Impact of gastroenterology consultation on the outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital with decompensated cirrhosis

County-level Differences in Liver-related Mortality, Waitlisting, and Liver Transplantation in the United States

BACKGROUND

Much of our understanding regarding geographic issues in transplantation is based on statistical techniques that do not formally account for geography and is based on obsolete boundaries such as donation service area.

METHODS

We applied spatial epidemiological techniques to analyze liver-related mortality and access to liver transplant services at the county level using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from 2010 to 2018.

RESULTS

There was a significant negative spatial correlation between transplant rates and liver-related mortality at the county level (Moran's I, -0.319; P  = 0.001). Significant clusters were identified with high transplant rates and low liver-related mortality. Counties in geographic clusters with high ratios of liver transplants to liver-related deaths had more liver transplant centers within 150 nautical miles (6.7 versus 3.6 centers; P  < 0.001) compared with all other counties, as did counties in geographic clusters with high ratios of waitlist additions to liver-related deaths (8.5 versus 2.5 centers; P  < 0.001). The spatial correlation between waitlist mortality and overall liver-related mortality was positive (Moran's I, 0.060; P  = 0.001) but weaker. Several areas with high waitlist mortality had some of the lowest overall liver-related mortality in the country.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that high waitlist mortality and allocation model for end-stage liver disease do not necessarily correlate with decreased access to transplant, whereas local transplant center density is associated with better access to waitlisting and transplant.

Inpatient Gastroenterology Consultation and Outcomes of Cirrhosis-Related Hospitalizations in Two Large National Cohorts

BACKGROUND

Little is known about use of specialty care among patients admitted with cirrhosis complications.

AIMS

We sought to characterize the use and impact of gastroenterology/hepatology (GI/HEP) consultations in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. We studied two national cohorts-the Veterans Affairs Costs and Outcomes in Liver Disease (VOCAL) and a nationally representative database of commercially insured patients (Optum Clinformatics™ DataMart).

METHODS

Cirrhosis-related admissions were classified by ICD9/10 codes for ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, alcohol-associated hepatitis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or infection related. We included 20,287/222,166 index admissions from VOCAL/Optum from 2010 to 2016. Propensity-matched analyses were conducted to balance clinical characteristics. Mortality and readmission were evaluated using competing risk regression (subhazard ratios, sHR), and length of stay (LOS) was assessed using negative binomial regression.

RESULTS

GI/HEP consultations were completed among 37% and 42% patients in VOCAL and Optum, respectively. In propensity-matched analyses for VOCAL, GI/HEP consultation was associated with adjusted estimates of increased LOS (1.55 + 1.03 additional days), 90-day mortality (sHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14-1.36), and lower 30-day readmissions (sHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75-0.89). In Optum, inpatient consultation was associated with higher LOS (1.13 + 1.01 additional days), higher 90-day mortality (sHR 1.57, 95% CI 1.43-1.72), and higher 30-day readmission risk (sHR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.05). Post-discharge primary and specialty care was higher among admissions receiving GI/HEP consultation in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of GI/HEP consultation for cirrhosis-related admissions was low. Patients who received consultation had higher disease severity, and consultation was not associated with lower mortality but was associated with lower 30-day readmissions in the VA cohort only.

Generalist vs specialist acute medical admissions - What is the impact of moving towards acute medical subspecialty admissions on efficacy of care provision?

INTRODUCTION

The discussion surrounding generalist versus specialist acute medical admissions continues to stimulate debate and patients with certain conditions benefit from specialist care.

AIM

To determine whether a specialty medical admission program would reduce inpatient length of stay (LOS), mortality and readmission rates.

DESIGN/METHODS

A prospective cohort study of inpatients admitted under a general internal medicine (GIM) service before and after introduction of a specialty-directing programme. We hypothesized that early transfer of patient care to a specialty suited to their presenting complaint would reduce LOS and a specialty-directing early redistribution of care programme was introduced. Seven of the ten clinical teams participating in the GIM roster adopted the programme. On the morning following a specialty-directing team being on call for all new GIM admissions during a 24-hour period, specialty-directing teams were allocated one patient appropriate to their specialty.

RESULTS

5,144 patient-care episodes were analysed over the two-year study period. LOS increased by greater than 15%, one year after introducing the specialty-directing programme (8.5±8.4 vs 7.3±7.5 days, p < 0.001). LOS did not differ between teams that participated and those who did not (8.4±8.1 vs 8.1±7.9 days, p = 0.298). No differences were found in the proportion of patients who were discharged home, died while an inpatient or re-admitted within 30 days of discharge. The proportion of patients aged greater than 80 years increased significantly also - from 24.7% in 2017 to 27.9% in 2019(p == 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Widespread adoption of specialist care may not be beneficial for all medical inpatients and physicians should continue to undergo dual specialist and GIM training.

Patient and Clinician Perceptions of Factors Relevant to Ideal Specialty Consultations

IMPORTANCE

Inpatient subspecialty consultations, a common and expensive practice within inpatient medicine, do not always go well; however, little is known about the failure modes of consultation, thus making it difficult to identify interventions to improve consultation quality.

OBJECTIVE

To understand how stakeholders envision the ideal inpatient consultation and identify how and why consultations commonly fall short of this ideal.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This qualitative study used in-depth, semistructured interviews collected from April to October 2017 and analyzed from January 2018 to February 2020 using conventional content analysis. The setting was a single academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants were hospitalists and specialists who had requested or performed a consultation for a non-intensive care unit patient in the previous 4 months, patients who had received a consultation while hospitalized at the medical center in the previous 15 months, and family members of such patients.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Consultation experiences reported by participants. Clinicians were asked about characteristics of the ideal consultation, positive and negative consultation experiences, costs and benefits, and suggested improvements. Patients and family members were asked about their consultation experience, changes in care, communication preferences, and suggested improvements.

RESULTS

The study included 38 participants: 17 specialists, 13 hospitalists, 4 patients, and 4 family members. More than half (21 of 38) of the participants were female. There were 11 key information exchanges identified that occur among the specialist team, primary team, and patient/family during an ideal consultation. These exchanges are time sensitive and primarily carried out through unwritten protocols. We also identified 6 defects (process failures) that commonly derail information exchanges (complete omission, exclusion of a key stakeholder, poor timing, incomplete or inaccurate information, and misinterpretation) and 5 contextual factors (roles and boundaries, professionalism, team hierarchy, availability, and operational know-how) that influence how information exchange unfolds, making some consultations more prone to defects.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Successful inpatient consultation requires a complicated, sequenced series of time-sensitive information exchanges that are highly vulnerable to failure. Maximizing the benefit of consultations will likely entail not only minimizing low-value consultations but also actively preventing defects, such as information inaccuracies and misinterpretation, that commonly derail the consultation process.

Adherence to goal-directed therapy for patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

DISCLAIMER

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

PURPOSE

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has developed a standard of care for the treatment of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Evidence examining the adherence rate to these guideline recommendations is limited. This study aimed to determine the adherence rate to guideline-directed therapy for patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with SBP.

METHODS

This institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study conducted at a large academic hospital evaluated the adherence rate to guideline-directed therapy in adult patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with SBP. Included hospitalized patients had a documented diagnosis of cirrhosis and acute SBP. The adherence rate to guideline-directed therapy was determined by receipt of paracentesis within 24 hours of admission, request of Gram stain and culture tests, avoidance of fresh frozen plasma, receipt of albumin on days 1 and 3, receipt of empiric antibiotics within 6 hours, receipt of SBP prophylaxis, receipt of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, and offer of pneumococcal vaccination.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients were included. Provider adherence to goal-directed therapy was poor, with criteria met for only 10 (9.1%) patients. The therapies with the lowest adherence rates included SBP prophylaxis on discharge (54.5%), receipt of albumin on day 3 (42.7%), and offer of pneumococcal vaccination during admission (43.6%). Patients with a gastrointestinal consult were more likely than those without a consult to obtain albumin on day 1 (69.4% vs 36.8%, P = 0.001) and albumin on day 3 (52.8% vs 23.7%, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a lack of adherence to guideline-directed therapy for the management of SBP.

Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Liver-Related Mortality

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The Affordable Care Act provided the opportunity for states to expand Medicaid for low-income individuals. Not all states adopted Medicaid expansion, and the timing of adoption among expansion states varied. Prior studies have shown that Medicaid expansion improved mortality rates for several chronic conditions. Although there are data on the association between Medicaid expansion on insurance type among patients waitlisted for a liver transplant, there are no published data to date on its impact on liver disease-related mortality in the broader population. We therefore sought to evaluate the association between Medicaid expansion and state-level liver disease-related mortality using a quasi-experimental study design.

METHODS

We evaluated age-adjusted, state-level, liver disease-related mortality rates using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. We fit multivariable linear regression models that accounted for sociodemographic, clinical, and access-to-care variables at the state level, and a difference-in-difference estimator to evaluate the association between Medicaid expansion and liver disease-related mortality.

RESULTS

In multivariable linear regression models, there was a significant association between Medicaid expansion and liver disease-related mortality (P = .02). Medicaid expansion was associated with 8.3 (95% CI, 1.6-15.1) fewer deaths from liver disease per 1,000,000 adult residents per year after Medicaid expansion compared with what would have been expected to occur if those states followed the same trajectory as nonexpansion states. The impact of Medicaid expansion translated to 870 fewer liver-related deaths per year in expansion states (4350 in the postexpansion study period from 2014 to 2018).

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the contention that Medicaid expansion has been associated with significantly decreased liver disease-related mortality. Universal Medicaid expansion could further decrease liver disease-related mortality in the United States.

Gender and Racial Differences in Hospitalizations for Primary Biliary Cholangitis in the USA

BACKGROUND/AIM

The prevalence, characteristics, burden and trends of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) hospitalizations in the USA remain unclear.

METHOD

We identified primary PBC hospitalizations from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2007 through 2014 using ICD-9-CM codes. We calculated the rates and trends of hospitalization for PBC per 100,000 US population among each gender (males and females) and racial categories (Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and other racial minorities), and measured the predictors of hospitalization, and of mortality, charges and length of stay (LOS) among PBC hospitalizations.

RESULT

There were 8460 (weighted: 41,191) PBC hospitalizations between 2007 and 2014. The mean national PBC hospitalization rate was 2.2 cases per 100,000 population (2.2/100,000), increasing from 1.7/100,000 (2007) to 2.5/100,000 (2014). From 2007 to 2014, the in-hospital mortality and LOS were unchanged while the charges increased from $65,993 to $73,093 ($225 million to $447 million overall expenses). Compared to Whites, the PBC hospitalization rate was 12% higher among Hispanics (RR: 1.12 [1.09-1.16]), 53% lower in Blacks (RR: 0.47 [0.45-0.49]) and 5% lower among other racial minorities (0.95 [0.91-0.99]). The rate was higher among females (RR:4.02 [3.93-4.12]) compared to males. On multivariate analysis, Blacks and other racial minorities, respectively, had higher odds of mortality (AOR: 1.47 [1.03-2.10] and 1.33 [0.96-1.84]), while other racial minorities had longer LOS (7.0 vs. 5.6 days) and higher hospital charges ($48,984 vs. $41,495) when compared to Whites.

CONCLUSION

The hospitalization rate and burden of PBC in the USA have increased disproportionately among females and Hispanics with higher mortality in Blacks.

County Differences in Liver Mortality in the United States: Impact of Sociodemographics, Disease Risk Factors, and Access to Care

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Data have demonstrated state-wide variability in mortality rates from liver disease (cirrhosis + hepatocellular carcinoma), but data are lacking at the local level (eg, county) to identify factors associated with variability in liver disease-related mortality and hotspots of liver disease mortality.

METHODS

We used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research data from 2009 to 2018 to calculate county-level, age-adjusted liver disease-related death rates. We fit multivariable linear regression models to adjust for county-level covariates related to demographics (ie, race and ethnicity), medical comorbidities (eg, obesity), access to care (eg, uninsured rate), and geographic (eg, distance to closest liver transplant center) variables. We used optimized hotspot analysis to identify clusters of liver disease mortality hotspots based on the final multivariable models.

RESULTS

In multivariable models, 61% of the variability in among-county mortality was explained by county-level race/ethnicity, poverty, uninsured rates, distance to the closest transplant center, and local rates of obesity, diabetes, and alcohol use. Despite adjustment, significant within-state variability in county-level mortality rates was found. Of counties in the top fifth percentile (ie, highest mortality) of fully adjusted mortality, 60% were located in 3 states: Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Adjusted mortality rates were highly spatially correlated, representing 5 clusters: South Florida; Appalachia and the eastern part of the Midwest; Texas and Oklahoma; New Mexico, Arizona, California, and southern Oregon; and parts of Washington and Montana.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate significant intrastate differences in liver disease-related mortality, with more than 60% of the variability explained by patient demographics, clinical risk factors for liver disease, and access to specialty liver care.

Understanding Health Care Utilization and Mortality After Emergency General Surgery in Patients With Underlying Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

Mortality and complications are not well defined nationally for emergency general surgery (EGS) patients presenting with underlying all-cause liver disease (LD).

STUDY DESIGN

We analyzed the 2012-2014 National Inpatient Sample for adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with a primary EGS diagnosis. Underlying LD included International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for alcoholic and viral hepatitis, malignancy, congenital etiologies, and cirrhosis. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes included complications, operative intervention, and costs.

RESULTS

Of the 6.8 million EGS patients, 358 766 (5.3%) had underlying LD. 59.1% had cirrhosis, 6.7% had portal hypertension, and 13.7% had ascites. Compared with other EGS patients, EGS-LD patients had higher mean costs ($12 847 vs $10 234, P < .001). EGS-LD patients were less likely to have surgery (26.1% vs 37.0%, P < .001) but for those who did, mortality was higher (4.8% vs 1.8%, P < .001). Risk factors for mortality included ascites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.68, P < .001), dialysis (aOR = 3.44, P < .001), sepsis (aOR = 8.97, P < .001), and respiratory failure requiring intubation (aOR = 10.40, P < .001). Odds of death increased in both surgical (aOR = 4.93, P < .001) and non-surgical EGS-LD patients (aOR = 2.56, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Underlying all-cause LD among EGS patients is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, even in the absence of surgical intervention.

Readmission Rates and Associated Outcomes for Alcoholic Hepatitis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) can lead to sudden and severe hepatic decompensation necessitating recurrent hospitalizations. We evaluated the trends, predictors, and healthcare cost burden of AH-related readmissions in the USA.

METHODS

Utilizing the National Readmissions Database 2010-2014, we performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis to identify the index readmission with AH for up to 90 days after discharge. Annual trends of 30- and 90-day AH-related readmissions were calculated. Predictors of 30- and 90-day readmission were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Annual healthcare cost burden associated with AH-linked readmissions was estimated.

RESULTS

Of the 21,572 (unweighted: 50,769) AH-related hospitalizations, 4917 (22.8%) and 7890 (36.6%) were readmitted in 30 and 90 day, respectively, with rates that were statistically unchanged from 2010 to 2014. Predictors of 30-day readmissions included female gender, hepatitis C virus infection, cirrhosis, ascites, acute kidney injury, urinary tract infection, history of bariatric surgery, chronic pancreatitis, and high medical comorbidity index. Acute pancreatitis and palliative care consultation were associated with a lower risk of 30-day readmission. Predictors of 90-day readmission were similar to risk factors for 30-day readmission. From 2010 to 2014, the annual cost (and total hospitalization days) burden increased in 2014 to $164 million (22,244 days) and $321 million (42,772 days) for 30- and 90-day AH-related readmissions, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Despite relatively stable trends in AH-related readmission, the total LOS and cost has been rising. A target-directed approach with a focus on high-risk subpopulations may help understand the unique challenges associated with the rising cost of AH-related readmissions.

Association of Variation in Consultant Use Among Hospitalist Physicians With Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries

IMPORTANCE

Evidence is lacking on the consequences of high rates of inpatient consultation.

OBJECTIVE

To examine outcomes and resource use of patients cared for by hospitalists who use more inpatient consultation than their colleagues.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective cohort study of medical admissions to hospitalists among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries was conducted. Hospitalist consultation tendency was identified from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014; admissions were calculated in 2013; and outcomes were measured in 2014. Data were analyzed from January 31, 2017, to May 9, 2019. A total of 711 654 admissions with patients receiving care from 14 584 hospitalists at 737 hospitals were included.

EXPOSURE

Admission to high-consulting hospitalists, considered to be those who were in the top 25% of the distribution of consulting frequency at their own hospital (adjusted for patient case mix).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Outcomes included length of stay, Medicare Part B inpatient charges, discharge destination, all-cause 7- and 30-day readmissions, 90-day outpatient specialist visits, and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

The 711 654 hospital admissions included 408 489 women (57.4%); mean (SD) age of the population was 80 (8.5) years. Length of stay of patients cared for by high-consulting hospitalists was longer compared with other hospitalists (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.05). The admissions resulted in a mean of $137.91 (95% CI, $118.89-$156.93) more in Medicare Part B charges and were less likely to end with the patient going home (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.98) compared with patients cared for by other hospitalists in the cohort. Patients cared for by high-consulting hospitalists also were 7% more likely than patients cared for by other hospitalists to see an outpatient specialist at 90 days (aOR 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09), with no significant differences in 30-day mortality (aOR 1.01, 95% CI, 0.98-1.03) or readmissions (7-day readmissions: aOR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.03; 30-day readmissions: aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.03).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Hospitalists who obtain consultations more than their colleagues at the same institution were associated with greater use of health care resources without apparent mortality benefit. Further investigation should identify whether reducing high rates of consultation can reduce resource use without harming patients.

Suboptimal Use of Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation May Lead to Higher Readmissions and Costs in End-Stage Liver Disease

Background/Aims: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have a high risk for readmission. We studied the role of palliative care consultation (PCC) in ESLD-related readmissions with a focus on health care resource utilization in the United States. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis on patients surviving hospitalizations with ESLD from January 2010 to September 2014 utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database with a 90-day follow-up after discharge. We analyzed annual trends in PCC among patients with ESLD. We matched PCC to no-PCC (1:1) using propensity scores to create a pseudorandomized clinical study. We estimated the impact of PCC on readmission rates (30- and 90-day), and length of stay (LOS) and cost during subsequent readmissions. Results: Of the 67,480 hospitalizations with ESLD, 3485 (5.3%) received PCC, with an annual increase from 3.6% to 6.7% (p for trend <0.01). The average 30- and 90-day annual readmission rates were 36.2% and 54.6%, respectively. PCC resulted in a lower risk for 30- and 90-day readmissions (hazard ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.47 and 0.38, 95% CI: 0.34-0.42, respectively). On subsequent 30- and 90-day readmissions, PCC was associated with decreased LOS (5.6- vs. 7.4 days and 5.7- vs. 6.9 days, p < 0.01) and cost (US $48,752 vs. US $75,810 and US $48,582 vs. US $69,035, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Inpatient utilization of PCC for ESLD is increasing annually, yet still remains low in the United States. More importantly, PCC was associated with a decline in readmission rates resulting in a lower burden on health care resource utilization and improvement in cost savings during subsequent readmissions.

Clinical outcome indicators in chronic hepatitis B and C: A primer for value-based medicine in hepatology

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are major health problems that require complex and costly treatments. Liver-specific clinical outcome indicators (COIs) able to assist both clinicians and administrators in improving the value of care are presently lacking. The Value-Based Medicine in Hepatology (VBMH) study aims to fill this gap, devising and testing a set of COIs for CLD, that could be easily collected during clinical practice. Here we report the COIs generated and recorded for patients with HBV or HCV infection at different stages of the disease.

METHODS/RESULTS

In the first phase of VBMH study, COIs were identified, based on current international guidelines and literature, using a modified Delphi method and a RAND 9-point appropriateness scale. In the second phase, COIs were tested in an observational, longitudinal, prospective, multicentre study based in Lombardy, Italy. Eighteen COIs were identified for HBV and HCV patients. Patients with CLD secondary to HBV (547) or HCV (1391) were enrolled over an 18-month period and followed for a median of 4 years. The estimation of the proposed COIs was feasible in the real-word clinical practice and COI values compared well with literature data. Further, the COIs were able to capture the impact of new effective treatments like direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in the clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The COIs efficiently measured clinical outcomes at different stages of CLDs. While specific clinical practice settings and related healthcare systems may modify their implementation, these indicators will represent an important component of the tools for a value-based approach in hepatology and will positively affect care delivery.

Impact on 30-d readmissions for cirrhotic patients with ascites after an educational intervention: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

A low proportion of patients admitted to hospital with cirrhosis receive quality care with timely paracentesis an important target for improvement. We hypothesized that a medical educational intervention, delivered to medical residents caring for patients with cirrhosis, would improve quality of care.

AIM

To determine if an educational intervention can improve quality of care in cirrhotic patients admitted to hospital with ascites.

METHODS

We performed a pilot prospective cohort study with time-based randomization over six months at a large teaching hospital. Residents rotating on hospital medicine teams received an educational intervention while residents rotating on hospital medicine teams on alternate months comprised the control group. The primary outcome was provision of quality care- defined as adherence to all quality-based indicators derived from evidence-based practice guidelines- in admissions for patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Patient clinical outcomes- including length of hospital stay (LOS); 30-d readmission; in-hospital mortality and overall mortality- and resident educational outcomes were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Eighty-five admissions (60 unique patients) met inclusion criteria over the study period-46 admissions in the intervention group and 39 admissions in the control group. Thirty-seven admissions were female patients, and 44 admissions were for alcoholic liver disease. Mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-Na score at admission was 25.8. Forty-seven (55.3%) admissions received quality care. There was no difference in the provision of quality care (56.41% vs 54.35%, P = 0.9) between the two groups. 30-d readmission was lower in the intervention group (35% vs 52.78%, P = 0.1) and after correction for age, gender and MELD-Na score [RR = 0.62 (0.39, 1.00), P = 0.05]. No significant differences were seen for LOS, complications, in-hospital mortality or overall mortality between the two groups. Resident medical knowledge and self-efficacy with paracentesis improved after the educational intervention.

CONCLUSION

Medical education has the potential to improve clinical outcomes in patients admitted to hospital with cirrhosis and ascites.

Rural-Urban Differences in In-Hospital Mortality Among Admissions for End-Stage Liver Disease in the United States

Access to quality hospital care is a persistent problem for rural patients. Little is known about disparities between rural and urban populations regarding in-hospital outcomes for end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients. We aimed to determine whether rural ESLD patients experienced higher in-hospital mortality than urban patients and whether disparities were attributable to the rurality of the patient or the center. This was a retrospective study of patient admissions in the National Inpatient Sample, a population-based sample of hospitals in the United States. Admissions were included if they were from adult patients who had an ESLD-related admission defined by codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, between January 2012 and December 2014. The primary exposures of interest were patient-level rurality and hospital-level rurality. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality. We stratified our analysis by disease severity score. After accounting for patient- and hospital-level covariates, ESLD admissions to rural hospitals in every category of disease severity had significantly higher odds of in-hospital mortality than patient admissions to urban hospitals. Those with moderate or major risk of dying had more than twice the odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] for moderate risk, 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-3.59; OR for major risk, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.97-3.14). There was no association between patient-level rurality and mortality in the adjusted models. In conclusion, ESLD patients admitted to rural hospitals had increased odds of in-hospital mortality compared with those admitted to urban hospitals, and the differences were not attributable to patient-level rurality. Our results suggest that interventions to improve outcomes in this population should focus on the level of the health system.

Coordinated care for patients with cirrhosis: fewer liver-related emergency admissions and improved survival

OBJECTIVES

To compare the incidence of liver-related emergency admissions and survival of patients after hospitalisation for decompensated cirrhosis at two major hospitals, one applying a coordinated chronic disease management model (U1), the other standard care (U2); to examine predictors of mortality for these patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

Two major tertiary hospitals in an Australian capital city.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients admitted with a diagnosis of decompensated cirrhosis during October 2013 - October 2014, identified on the basis of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incident rates of liver-related emergency admissions; survival (to 3 years).

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients from U1 and 54 from U2 were eligible for inclusion; the median follow-up time was 530 days (range, 21-1105 days). The incidence of liver-related emergency admissions was lower for U1 (mean, 1.14 admissions per person-year; 95% CI, 0.95-1.36) than for U2 (mean, 1.55 admissions per person-year; 95% CI, 1.28-1.85; adjusted incidence rate ratio [U1 v U2], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28-0.98; P = 0.042). The adjusted probabilities of transplantation-free survival at 3 years were 67.7% (U1) and 37.2% (U2) (P = 0.009). Independent predictors of reduced transplantation-free free survival were Charlson comorbidity index score (per point: hazard ratio [HR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05-1.54, P = 0.014), liver-related emergency admissions within 90 days of discharge (HR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.87-6.92; P < 0.001), and unit (U2 v U1: HR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.26-5.09; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

A coordinated care model for managing patients with decompensated cirrhosis was associated with improved survival and fewer liver-related emergency admissions than standard care.

Hospital Readmissions in Patients with Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Hospital readmission is a significant problem for patients with complex chronic illnesses such as liver cirrhosis.

PURPOSE

We aimed to describe the range of readmission risk in patients with cirrhosis and the impact of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a systematic review of studies identified in Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 2000 to May 2017.

STUDY SELECTION

We examined studies that reported early readmissions (up to 90 days) in patients with cirrhosis. Studies were excluded if they did not examine the association between readmission and at least 1 variable or intervention.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently extracted data on study design, setting, population, interventions, comparisons, and detailed information on readmissions.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Of the 1363 records reviewed, 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these studies, 21 were retrospective, and there was significant variation in the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The pooled estimate of 30-day readmissions was 26%(95% confidence interval [CI], 22%-30%). Few studies examined readmission preventability or the relationship between readmissions and social determinants of health. Reasons for readmission were highly variable. An increased MELD score was associated with readmissions in most studies. Readmission was associated with increased mortality.

CONCLUSION

Hospital readmissions frequently occur in patients with cirrhosis and are associated with liver disease severity. The impact of functional and social factors on readmissions is unclear.

Hospital readmissions in decompensated cirrhotics: Factors pointing toward a prevention strategy

AIM

To reduce readmissions and improve patient outcomes in cirrhotic patients through better understanding of readmission predictors.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective study of patients admitted with decompensated cirrhosis from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 (n = 222). Primary outcomes were time to first readmission and 30-d readmission rate due to complications of cirrhosis. Clinical and demographic data were collected to help describe predictors of readmission, along with care coordination measures such as post-discharge status and outpatient follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to describe variables associated with readmission.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-two patients (59.4%) were readmitted at least once during the study period. Median time to first and second readmissions were 54 and 93 d, respectively. Thirty and 90-d readmission rates were 20.7 and 30.1 percent, respectively. Predictors of 30-d readmission included education level, hepatic encephalopathy at index, ALT more than upper normal limit and Medicare coverage. There were no statistically significant differences in readmission rates when stratified by discharge disposition, outpatient follow-up provider or time to first outpatient visit.

CONCLUSION

Readmissions are challenging aspect of care for cirrhotic patients and risk continues beyond 30 d. More initiatives are needed to develop enhanced, longitudinal post-discharge systems.

Early hospital readmission in decompensated cirrhosis: Incidence, impact on mortality, and predictive factors

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The early hospital readmission of patients with decompensated cirrhosis is a current problem. A study is presented on the incidence, the impact on mortality, and the predictive factors of early hospital readmission.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

On the study included 112 cirrhotic patients, discharged after some decompensation between January 2013 and May 2014. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of early readmission and mortality.

RESULTS

The early readmission rate was 29.5%. The predictive factors were male gender (OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.07-7.35), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium score ≥15 (OR: 3.79; 95% CI 1.48-9.64), and Charlson index ≥7 (OR: 4.34, 95% CI 1.65-11.4). This model enabled patients to be classified into low or high risk of early readmissions (13.6% vs. 52.2%). The mortality rate was significantly higher among patients with early readmission (73% vs. 35%) (p<.0001). After adjusting for the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium score, Charlson index, dependence in activities of daily living, educational status, and number of medications on discharge, the early readmission was independently associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Early hospital readmission is common, and is independently associated with mortality. Male gender, MELD-Na ≥15, and Charlson index ≥7 are predictors of early readmission. These results could be used to develop future strategies to reduce early readmission.

Strategies to Reduce 30-Day Readmissions in Patients with Cirrhosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Approximately, one quarter of patients discharged after a hospitalization for decompensated cirrhosis will be readmitted within 30 days. These readmissions have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, can be financially harmful to the health system, and may be partially preventable. This review summarizes the literature on readmissions, providing clinicians with tools for risk prediction and a taxonomy for preventative interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Readmission strategies can be categorized according to complexity (simple versus complex) and specificity (focused versus broad). The literature thus far provides the following generalizable inferences: 1) Interventions should be integrated in the clinical workflow, 2) default options are more powerful than voluntary actions, 3) knowledge improvement should focus on the front line clinicians, 4) process improvements do not always translate into better outcomes, and 5) any successful intervention must include viable alternatives to hospitalization. A growing body of literature provides concrete and actionable guidance for interventions to reduce readmissions in patients with cirrhosis.

A Karnofsky performance status-based score predicts death after hospital discharge in patients with cirrhosis

Identification of patients with cirrhosis at risk for death within 3 months of discharge from the hospital is essential to individualize postdischarge plans. The objective of the study was to identify an easy-to-use prognostic model based on the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). The North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease consists of 16 tertiary-care hepatology centers that prospectively enroll nonelectively admitted cirrhosis patients. Patients enrolled had KPS assessed 1 week postdischarge. KPS was categorized into low (score 10-40), intermediate (50-70), and high (80-100). Of 954 middle-aged patients (57 ± 10 years, 63% men) with a median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of 17 (interquartile range 13-21), the mortality rates for the low, intermediate, and high performance status groups were 23% (36/159), 11% (55/489), and 5% (15/306), respectively. Low, intermediate, and high performance status was seen in 17%, 51%, and 32% of the cohort, respectively. Low performance status was associated with older age, dialysis, hepatic encephalopathy, longer length of stay, and higher white blood cell count or MELD score at discharge. A model was derived using the three independent predictors of 3-month mortality: KPS, age, and MELD score. This score had better discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.74) than a model using MELD (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.62) or MELD and age (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.67) to predict 3-month mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Cirrhosis patients at risk for 3-month postdischarge mortality can be identified using a novel KPS-based score; this score may be adopted in practice to guide postdischarge early interventions, including the integrated provision of active and palliative management strategies. (Hepatology 2017;65:217-224).

A Rapid Bedside Screen to Predict Unplanned Hospitalization and Death in Outpatients With Cirrhosis: A Prospective Evaluation of the Clinical Frailty Scale

OBJECTIVES

Screening tools to determine which outpatients with cirrhosis are at highest risk for unplanned hospitalization are lacking. Frailty is a novel prognostic factor but conventional screening for frailty is time consuming. We evaluated the ability of a 1 min bedside screen (Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)) to predict unplanned hospitalization or death in outpatients with cirrhosis and compared the CFS with two conventional frailty measures (Fried Frailty Criteria (FFC) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)).

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled consecutive outpatients from three tertiary care liver clinics. Frailty was defined by CFS >4. The primary outcome was the composite of unplanned hospitalization or death within 6 months of study entry.

RESULTS

A total of 300 outpatients were enrolled (mean age 57 years, 35% female, 81% white, 66% hepatitis C or alcohol-related liver disease, mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score 12, 28% with ascites). Overall, 54 (18%) outpatients were frail and 91 (30%) patients had an unplanned hospitalization or death within 6 months. CFS >4 was independently associated with increased rates of unplanned hospitalization or death (57% frail vs. 24% not frail, adjusted odds ratio 3.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-7.5; P=0.0008) and there was a dose response (adjusted odds ratio 1.9 per 1-unit increase in CFS, 95% CI: 1.4-2.6; P<0.0001). Models including MELD, ascites, and CFS >4 had a greater discrimination (c-statistic=0.84) than models using FFC or SPPB.

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty is strongly and independently associated with an increased risk of unplanned hospitalization or death in outpatients with cirrhosis. The CFS is a rapid screen that could be easily adopted in liver clinics to identify those at highest risk of adverse events.

Who Treats Patients with Diabetes and Compensated Cirrhosis

Background

Increasingly, patients with multiple chronic conditions are being managed in patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) that coordinate primary and specialty care. However, little is known about the types of providers treating complex patients with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis.

Objective

We examined the mix of physician specialties who see patients dually-diagnosed with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study using 2000–2013 MarketScan^® Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental Databases.

Patients

We identified 22,516 adults (≥ 18 years) dually-diagnosed with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis, HIV/AIDS, or liver transplantation prior to dual diagnosis were excluded.

Main Measures

Physician mix categories: patients were assigned to one of four physician mix categories: primary care physicians (PCP) with no gastroenterologists (GI) or endocrinologists (ENDO); GI/ENDO with no PCP; PCP and GI/ENDO; and neither PCP nor GI/ENDO. Health care utilization: annual physician visits and health care expenditures were assessed by four physician mix categories.

Key Results

Throughout the 14 years of study, 92% of patients visited PCPs (54% with GI/ENDO and 39% with no GI/ENDO). The percentage who visited PCPs without GI/ENDO decreased 22% (from 63% to 49%), while patients who also visited GI/ENDO increased 71% (from 25% to 42%).

Conclusions

This is the first large nationally representative study to document the types of physicians seen by patients dually-diagnosed with diabetes and cirrhosis. A large proportion of these complex patients only visited PCPs, but there was a trend toward greater specialty care. The trend toward co-management by both PCPs and GI/ENDOs suggests that PCMH initiatives will be important for these complex patients. Documenting patterns of primary and specialty care is the first step toward improved care coordination.

Use of Population-based Data to Demonstrate How Waitlist-based Metrics Overestimate Geographic Disparities in Access to Liver Transplant Care

Liver allocation policies are evaluated by how they impact waitlisted patients, without considering broader outcomes for all patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) not on the waitlist. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using two nationally representative databases: HealthCore (2006-2014) and five-state Medicaid (California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania; 2002-2009). United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) linkages enabled ascertainment of waitlist- and transplant-related outcomes. We included patients aged 18-75 with ESLD (decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma) using validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9)-based algorithms. Among 16 824 ESLD HealthCore patients, 3-year incidences of waitlisting and transplantation were 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] : 15.0-16.6%) and 8.1% (7.5-8.8%), respectively. Among 67 706 ESLD Medicaid patients, 3-year incidences of waitlisting and transplantation were 10.0% (9.7-10.4%) and 6.7% (6.5-7.0%), respectively. In HealthCore, the absolute ranges in states' waitlist mortality and transplant rates were larger than corresponding ranges among all ESLD patients (waitlist mortality: 13.6-38.5%, ESLD 3-year mortality: 48.9-62.0%; waitlist transplant rates: 36.3-72.7%, ESLD transplant rates: 4.8-13.4%). States' waitlist mortality and ESLD population mortality were not positively correlated: ρ = -0.06, p-value = 0.83 (HealthCore); ρ = -0.87, p-value = 0.05 (Medicaid). Waitlist and ESLD transplant rates were weakly positively correlated in Medicaid (ρ = 0.36, p-value = 0.55) but were positively correlated in HealthCore (ρ = 0.73, p-value = 0.001). Compared to population-based metrics, waitlist-based metrics overestimate geographic disparities in access to liver transplantation.

Building Effective Quality Improvement Programs for Liver Disease: A Systematic Review of Quality Improvement Initiatives

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Quality indicators are the measurable components of clinical standards. Data are limited about the design and impact of interventions to improve quality indicators for patients with chronic liver disease.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and conference proceedings was performed to find reports of quality improvement (QI) interventions. Data regarding the several indicators were collected. The search focused on vaccination against hepatitis A or hepatitis B virus, management of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, screening for varices, management of acute variceal hemorrhage, hepatocellular carcinoma screening, and 30-day readmissions.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies reported on the results of QI interventions. Ten focused on specific quality indicators (1 specific to vaccination, 2 spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, 3 gastrointestinal bleeding, and 4 hepatocellular carcinoma screening); 5 focused on clinical outcomes. Most studies used a pre-post study design. Interventions included checklists, educational conferences, electronic decision supports, nurse coordinators, and systematic changes to facilitate specialist co-management. Successful interventions optimized clinical workflow, closed knowledge gaps among frontline providers, created forced functions in the electronic ordering system, added dedicated staff to manage specific indicators, and provided viable alternatives to hospitalization to reduce readmission. Unsuccessful interventions included case management, phone calls, and home visits to reduce readmissions, checklists, and educational programs.

CONCLUSIONS

Past experience with QI provides generalizable rules for successful future interventions aimed at improved quality indicator adherence and patient outcomes.

Stigma in Cirrhotic Patients: A Qualitative Study

Stigma is one of the main problems of patients suffering from cirrhosis, and it causes many challenges for the patients and their treatment. The present study aimed to discover and define the perceived stigma by cirrhotic patients. This qualitative study was conducted through a content analysis approach. The participants were 15 patients suffering from cirrhosis. Data were collected via semistructured, in-depth interviews and analyzed on the basis of methods described by Granheme and Landman. During data analysis, stigma was categorized into four categories and 13 subcategories: external representation of social stigma (others' avoidance behaviors, inadmissible tag, discriminative behaviors of treatment personnel, blaming behaviors), internal representation of social stigma (social ostracism, social isolation, curiosity to perceive people's perceptions), external representation of self-stigma (fear of disclosure of illness, threatening situation, difficult emotional relationships), and internal representation of self-stigma (condemned to suffer, self-punishment, self-alienation). Experiencing stigma is common among cirrhotic patients and may affect patients' coping with the illness and treatment. Thus, it is specifically important that treatment personnel know patients' perception, provide comprehensive support for these patients, and plan to enhance public awareness about the disease recommended.

Access to Subspecialty Care And Survival Among Patients With Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

Access to subspecialty care may be difficult for patients with liver disease, but it is unknown whether access influences outcomes among this population. Our objectives were to determine rates and predictors of access to ambulatory gastrointestinal (GI) subspecialty care for patients with liver disease and to determine whether access to subspecialty GI care is associated with better survival.

METHODS

We studied 28,861 patients within the Veterans Administration VISN 11 Liver Disease cohort who had an ICD-9-CM diagnosis code for liver disease from 1 January 2000 through 30 May 2011. Access was defined as a completed outpatient clinic visit with a gastroenterologist or hepatologist at any time after diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of access to a GI subspecialist. Survival curves were compared between those who did and those who did not see a specialist, with propensity score adjustment to account for other covariates that may affect access.

RESULTS

Overall, 10,710 patients (37%) had a completed GI visit. On multivariable regression, older patients (odds ratio (OR) 0.98, P<0.001), those with more comorbidities (OR 0.98, P=0.01), and those living farther from a tertiary-care center (OR 0.998/mi, P<0.001) were less likely to be seen in clinic. Patients who were more likely to be seen included those who had hepatitis C (OR 1.5, P<0.001) or cirrhosis (OR 3.5, P<0.001) diagnoses prior to their initial visit. Patients with an ambulatory GI visit at any time after diagnosis were less likely to die at 5 years when compared with propensity-score-matched controls (hazard ratio 0.81, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Access to ambulatory GI care was associated with improved 5-year survival for patients with liver disease. Innovative care coordination techniques may prove beneficial in extending access to care to liver disease patients.

The Burden of Rehospitalization for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

Advanced liver disease is becoming more prevalent in the United States. This increase has been attributed largely to the growing epidemic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and an aging population infected with hepatitis C. Complications of cirrhosis are a major cause of hospital admissions and readmissions. It is important to target efforts for preventing rehospitalization toward patients with cirrhosis who are at the highest risk for readmission, such as those who have high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores, are at risk for fluid/electrolyte abnormalities or overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence, and those who have comorbid conditions (e.g. diabetes). The heart failure management paradigm may provide valuable insights for managing patients with cirrhosis, given the extensive research on preventing hospital readmission and improving health care utilization in this subpopulation. As quality measures related to hospital readmissions for cirrhosis and its complications are adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and private payers in the future, understanding drivers of hospital readmissions and health care utilization in this vulnerable population are key to improving quality measure performance.

Burden of decompensated cirrhosis and ascites on hospital services in a tertiary care facility: time for change?

BACKGROUND

Ascites, the most frequent complication of cirrhosis, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Recurrent hospital admissions are common and often unplanned, resulting in increased use of hospital services.

AIMS

To examine use of hospital services by patients with cirrhosis and ascites requiring paracentesis, and to investigate factors associated with early unplanned readmission.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical chart and clinical databases was performed for patients who underwent paracentesis between October 2011 and October 2012. Clinical parameters at index admission were compared between patients with and without early unplanned hospital readmissions.

RESULTS

The 41 patients requiring paracentesis had 127 hospital admissions, 1164 occupied bed days and 733 medical imaging services. Most admissions (80.3%) were for management of ascites, of which 41.2% were unplanned. Of those eligible, 69.7% were readmitted and 42.4% had an early unplanned readmission. Twelve patients died and nine developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Of those eligible for readmission, more patients died (P = 0.008) and/or developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (P = 0.027) if they had an early unplanned readmission during the study period. Markers of liver disease, as well as haemoglobin (P = 0.029), haematocrit (P = 0.024) and previous heavy alcohol use (P = 0.021) at index admission, were associated with early unplanned readmission.

CONCLUSION

Patients with cirrhosis and ascites comprise a small population who account for substantial use of hospital services. Markers of disease severity may identify patients at increased risk of early readmission. Alternative models of care should be considered to reduce unplanned hospital admissions, healthcare costs and pressure on emergency services.

Impact of physician specialty on quality care for patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Decompensated cirrhosis is a common precipitant for hospitalization, and there is limited information concerning factors that influence the delivery of quality care in cirrhotic inpatients. We sought to determine the relation between physician specialty and inpatient quality care for decompensated cirrhosis.

DESIGN

We reviewed 247 hospital admissions for decompensated cirrhosis, managed by hospitalists or intensivists, between 2009 and 2013. The primary outcome was quality care delivery, defined as adherence to all evidence-based specialty society practice guidelines pertaining to each specific complication of cirrhosis. Secondary outcomes included new complications, length-of-stay, and in-hospital death.

RESULTS

Overall, 147 admissions (59.5%) received quality care. Quality care was given more commonly by intensivists, compared with hospitalists (71.7% vs. 53.1%, P = .006), and specifically for gastrointestinal bleeding (72% vs. 45.8%, P = .03) and hepatic encephalopathy (100% vs. 63%, P = .005). Involvement of gastroenterology consultation was also more common in admissions in which quality care was administered (68.7% vs. 54.0%, P = .023). Timely diagnostic paracentesis was associated with reduced new complications in admissions for refractory ascites (9.5% vs. 46.6%, P = .02), and reduced length-of-stay in admissions for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (5 days vs. 13 days, P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to quality indicators for decompensated cirrhosis is suboptimal among hospitalized patients. Although quality care adherence appears to be higher among cirrhotic patients managed by intensivists than by hospitalists, opportunities for improvement exist in both groups. Rational and cost-effective strategies should be sought to achieve this end.

Outcomes associated with a mandatory gastroenterology consultation to improve the quality of care of patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC) have significant morbidity and resource utilization. In a cohort of patients with DC undergoing usual care (UC) in 2009, we demonstrated that quality indicators (QI) were met <50% of the time. We established a gastroenterology mandatory consultation (MC) to improve the care of patients with DC. We sought to evaluate the impact of the MC intervention on adherence to QI, and compared outcomes to UC.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study with historic control examining all admissions in a year for DC at an academic medical center. All admissions were seen by a gastroenterologist encouraged to implement QIs (MC). Scores were calculated for each group per admission as the proportion of QIs met versus QIs for which the patient was eligible. QI scores were examined as a function of group assignment multivariable fractional logit regression. We evaluated the impact of the intervention on compliance with QIs, length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and inpatient death.

RESULTS

Three hundred three patients were observed in 695 hospitalizations (149 patients in 379 admissions [UC]; 154 patients in 316 admissions [MC]). The QI score was significantly higher in the MC group than the UC group (77.0% vs 46.0%, P < 0.001), reflecting better management of ascites and documentation of transplant evaluation. The management of variceal bleeding improved also but did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

The MC intervention was associated with greater adherence to recommended care but was not powered to detect difference in LOS, readmission, or mortality rates.

Variation among United States hospitals in inpatient mortality for cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about geographic variations in health care for patients with cirrhosis. We studied geographic and hospital-level variations in care of patients with cirrhosis in the United States by using inpatient mortality as an outcome for comparing hospitals. We also aimed to identify features of patients and hospitals associated with lower mortality.

METHODS

We used the 2009 U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify patients with cirrhosis, which were based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision-Clinical Modification diagnosis codes for cirrhosis or 1 of its complications (ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, portal hypertension, or hepatic encephalopathy). Multilevel modeling was performed to measure variance among hospitals.

RESULTS

There were 102,155 admissions for cirrhosis in 2009, compared with 74,417 in 2003. Overall inpatient mortality was 6.6%. On multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, patients hospitalized in the Midwest had the lowest odds ratio (OR) of inpatient mortality (OR, 0.54; P < .001). Patients who were transferred from other hospitals (OR, 1.49; P < .001) or had hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 1.28; P < .001), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (OR, 1.74; P < .001), or alcoholic liver disease (OR, 1.23; P = .03) had higher odds of inpatient mortality than patients without these features. Those who received liver transplants had substantially lower odds of inpatient mortality (OR, 0.21; P < .001). Multilevel modeling showed that 4% of the variation in mortality could be accounted for at the hospital level (P < .001). Adjusted mortality among hospitals ranged from 1.2% to 14.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Inpatient cirrhosis mortality varies considerably among U.S. hospitals. Further research is needed to identify hospital-level and provider-level practices that could be modified to improve outcomes.

Multidisciplinary management of patients with cirrhosis: a need for care coordination

Cirrhosis is a common chronic condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Optimal medical management involves a multidisciplinary approach, but coordination between medical specialties needs to be improved. This clinical perspective discusses care coordination interventions that have been successful in other disease states and how they could be applied to the management of cirrhosis.

Management of liver cirrhosis between primary care and specialists

This article discusses a practical, evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of liver cirrhosis by focusing on etiology, severity, presence of complications, and potential home-managed treatments. Relevant literature from 1985 to 2010 (PubMed) was reviewed. The search criteria were peer-reviewed full papers published in English using the following MESH headings alone or in combination: "ascites", "liver fibrosis", "cirrhosis", "chronic hepatitis", "chronic liver disease", "decompensated cirrhosis", "hepatic encephalopathy", "hypertransaminasemia", "liver transplantation" and "portal hypertension". Forty-nine papers were selected based on the highest quality of evidence for each section and type (original, randomized controlled trial, guideline, and review article), with respect to specialist setting (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Internal Medicine) and primary care. Liver cirrhosis from any cause represents an emerging health issue due to the increasing prevalence of the disease and its complications worldwide. Primary care physicians play a key role in early identification of risk factors, in the management of patients for improving quality and length of life, and for preventing complications. Specialists, by contrast, should guide specific treatments, especially in the case of complications and for selecting patient candidates for liver transplantation. An integrated approach between specialists and primary care physicians is essential for providing better outcomes and appropriate home care for patients with liver cirrhosis.

Incidence and predictors of 30-day readmission among patients hospitalized for advanced liver disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The rate of readmission to the hospital 30 days after discharge (30-day readmission rate) is used as a quality measure for hospitalized patients, but it has not been studied adequately for patients with advanced liver disease. We investigated the incidence and factors that predict this rate and its relationship with mortality at 90 days.

METHODS

We analyzed data from patients with advanced liver disease who were hospitalized to an inpatient hepatology service at 2 large academic medical centers in 2008. Patients with elective admission and recipients of liver transplants were not included. During the study period, there were 447 patients and a total of 554 eligible admissions. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with 30-day readmission and to examine its relationship with mortality at 90 days.

RESULTS

The 30-day readmission rate was 20%. After adjusting for multiple covariates, readmission within 30 days was associated independently with model for end-stage liver disease scores at discharge (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.09; P = .002), the presence of diabetes (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.95; P = .027), and male sex (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.03-2.89; P = .038). After adjusting for age, sex, and model for end-stage liver disease score at discharge, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly higher among patients who were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than those who were not (26.8% vs 9.8%; OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.36-5.02; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced liver disease frequently are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge; these patients have a higher 90-day mortality rate than those who are not readmitted in 30 days. These data might be used to develop strategies to reduce early readmission of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.

Adherence to guidelines in bleeding oesophageal varices and effects on outcome: comparison between a specialized unit and a community hospital

OBJECTIVES

Randomized controlled trials have shown beneficial effects of vasoactive drugs, endoscopic treatment and prophylactic antibiotics on the outcome of bleeding oesophageal varices (BOV). However, translating guidelines based on randomized controlled trials into clinical practice is difficult. Our aims were to compare adherence to evidence-based guidelines in BOV between a specialized unit and a community hospital, and to investigate whether differences in adherence affected the outcome.

METHODS

Two cohorts hospitalized during 2000-2007 with a first episode of BOV were retrospectively enrolled, one in a community hospital comprising 66 patients and one in a specialized unit comprising 111 patients. Data on treatment, rebleeding and mortality were collected from medical records according to the Baveno III/IV Criteria.

RESULTS

Treatments in the specialized unit versus the community hospital were: vasoactive drugs 79 vs. 66% (P = 0.06), prophylactic antibiotics 55 vs. 27% (P < 0.01), endoscopic treatment 86 vs. 74% (P= 0.04) and Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was used in 5 vs. 21% (P < 0.01). Secondary prophylaxis with pharmacological, endoscopic or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt therapy was initiated in 91 vs. 74% (P < 0.01) (specialized vs. community). Six-week mortality was 17 vs. 24% (P = 0.25) with 5-day mortality of 6 vs. 3% (P = 0.34) and mortality day 6-42, 12 vs. 22% (P = 0.07) (specialized vs. community). Failure to control bleeding and failure to prevent rebleeding were not statistically different.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that patients with BOV are more likely to receive therapy according to guidelines when hospitalized in a specialized unit compared with a community hospital. This however did not affect mortality.

Influence of recent advances in medical management on clinical outcomes of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis and its disease-related complications are the 12th leading cause of mortality among U.S. adults and are the 5th leading cause of death for individuals aged 45 to 54 years. Hospitalization costs for disease-related complications are estimated at 18,000 dollars per episode of care, and 10% of admitted patients die. Despite these ominous findings, the survival rate of patients with cirrhosis has improved during the past 2 decades. This observation coincides with the conducting and reporting of high-quality randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Therefore, the improved prognosis in cirrhosis may be related to the effective translation of research findings to clinical practice for this patient population. Although explicit data to support this claim are not available, this article reviews the reported trends in clinical outcomes for patients with cirrhosis and the existence of evidence-based medical information that is available to care for these chronically ill patients.

Determining the extent of quality health care for hospitalized patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Since few data are available concerning the clinical course of decompensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, the aim of the present study was to define the natural long-term course after the first hepatic decompensation.

METHODS

Cohort of 200 consecutive patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, and without known hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hospitalized for the first hepatic decompensation.

RESULTS

Ascites was the most frequent first decompensation (48%), followed by portal hypertensive gastrointestinal bleeding (PHGB) (32.5%), severe bacterial infection (BI) (14.5%) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (5%). During follow-up (34+/-2 months) there were 519 readmissions, HCC developed in 33 (16.5%) patients, and death occurred in 85 patients (42.5%). The probability of survival after diagnosis of decompensated cirrhosis was 81.8 and 50.8% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. HE and/or ascites as the first hepatic decompensation, baseline Child-Pugh score, age, and presence of more than one decompensation during follow-up were independently correlated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Once decompensated HCV-related cirrhosis was established, patients showed not only a very high frequency of readmissions, but also developed decompensations different from the initial one. These results contribute to defining the natural course and prognosis of decompensated HCV-related cirrhosis.

The impact of specialist management of jaundiced alcoholic liver disease patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) presenting with jaundice have advanced chronic ALD and/or acute alcoholic hepatitis. Their prognosis is poor. These patients may be managed by General Medical physicians (GM) or by Gastroenterologists (GE).

AIM

This study aimed to retrospectively assess the differences in management and outcome of jaundiced ALD between GM and GE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with a serum bilirubin greater than 80 mmol/l on admission and a history of alcohol excess until within three weeks of admission were identified retrospectively. In particular the use of corticosteroids (CS), nutritional support (N) and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (A/b) were noted.

RESULTS

97 patients were identified, 62 managed by GE. Differences were apparent between GE and GM managed patients with respect to CS (p = 0.017), N (p < 0.001) and A/b (p < 0.001). The overall mortality was 27.8%, 34.0%, and 37.1% at 28, 56, and 84 days respectively. Mortality for patients with a Discriminant Function approximately 32 was greater in GM managed patients compared with GE at 28 (p = 0.006), 56 (p = 0.013), and 84 days (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Differences exist between the management of jaundiced ALD between GM and GE. Such differences may translate into improved outcomes.

Update on chronic hepatitis C in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients: viral interactions and therapy

With highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-infected patients can now live longer and healthier lives, and other comorbid diseases, such as chronic hepatitis C, have emerged as a significant health concern. Coinfection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may limit life expectancy because it can lead to serious liver disease including decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV-induced fibrosis progresses faster in HIV/HCV-coinfected persons, although HAART may be able to decrease this disease acceleration. Combination therapy for HCV with interferon and ribavirin can achieve a sustained viral response, although at a lower rate than in HCV-monoinfected patients. Combination treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin will probably emerge as the next HCV therapy of choice for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. HCV combination therapy is generally safe, but serious adverse reactions, like lactic acidosis, may occur. Cytopenia may present a problem leading to dose reductions, but the role of growth factors is under study. All HIV/HCV-coinfected patients should be evaluated for therapy against the hepatitis C virus. A sustained viral load will probably lead to regression of liver disease, and even interferon-based treatment without viral clearance may slow down progression of liver disease. HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who have progressed to end-stage liver disease have few therapeutic options other than palliative care, since liver transplants are generally unavailable. The mortality post-transplant may be higher than in HCV-monoinfected patients. We are entering an era where safe and effective HCV therapy is being defined for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, and all eligible patients should be offered treatment.

Induction therapy with consensus interferon (CIFN) does not improve sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C

In patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, sustained viral response (SVR) averages 10-40% depending on treatment regime. It has been proposed that high dose daily interferon (IFN) therapy early in therapy (induction dosing) may enhance SVR. In the present study we examined this issue and also assessed whether one could predict SVR and non-SVR, based on viral kinetics during the first month of induction therapy. End of treatment response and SVR was determined in 173 HCV infected patients who were treated with different induction doses of consensus interferon (CIFN) for one month followed by 11 months of standard 9 microg of CIFN thrice weekly (TIW). The second phase decline slope was calculated by log-linear regression on weekly measurements of serum HCV RNA during the first 7-28 days of treatment; rapid viral response (RVR) during the first month of induction dosing was defined as a decline of > 0.3 log copies/mL/week. Overall, SVR occurred in 11% of genotype 1 infected patients and 41% of patients with nongenotype 1. High dose induction therapy did not increase the rate of SVR, in either genotype 1 or genotype 2/3 infected patients. No patient without a RVR during the first month had SVR, while SVR occurred in 55% of the patients with RVR. RVR was the best predictor of SVR using multivariate analysis. These results indicate that induction dosing with CIFN does not improve SVR rates. They also suggest that early viral kinetics during the first month of therapy can predict non-SVR and thus save a patient a year long treatment which is fraught with side-effects and significant cost.

Clinical observation of salvianolic acid B in treatment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

AIM

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) on liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS

Sixty patients with definite diagnosis of liver fibrosis with hepatitis B were included in the trial. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was used as control drug. The patients took orally SA-B tablets or received muscular injection of IFN-gamma in the double blind randomized test. The complete course lasted 6 months. The histological changes of liver biopsy specimen before and after the treatment were the main evidence in evaluation, in combination with the results of contents of serum HA, LN, IV-C, P-III-P, liver ultrasound imaging, and symptoms and signs.

RESULTS

Reverse rate of fibrotic stage was 36.67 % in SA-B group and 30.0 % in IFN-gamma group. Inflammatory alleviating rate was 40.0 % in SA-B group and 36.67 % in IFN-gamma group. The average content of HA and IV-C was significantly lower than that before treatment. The abnormal rate also decreased remarkably. Overall analysis of 4 serological fibrotic markers showed significant improvement in SA-B group as compared with the IFN-gamma group. Score of liver ultrasound imaging was lower in SA-B group than in IFN-gamma group (HA 36.7 % vs 80 %, IV-C 3.3 % vs 23.2 %). Before the treatment, ALT AST activity and total bilirubin content of patients who had regression of fibrosis after oral administration of SA-B, were significantly lower than those of patients who had aggravation of fibrosis after oral administration of SA-B. IFN-gamma showed certain side effects (fever and transient decrease of leukocytes, occurrence rates were 50 % and 3.23 %), but SA-B showed no side effects.

CONCLUSION

SA-B could effectively reverse liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. SA-B was better than IFN-gamma in reduction of serum HA content, overall decrease of 4 serum fibrotic markers, and decrease of ultrasound imaging score. Liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B with slight liver injury was more suitable to SA-B in anti-fibrotic treatment. SA-B showed no obvious side effects.

Clinical experiences with interferon as monotherapy or in combination with ribavirin in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection accelerates progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) toward cirrhosis. Thus, with the increase of life expectancy observed after introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment, liver disease is becoming an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients. In addition, HCV co-infection blunts CD4 restoration induced by HAART and increases HAART hepatotoxicity. For all these reasons, anti-HCV treatment is mandatory in HIV seropositives. The perfect treatment of hepatitis C should not only be safe and effective, but it should not have any adverse impact on HIV diseases and concurrent anti-HIV therapy. Two drugs are currently licensed for treatment of HCV: interferon alfa (IFNalpha) and ribavirin. Three hundred and thirty-eight patients have been included in pilot studies on the efficacy and tolerability of IFNalpha monotherapy: 16% showed sustained response and 10% dropped out. No significant adverse impact of IFNalpha monotherapy on HIV diseases or antiretroviral treatment has been observed. IFNalpha and ribavirin in combination have been introduced more recently: only 88 patients were included in pilot studies published as full papers with a 25% sustained response and an 11% rate of drop outs. Anemia and cumulative toxicity with didanosine were the most important side effects of combination treatment, but it did not affect HIV disease progression. Higher rates of sustained response (33%) without increase of side effects have been observed in preliminary experiences with the new long-acting pegylated interferons in combination with ribavirin. The search for the perfect treatment continues.