the utilization of coronary angiography among patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2005 and 2011 in states with public reporting of percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes (New York and Massachusetts) versus neighboring states without public reporting of percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes (Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Maryland, and Rhode Island) was performed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. We analyzed 50 125 admission records with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2005 and 2011. The unadjusted rate of coronary angiography for patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in states with public reporting versus without public reporting was not different (20.8% versus 22.8%, P=0.35). We found no statistically significant difference in the adjusted likelihood of coronary angiography in states with public reporting, though the point estimate suggested decreased utilization (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66-1.06; P=0.14). There was no difference in the adjusted likelihood of in-hospital mortality for patients presenting with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in states with public reporting compared to states without public reporting (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.78-1.23; P=0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Public reporting of percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes was associated with a nonstatistically significant reduction in the utilization of diagnostic coronary angiography, a nonreported but related procedure, for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Association of acute myocardial infarction cardiac arrest patient volume and in-hospital mortality in the United States: Insights from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment And Intervention Outcomes Network Registry

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how differences in out of hospital cardiac arrest patient volume affect in-hospital myocardial infarction (MI) mortality.

HYPOTHESIS

Hospitals accepting cardiac arrest transfers will have increased hospital MI mortality.

METHODS

MI patients (ST elevation MI [STEMI] and non-ST elevation MI [NSTEMI]) in the Acute Coronary Treatment Intervention Outcomes Network Registry were included. Hospital variation of cardiac arrest and temporal trend of the proportion of cardiac arrest MI patients were explored. Hospitals were divided into tertiles based on the proportion of cardiac arrest MI patients, and association between in-hospital mortality and hospital tertiles of cardiac arrest was compared using logistic regression adjusting for case mix.

RESULTS

A total of 252 882 patients from 224 hospitals were included, of whom 9682 (3.8%) had cardiac arrest (1.6% of NSTEMI and 7.5% of STEMI patients). The proportion of MI patients who had cardiac arrest admitted to each hospital was relatively low (median 3.7% [25th, 75th percentiles: 3.0%, 4.5%]).with a range of 4.2% to 12.4% in the high-volume tertiles. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality increased with tertile: low 3.8%, intermediate 4.6%, and high 4.7% (P < 0.001); this was no longer significantly different after adjustment (intermediate vs high tertile odds ratio (OR) = 1.02; 95% confidence interval [0.90-1.16], low vs high tertile OR = 0.93 [0.83, 1.05]).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of MI patients who have cardiac arrest is low. In-hospital mortality among all MI patients did not differ significantly between hospitals that had increased proportions of cardiac arrest MI patients. For most hospitals, overall MI mortality is unlikely to be adversely affected by treating cardiac arrest patients with MI.