Frequency of low-risk hospital admissions for heart failure

Point-of-care echocardiography of the right heart improves acute heart failure risk stratification for low-risk patients: The REED-AHF prospective study

OBJECTIVES

Validated acute heart failure (AHF) clinical decision instruments (CDI) insufficiently identify low-risk patients meriting consideration of outpatient treatment. While pilot data show that tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is associated with adverse events, no AHF CDI currently incorporates point-of-care echocardiography (POCecho). We evaluated whether TAPSE adds incremental risk stratification value to an existing CDI.

METHODS

Prospectively enrolled patients at two urban-academic EDs had POCechos obtained before or <1 h after first intravenous diuresis, positive pressure ventilation, and/or nitroglycerin. STEMI and cardiogenic shock were excluded. AHF diagnosis was adjudicated by double-blind expert review. TAPSE, with an a priori cutoff of ≥17 mm, was our primary measure. Secondary measures included eight additional right heart and six left heart POCecho parameters. STRATIFY is a validated CDI predicting 30-day death/cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical cardiac support, intubation, new/emergent dialysis, and acute myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization in ED AHF patients. Full (STRATIFY + POCecho variable) and reduced (STRATIFY alone) logistic regression models were fit to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR), category-free net reclassification index (NRI_cont ), ΔSensitivity (NRI_events ), and ΔSpecificity (NRI_nonevents ). Random forest assessed variable importance. To benchmark risk prediction to standard of care, ΔSensitivity and ΔSpecificity were evaluated at risk thresholds more conservative/lower than the actual outcome rate in discharged patients.

RESULTS

A total of 84/120 enrolled patients met inclusion and diagnostic adjudication criteria. Nineteen percent experiencing the primary outcome had higher STRATIFY scores compared to those event free (233 vs. 212, p = 0.009). Five right heart (TAPSE, TAPSE/PASP, TAPSE/RVDD, RV-FAC, fwRVLS) and no left heart measures improved prediction (p < 0.05) adjusted for STRATIFY. Right heart measures also had higher variable importance. TAPSE ≥ 17 mm plus STRATIFY improved prediction versus STRATIFY alone (aOR 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.91; NRI_cont  0.71, 95% CI 0.22-1.19), and specificity improved by 6%-32% (p < 0.05) at risk thresholds more conservative than the standard-of-care benchmark without missing any additional events.

CONCLUSIONS

TAPSE increased detection of low-risk AHF patients, after use of a validated CDI, at risk thresholds more conservative than standard of care.

Implementation of EHMRG Risk Model in an Italian Population of Elderly Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a cardiac emergency with an increasing incidence, especially among elderly patients. The Emergency Heart failure Mortality Risk Grade (EHMRG) has been validated to assess the 7-days AHF mortality risk, suggesting the management of patients admitted to an emergency department (ED). EHMRG has never been implemented in Italian ED nor among elderly patients. We aimed to assess EHMRG score accuracy in predicting in-hospital death in a retrospective cohort of elderly subjects admitted for AHF from the ED to an Internal Medicine Department. We enrolled, in a 24-months timeframe, all the patients admitted to an Internal Medicine Department from ED for AHF. We calculated the EHMRG score, subdividing patients into six categories, and assessing in-hospital mortality and length of stay. We evaluated EHMRG accuracy with ROC curve analysis and survival with Kaplan−Meier and Cox models. We collected 439 subjects, with 45 in-hospital deaths (10.3%), observing a significant increase of in-hospital death along with EHMRG class, from 0% (class 1) to 7.7% (class 5b; p < 0.0001). EHMRG was fairly accurate in the whole cohort (AUC: 0.75; 95%CI: 0.68−0.83; p < 0.0001), with the best cutoff observed at >103 (Se: 71.1%; Sp: 72.8%; LR+: 2.62; LR-: 0.40; PPV: 23.0%; NPV: 95.7%), but performed better considering the events in the first seven days of admission (AUC: 0.83; 95%; CI: 0.75−0.91; p < 0.0001). In light of our observations, EHMRG can be useful also for the Italian emergency system to predict the risk of short-term mortality for AHF among elderly patients. EHMRG performance was better in the first seven days but remained acceptable when considering the whole period of hospitalization.

Hemodynamic profiles by non-invasive monitoring of cardiac index and vascular tone in acute heart failure patients in the emergency department: External validation and clinical outcomes

Background

Non-invasive finger-cuff monitors measuring cardiac index and vascular tone (SVRI) classify emergency department (ED) patients with acute heart failure (AHF) into three otherwise-indistinguishable subgroups. Our goals were to validate these “hemodynamic profiles” in an external cohort and assess their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods

AHF patients (n = 257) from five EDs were prospectively enrolled in the validation cohort (VC). Cardiac index and SVRI were measured with a ClearSight finger-cuff monitor (formerly NexFin, Edwards Lifesciences) as in a previous study (derivation cohort, DC, n = 127). A control cohort (CC, n = 127) of ED patients with sepsis was drawn from the same study as the DC. K-means cluster analysis previously derived two-dimensional (cardiac index and SVRI) hemodynamic profiles in the DC and CC (k = 3 profiles each). The VC was subgrouped de novo into three analogous profiles by unsupervised K-means consensus clustering. PERMANOVA tested whether VC profiles 1–3 differed from profiles 1–3 in the DC and CC, by multivariate group composition of cardiac index and vascular tone.

Profiles in the VC were compared by a primary outcome of 90-day mortality and a 30-day ranked composite secondary outcome (death, mechanical cardiac support, intubation, new/emergent dialysis, coronary intervention/surgery) as time-to-event (survival analysis) and binary events (odds ratio, OR). Descriptive statistics were used to compare profiles by two validated risk scores for the primary outcome, and one validated score for the secondary outcome.

Results

The VC had median age 60 years (interquartile range {49–67}), and was 45% (n = 116) female. Multivariate profile composition by cardiac index and vascular tone differed significantly between VC profiles 1–3 and CC profiles 1–3 (p = 0.001, R² = 0.159). A difference was not detected between profiles in the VC vs. the DC (p = 0.59, R² = 0.016).

VC profile 3 had worse 90-day survival than profiles 1 or 2 (HR = 4.8, 95%CI 1.4–17.1). The ranked secondary outcome was more likely in profile 1 (OR = 10.0, 1.2–81.2) and profile 3 (12.8, 1.7–97.9) compared to profile 2. Diabetes prevalence and blood urea nitrogen were lower in the high-risk profile 3 (p<0.05). No significant differences between profiles were observed for other clinical variables or the 3 clinical risk scores.

Conclusions

Hemodynamic profiles in ED patients with AHF, by non-invasive finger-cuff monitoring of cardiac index and vascular tone, were replicated de novo in an external cohort. Profiles showed significantly different risks of clinically-important adverse patient outcomes.

Use of Machine Learning to Develop a Risk-Stratification Tool for Emergency Department Patients With Acute Heart Failure

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We use variables from a recently derived acute heart failure risk-stratification rule (STRATIFY) as a basis to develop and optimize risk prediction using additional patient clinical data from electronic health records and machine-learning models.

METHODS

Using a retrospective cohort design, we identified all emergency department (ED) visits for acute heart failure between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, among adult health plan members of a large system with 21 EDs. The primary outcome was any 30-day serious adverse event, including death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, balloon-pump insertion, intubation, new dialysis, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. Starting with the 13 variables from the STRATIFY rule (base model), we tested whether predictive accuracy in a different population could be enhanced with additional electronic health record-based variables or machine-learning approaches (compared with logistic regression). We calculated our derived model area under the curve (AUC), calculated test characteristics, and assessed admission rates across risk categories.

RESULTS

Among 26,189 total ED encounters, mean patient age was 74 years, 51.7% were women, and 60.7% were white. The overall 30-day serious adverse event rate was 18.8%. The base model had an AUC of 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.74 to 0.77). Incorporating additional variables led to improved accuracy with logistic regression (AUC 0.80; 95% confidence interval 0.79 to 0.82) and machine learning (AUC 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.86). We found that 11.1%, 25.7%, and 48.9% of the study population had predicted serious adverse event risk of less than or equal to 3%, less than or equal to 5%, and less than or equal to 10%, respectively, and 28% of those with less than or equal to 3% risk were admitted.

CONCLUSION

Use of a machine-learning model with additional variables improved 30-day risk prediction compared with conventional approaches.

Impact of an Outpatient Cardiology-managed Urgent Access and Observation Unit on Hospital Admissions

INTRODUCTION

Alternatives to the emergency department (ED) for expedient and high-value team-based cardiology care for patients with chest pain, volume overload, palpitations, and other urgent, but not life-threatening cardiac conditions are lacking. Here, we report on the development of the Cardiac Direct Access Unit (CDAc), an ambulatory cardiology unit with exam rooms, observation bays, and an advanced heart failure clinic.

METHODS

Patients referred to the CDAc are seen same-day by an attending cardiologist in a space independent from the ED. We performed a retrospective review of 1146 consecutive patients referred to the CDAc in its first year of operation. Among patients who were referred for urgent same-day evaluation, 60.1% were discharged home without observation.

RESULTS

Among the patients observed or directly discharged from CDAc, 2.4% were readmitted within 30 days for a related symptom. The highest rate of readmission (7.5%) was for heart failure, which compares favorably with guidelines for readmission benchmarks.

CONCLUSION

Our first year of data suggests that a cardiology-directed observation unit may serve as a high-value alternative to the ED for appropriately selected patients.

Predictive Value of the Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Risk Score in Unselected Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Patients

Background

The cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) population is no longer composed of only patients with acute coronary syndromes, and includes those with acute heart failure and multiple comorbidities. We hypothesized that the GWTG‐HF (Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure) risk score that predicts inpatient mortality in hospitalized patients with heart failure would predict mortality in CICU patients.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively analyzed CICU patients at a tertiary care hospital from 2007 to 2015. The GWTG‐HF risk score was calculated at CICU admission. As a secondary analysis, the EFFECT (Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment), OPTIMIZE‐HF (Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure), and ADHERE (Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry) risk scores were calculated. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value were determined for inpatient and 1‐year mortality. The GWTG‐HF risk score was calculated in 9532 (95%) patients, with a median value of 40 (interquartile range, 35–47). Inpatient mortality occurred in 824 (8.6%) patients, and 2075 (21.8%) patients died by 1 year. Patients who died in hospital had a significantly higher mean GWTG‐HF score (47.7 versus 40.2; P<0.001). Inpatient and 1‐year mortality increased in each GWTG‐HF risk score quartile (P<0.0001). Discrimination of the GWTG‐HF, EFFECT, OPTIMIZE‐HF, and ADHERE risk scores was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for hospital mortality, and were similar for all risk scores (0.72–0.74; P>0.05). The Hosmer–Lemeshow statistic suggested poor calibration for hospital mortality by the GWTG‐HF risk score (P<0.001).

Conclusions

The GWTG‐HF risk score and other heart failure prediction tools demonstrate good discrimination for inpatient and 1‐year mortality in a heterogeneous cohort of CICU patients. Our study emphasizes that prognostic variables overlap in cardiac patients, regardless of the admission diagnosis.

Early management of patients with acute heart failure: state of the art and future directions. A consensus document from the society for academic emergency medicine/heart failure society of America acute heart failure working group

Heart failure (HF) afflicts nearly 6 million Americans, resulting in one million emergency department (ED) visits and over one million annual hospital discharges. An aging population and improved survival from cardiovascular diseases is expected to further increase HF prevalence. Emergency providers play a significant role in the management of patients with acute heart failure (AHF). It is crucial that emergency physicians and other providers involved in early management understand the latest developments in diagnostic testing, therapeutics and alternatives to hospitalization. Further, clinical trials must be conducted in the ED in order to improve the evidence base and drive optimal initial therapy for AHF. Should ongoing and future studies suggest early phenotype-driven therapy improves in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes, ED treatment decisions will need to evolve accordingly. The potential impact of future studies which incorporate risk-stratification into ED disposition decisions cannot be underestimated. Predictive instruments that identify a cohort of patients safe for ED discharge, while simultaneously addressing barriers to successful outpatient management, have the potential to significantly impact quality of life and resource expenditures.

Early management of patients with acute heart failure: state of the art and future directions--a consensus document from the SAEM/HFSA acute heart failure working group

Heart failure (HF) afflicts nearly 6 million Americans, resulting in 1 million emergency department (ED) visits and over 1 million annual hospital discharges. The majority of inpatient admissions originate in the ED; thus, it is crucial that emergency physicians and other providers involved in early management understand the latest developments in diagnostic testing, therapeutics, and alternatives to hospitalization. This article discusses contemporary ED management as well as the necessary next steps for ED-based acute HF research.

Moving toward comprehensive acute heart failure risk assessment in the emergency department: the importance of self-care and shared decision making

Nearly 700,000 emergency department (ED) visits were due to acute heart failure (AHF) in 2009. Most visits result in a hospital admission and account for the largest proportion of a projected $70 billion to be spent on heart failure care by 2030. ED-based risk prediction tools in AHF rarely impact disposition decision making. This is a major factor contributing to the 80% admission rate for ED patients with AHF, which has remained unchanged over the last several years. Self-care behaviors such as symptom monitoring, medication taking, dietary adherence, and exercise have been associated with decreased hospital readmissions, yet self-care remains largely unaddressed in ED patients with AHF and thus represents a significant lost opportunity to improve patient care and decrease ED visits and hospitalizations. Furthermore, shared decision making encourages collaborative interaction between patients, caregivers, and providers to drive a care path based on mutual agreement. The observation that “difficult decisions now will simplify difficult decisions later” has particular relevance to the ED, given this is the venue for many such issues. We hypothesize patients as complex and heterogeneous as ED patients with AHF may need both an objective evaluation of physiologic risk as well as an evaluation of barriers to ideal self-care, along with strategies to overcome these barriers. Combining physician gestalt, physiologic risk prediction instruments, an evaluation of self-care, and an information exchange between patient and provider using shared decision making may provide the critical inertia necessary to discharge patients home after a brief ED evaluation.

Risk stratification in acute heart failure: rationale and design of the STRATIFY and DECIDE studies

BACKGROUND

A critical challenge for physicians facing patients presenting with signs and symptoms of acute heart failure (AHF) is how and where to best manage them. Currently, most patients evaluated for AHF are admitted to the hospital, yet not all warrant inpatient care. Up to 50% of admissions could be potentially avoided and many admitted patients could be discharged after a short period of observation and treatment. Methods for identifying patients that can be sent home early are lacking. Improving the physician's ability to identify and safely manage low-risk patients is essential to avoiding unnecessary use of hospital beds.

METHODS

Two studies (STRATIFY and DECIDE) have been funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute with the goal of developing prediction rules to facilitate early decision making in AHF. Using prospectively gathered evaluation and treatment data from the acute setting (STRATIFY) and early inpatient stay (DECIDE), rules will be generated to predict risk for death and serious complications. Subsequent studies will be designed to test the external validity, utility, generalizability and cost-effectiveness of these prediction rules in different acute care environments representing racially and socioeconomically diverse patient populations.

RESULTS

A major innovation is prediction of 5-day as well as 30-day outcomes, overcoming the limitation that 30-day outcomes are highly dependent on unpredictable, post-visit patient and provider behavior. A novel aspect of the proposed project is the use of a comprehensive cardiology review to correctly assign post-treatment outcomes to the acute presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Finally, a rigorous analysis plan has been developed to construct the prediction rules that will maximally extract both the statistical and clinical properties of every data element. Upon completion of this study we will subsequently externally test the prediction rules in a heterogeneous patient cohort.

Standardized reporting criteria for studies evaluating suspected acute heart failure syndromes in the emergency department

Heart failure requiring urgent therapy represents a burgeoning health care burden. Although acute heart failure syndromes are commonly defined as a change in chronic heart failure signs and symptoms requiring urgent therapy, the presentation, development, and response to treatment is highly dependent on individual patient characteristics. This heterogeneity has led to challenges in interpreting widely differing study methods, including eligibility requirements and outcome measures. To improve interpretation of results and translate such information to better patient care, it is essential to present an accurate description of the patient population and study design. Based on existing recommendations and expert consensus, the authors present standardized reporting criteria to improve interpretability of research in this challenging cohort.

Biomarker changes during acute heart failure treatment

Biomarker changes may provide physicians with objective evidence of treatment efficacy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and facilitate early hospital discharge. The authors hypothesize that mid-regional-pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), C-terminal-pro-endothelin-1 (CT-pro-ET-1), and mid-regional-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) change during the first 24 hours of ADHF therapy. Eligible patients had an emergency department diagnosis of ADHF and fulfilled modified Framingham criteria. Clinical data, serum, and plasma values were collected at enrollment, 2 to 4 hours, and 12 to 24 hours after treatment. Changes in biomarker concentrations from baseline to 2 to 4 hours, baseline to 12 to 24 hours, and 2 to 4 to 12 to 24 hours were calculated. Fisher exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons. Forty-eight patients were included. The median age was 62 years (range 40-88), 54% were men and 50% were white. More patients had changes in MR-pro-ANP levels in the first 2 to 4 hours after ADHF therapy compared with MR-proADM or CT-pro-ET-1 (36% vs 16% and 24%). However, 12 to 24 hours after therapy, similar proportions of patients had changes in MR-proANP, MR-proADM, and CT-proET-1 levels (47%, 41%, and 49%). In this preliminary study, patients with ADHF had measurable changes in MR-proANP, MR-proADM, and CT-pro-ET-1 24 hours after initial therapy. A study of association with clinical course and outcomes to determine the role of these markers in risk-stratification is warranted.

Dynamic model inversion techniques for breath-by-breath measurement of carbon dioxide from low bandwidth sensors

Respiratory CO(2) measurement (capnography) is an important diagnosis tool that lacks inexpensive and wearable sensors. This paper develops techniques to enable use of inexpensive but slow CO(2) sensors for breath-by-breath tracking of CO(2) concentration. This is achieved by mathematically modeling the dynamic response and using model-inversion techniques to predict input CO(2) concentration from the slow-varying output. Experiments are designed to identify model-dynamics and extract relevant model-parameters for a solidstate room monitoring CO(2) sensor. A second-order model that accounts for flow through the sensor's filter and casing is found to be accurate in describing the sensor's slow response. The resulting estimate is compared with a standard-of-care respiratory CO(2) analyzer and shown to effectively track variation in breath-by-breath CO(2) concentration. This methodology is potentially useful for measuring fast-varying inputs to any slow sensor.

[Subacute care unit]

Subacute care is usually used to define those units that because of their characteristics are situated very close to hospitalization. Levenson et al. had defined the subacute care concept as that orientated to treat immediately after an acute hospitalization period, in which one or more complex medical problems have been treated. Postacute care is not a continuation of acute care, but must contribute to improve health results. This model would be based in a complete geriatric assessment. The admittance criteria would be based, among others, in frail patients or those with chronic and developed disease with functional impairment risk with moderate to low complications that would benefit from a specific geriatric assessment.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of ED decision making in patients with non-high-risk heart failure

BACKGROUND

The ED disposition of patients with non-high-risk acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is challenging. To help address this problem, we investigated the cost-effectiveness of different ED disposition strategies.

METHODS

We constructed a decision analytic model evaluating the cost-effectiveness of 3 possible ED ADHF disposition strategies in a 60-year-old man: (1) discharge home from the ED; (2) observation unit (OU) admission; (3) inpatient admission. Base case patients had no high-risk features. We used Medicare costs and the national physician fee schedule to capture ED, OU, and hospital costs, including costs of complications and death. All analyses were conducted using Decision Maker software (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ).

RESULTS

Compared to ED discharge, OU admission had a reasonable marginal cost-effectiveness ratio ($44 249/quality adjusted life year), whereas hospital admission had an unacceptably high marginal cost-effectiveness ratio ($684 101/quality adjusted life year). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that as the risk of early (within 5 days) and late (within 30 days) readmission exceeded 36% and 74%, respectively, in those discharged from the ED, OU admission became less costly and more effective than ED discharge. Similarly, an increase in relative risk of both early and late death in those discharged from the ED improves the marginal cost-effectiveness ratio of OU admission. Finally, as postdischarge event rates increase in those discharged from the OU, hospital admission became more cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

Observation unit admission for patients with non-high-risk ADHF has a societally acceptable marginal cost-effectiveness ratio compared to ED discharge. However, as ED and OU discharge event rates increase, hospital admission becomes the more cost-effective strategy.

Genetics and pharmacogenetics in heart failure

Heart failure is a heterogeneous disease, the development and pathophysiology of which involves complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. It is well known that there are several heritable forms of heart failure in which genetic variation makes an individual more likely to develop the disease; however, less is clear about the degree to which genetics plays a role in the pathogenesis of more classic forms of heart failure. Several studies have been performed in patients with heart failure to determine the influence of modifier genes on exercise capacity, cardiovascular and pulmonary function, and outcomes, including survival. Given the variability in the response to pharmacologic treatment in patients with heart failure, there is an emerging interest in the optimal pharmacologic intervention for a given genotype in patients with heart failure. This review focuses primarily on several modifier genes, principally those associated with regulation of the adrenergic and rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems and those important to vascular control in heart failure, as well as the impact of these genes in the response to treatment.

Validation of the Acute Heart Failure Index

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Validate a clinical prediction rule prognostic of short-term fatal and inpatient nonfatal outcomes for heart failure patients admitted through the emergency department.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied a random cohort of 8,384 adult patients admitted to Pennsylvania hospitals in 2003 and 2004 with a diagnosis of heart failure as defined by primary discharge diagnosis codes. We reported the proportions of inpatient death, serious medical complications before discharge, and 30-day death in the patients identified as low risk by the prediction rule.

RESULTS

The prediction rule classified 1,609 (19.2%) of the patients as low risk. Within this subgroup, there were 12 (0.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3% to 1.2%) inpatient deaths, 28 (1.7%; 95% CI 1.1% to 2.4%) patients survived to hospital discharge after a serious complication, and 47 (2.9%; 95% CI 2.1% to 3.7%) patients died within 30 days of the index hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

This prediction rule identifies a group of admitted heart failure patients at low risk of inpatient mortal and nonmortal complications. Our validation findings suggest the rule could assist physicians in making site-of-care decisions for this patient population and aid in analyzing presenting illness burden in study populations.

Beyond pulmonary edema: diagnostic, risk stratification, and treatment challenges of acute heart failure management in the emergency department

The majority of heart failure hospitalizations in the United States originate in the emergency department (ED). Current strategies for acute heart failure syndromes have largely been tailored after chronic heart failure guidelines and care. Prospective ED-based acute heart failure syndrome trials are lacking, and current guidelines for disposition are based on either little or no evidence. As a result, the majority of ED acute heart failure syndrome patients are admitted to the hospital. Recent registry data suggest there is a significant amount of heterogeneity in acute heart failure syndrome ED presentations, and diagnostics and therapeutics may need to be individualized to the urgency of the presentation, underlying pathophysiology, and acute hemodynamic characteristics. A paradigm shift is necessary in acute heart failure syndrome guidelines and research: prospective trials need to focus on diagnostic, therapeutic, and risk-stratification algorithms that rely on readily available ED data, focusing on outcomes more proximate to the ED visit (5 days). Intermediate outcomes (30 days) are more dependent on inpatient and outpatient care and patient behavior than ED management decisions. Without these changes, the burden of acute heart failure syndrome care is unlikely to change. This article proposes such a paradigm shift in acute heart failure syndrome care and discusses areas of further research that are necessary to promote this change in approach.

Economic burden of heart failure: a summary of recent literature

OBJECTIVE

We reviewed literature published from 1995 to 2002 to highlight findings on the economic burden of heart failure (HF). Methods A key-word search of literature indexes for relevant citations identified 54 articles that were then summarized for findings on HF economics.

RESULTS

Results were described in terms of burden of illness, cost-effectiveness analysis, and resource utilization and costs. Hospitalization of the elderly is the driving force behind HF costs. Interventions that decrease the frequency of hospital admissions while maintaining clinical and patient reported outcomes are considered a high priority among decision makers and clinicians. Although the cost-effectiveness of therapy with beta-adrenergic blocking agents has been well established in the literature, the cost-effectiveness of hospital- or home-based HF management programs is still under debate. The issues of payer status and physician specialty impact on decreased hospital admission and cost have been inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS

Any intervention capable of decreasing even a small fraction of adverse outcomes, most notably hospital admission and length of stay, could trigger significant cost savings in the management of HF. Public policy makers, together with clinicians identifying cost saving or cost-effective interventions in their practice, are expected to increase their efforts to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and outcomes of medical and pharmacologic interventions in HF.

Ontologies supporting continuity of care: the case of heart failure

Heart failure can be the final stage of almost any type of cardiovascular diseases. Such diseases are the leading cause of recurrent hospital stay and mortality in developed countries, and an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In consideration of the growing incidence of this syndrome, the Province of Trento (Northern Italy) supports a research project called e-Heart Failure. The aims of this project include the implementation of a web-based patient record management system which must allow all the professionals involved in the care process to provide a shared and continuous care. This paper emphasizes the role of ontologies in supporting the continuity of care. In a complex scenario where multiple agents co-operate in order to allow continuity of care, ontologies are the essential glue to ensure semantic consistency to data and knowledge shared by the different actors involved in the process, including patients and their families.

Heart failure observation units: optimizing care

Heart failure causes substantial morbidity and mortality in the United States and accounts for a higher proportion of Medicare costs than any other disease. Most of these costs result from the high rate of hospital admissions and protracted length of stay associated with episodes of acute decompensation of heart failure. Thus, effective clinical strategies to obviate hospitalization and readmission can result in substantial savings. A specialized heart failure observation unit, in which patients receive rapid, goal-directed emergency care for heart failure symptoms, can be a critical component in this effort, providing intensive therapeutic monitoring and education. In institutions with specialized heart failure observation units, patients are triaged to this setting shortly after presentation to the emergency department (ED), and clinic referrals can be directed to this unit after minimal ED evaluation. Aggressive follow-up is also arranged at discharge. Recent additions to the therapeutic armamentarium and future advances in diagnostics and monitoring will continue to improve patient care and prevent avoidable hospitalizations.

Emergency department observation of heart failure: preliminary analysis of safety and cost

Emergency-department (ED)-based observation-unit treatment has been shown to reduce inpatient admissions, hospital bed-hours, and costs without adversely affecting outcomes for several conditions. A sequential group design study compared risk-matched, acute decompensated heart failure patients admitted directly to the inpatient setting with those admitted to an ED observation unit for up to 23 hours before ED disposition. Outcomes were 30-day readmissions or repeat ED visits for heart failure or 30-day mortality. Estimates of bed-hours and charges between the groups were compared. Sixty-four patients were enrolled with 36 inpatient admissions and 28 observation unit patients. No patients died within 30 days. Observation unit patients had no significant difference in outcomes, a decrease in time from ED triage to discharge, a saving in mean bed-hours, and less total charges. This pilot trial provides preliminary data that suggest admitted, low-risk heart failure patients may be safely and cost-effectively managed in an ED-based observation unit. These findings need to be further evaluated in a randomized clinical trial.

Comorbidity and social factors predicted hospitalization in frail elderly patients

OBJECTIVE

Studies on factors predicting the hospital admission of geriatric patients have reported different findings. The present study was undertaken to examine the rate of hospitalization among a large sample of frail elderly people living in the community and to identify the most important clinical and patient-centered factors associated with the hospital admission.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

This is an observational cohort study. All patients (n = 1,291) in six Italian home health care agencies were assessed by a trained staff who collected data on the Minimum Data Set for Home Care (MDS-HC) form. We constructed a longitudinal database including MDS-HC data and information on hospital utilization by each patient.

RESULTS

During the follow-up of 12 months, the rate of hospitalization was about 26% of the studied sample. Persons living alone were more likely to have a hospital admission than those living with an informal caregiver (odds ratio OR = 2.59, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.82-3.69). Similarly, persons with economic hardship were more frequently hospitalized than those without these problems(OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.75-5.18). Comorbidity and previous hospital admission were associated with a higher risk to be hospitalized, too.

CONCLUSION

Our results support the hypothesis that a mix of social and health problems are independent predictors of hospitalization. Identification of those factors that best predict hospital admissions and readmissions gives direction for potential interventions and further research toward reducing unnecessary hospitalizations.

Evaluation and management of acutely decompensated chronic heart failure in the emergency department

A wide range of patients with symptomatic heart failure seek treatment in the emergency department. While there is no single approach to the diversity of patients with acutely decompensated heart failure, certain overarching principles apply. For patients with acute pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock, the first priority must be rapid stabilization and treatment of reversible problems. For patients with less dramatic presentations, a more systematic search for precipitating factors may be required. Therapy, in general, is directed at reversing dyspnea and/or hypoxemia caused by pulmonary edema, improving systemic perfusion, and reducing myocardial oxygen demand. While morphine and diuretics still have their traditional roles, vasodilators and inotropic agents play an increasingly important part in the modern pharmacologic approach to decompensated heart failure in the emergency department. After evaluation and stabilization in the emergency department, most patients will require hospital admission, although a subset of low-risk patients may be appropriate for discharge to home following a period of observation. Strategies to optimize emergency department care are likely to have an impact upon patient outcomes and upon resource utilization. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.

Effectiveness of acute rehabilitation services in geriatric evaluation and management units

As pressure for cost containment has mounted and the US population ages, causing increased levels of disability among the population and a greater focus on quality of life and rehabilitation after acute illness, the emphasis on acute rehabilitation services has increased. Acute rehabilitation services include many programs, and the field is changing rapidly along several dimensions, some of which are explored. In such a complex and fluid situation, a definitive overview is impossible, but some useful remarks are attempted.

The Life Care Center of St. Louis experience with subacute care

The Life Care Center of St. Louis is a 100-bed, freestanding, subacute care facility. The major differences between subacute care facilities and nursing homes are described. The problems associated with dealing with medically complex conditions in a subacute care facility are stressed. The center's approach to rehabilitation is reviewed in detail. The utility of the Functional Independence Measure in subacute care settings is discussed. Common conditions seen in subacute care facilities are briefly reviewed.

Implementation strategies to manage heart failure outcomes

In the United States, chronic systolic heart failure causes a great economic burden. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies must be tailored to the pathophysiologic cause with the ultimate goal of promoting regression or preventing progression of left ventricular remodeling. When this goal is met, symptoms are reduced, quality of life is improved, and morbidity and mortality are decreased. Specific objectives in a nurse-managed heart failure clinic are to improve exercise tolerance, decrease symptoms, and prevent or reduce emergency department visits and acute hospital admissions. Before a nurse-managed outpatient program for heart failure care is implemented, the team must address specific management issues and controversies in heart failure. Actions must focus on chronic disease management rather than just episodic care. Written protocols or algorithms provide guidance in pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic care and ensure that consensus guidelines that offer the best hope of reaching goals are followed.

Nonpharmacologic treatment of heart failure in the elderly

Nonpharmacologic therapy is an integral part of the management of elderly patients with heart failure. Reinforcement of dietary sodium restriction and other nutritional concerns are critical features of therapy. Quality standards for the management of patients with heart failure are being developed, and the implementation of these standards is a goal of clinicians. A multidisciplinary approach to elderly patients with heart failure is beneficial.

Impact of integrated home care services on hospital use

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of a home care program based on comprehensive geriatric assessment and case management on hospital use and costs among frail older individuals.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental study with a 6-month follow-up.

SETTING

Vittorio Veneto, a town in northern Italy.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred fifteen frail older people who applied for integrated home care services.

INTERVENTION

Each patient was assessed with the Minimum Data Set for Home Care, and, subsequently, a case manager and a multidisciplinary team delivered social and health care services as indicated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We determined the hospital admissions and days spent in the hospital for all subjects during the first 6 months after the implementation of the home care program and compared them with the rate of hospitalization that the same patients had experienced in the 6 months preceding the implementation of the program.

RESULTS

After the implementation of the integrated home care program, there was a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations compared with pre-implementation (56% vs 46%, respectively; P < .001), associated with a reduction in the number of hospital days, both at the individual patient level (28+/-23 days vs 18+/-15 days, respectively; P < .01) and for each admission (16+/-12 days vs 12+/-8 days, respectively; P < .01). This resulted in a 29% cost reduction with an estimated savings of $1260 per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of an integrated home care program based on the use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment instrument guided by a case manager has a significant impact on hospitalization and is cost-effective.

Correlation of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research congestive heart failure admission guideline with mortality: peer review organization voluntary hospital association initiative to decrease events (PROVIDE) for congestive heart failure

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We quantify patient risk as related to the presence or absence of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) congestive heart failure (CHF) hospital admission criteria.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational cohort study at 12 acute care hospitals examining consecutive patients with the final primary diagnosis of CHF. Trained record abstractors blinded to outcome extracted 386 data elements, including 6 AHCPR admission criteria: (1) pulmonary edema (determined by radiograph) or severe respiratory distress (respiration >40 breaths/min), (2) hypoxia (oxygen saturation <90%) not caused by pulmonary disease, (3) significant edema (>/=+2) or anasarca, (4) symptomatic hypotension (<90 mm Hg systolic blood pressure) or syncope, (5) CHF of recent onset, and (6) clinical evidence (chest pain) of myocardial ischemia. The association between admission criteria and mortality rate (30 days, 6 months, and 1 year) was quantified and risk adjusted by stepwise logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 1,674 patients with CHF, 1,340 (80%) were admitted to the hospital. Patients not admitted had a lower mortality rate than admitted patients (30-day mortality rate, 2.1% [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6 to 3.6] versus 11.5% [95% CI 9.8 to 13.2]; odds ratio 0.20 [95% CI 0.09 to 0.45]). Two of the admission criteria did not correlate with a higher mortality rate: CHF of recent onset and myocardial ischemia. Excluding those 2 criteria, the number of admission criteria present correlated with the patient's probability of hospital admission (P <.001), length of hospital stay (P =.014), and 30-day mortality rate (P <.0001). When zero or 1 admission criteria was present, physician clinical judgment did distinguish patients less likely to die in the subsequent 30 days (1.5% [95% CI 0.2 to 2.8] sent home versus 10.2% [95% CI 8.5 to 11.9] admitted). When 2 or more admission criteria were present, physician clinical judgment did not distinguish patients less likely to die in the subsequent 30 days (18.2% [95% CI 0 to 42.0] sent home versus 19.4% [95% CI 13.6 to 25.2] admitted).

CONCLUSION

Selected criteria of the AHCPR CHF admission guideline correlate with mortality rate. Combined with physician clinical judgment, they may be useful in the risk stratification of patients with CHF. Selected low-risk patients with CHF identified by the admission criteria who are presently managed in the acute care hospital may be candidates for outpatient management. [Graff L, Orledge J, Radford MJ, Wang Y, Petrillo M, Maag R: Correlation of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research congestive heart failure admission guideline with mortality: Peer Review Organization Voluntary Hospital Association Initiative to Decrease Events (PROVIDE) for congestive heart failure.

The effects of a discharge planning and home follow-up intervention on elders hospitalized with common medical and surgical cardiac conditions

This study was a secondary analysis of data collected on 202 patients hospitalized with common medical or surgical cardiac conditions who completed a 24-week postdischarge follow-up program as part of a large-scale randomized clinical trial. Subjects were age 65 years or older, admitted from their homes with one of the following diagnosis-related groups: heart failure, angina, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or cardiac valve replacement. The intervention consisted of comprehensive discharge planning and home follow-up by an advanced practice nurse (APN) for 4 weeks after discharge. Control subjects received usual care. Findings indicated that medical patients in the intervention group had fewer multiple readmissions during the 24 weeks of follow-up and a reduced total number of days of rehospitalization. There were fewer hospital readmissions in the surgical group when measured from discharge to 6 weeks. There were no differences in functional status between intervention and control groups for either population. The findings of this study suggest that high-risk elders with significant cardiac problems may benefit from a care program that emphasizes collaborative, coordinated discharge planning and home follow-up that includes telephone and home visits by APNs.