Incidence and Clinical Significance of 30-Day and 90-Day Rehospitalization for Heart Failure Among Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in Japan - From the NARA-HF Study

The effects on rehospitalization rate of transitional care using information communication technology in patients with heart failure: A scoping review

Background

The number of people with heart failure is increasing. These patients have a high readmission rate and need ongoing health care and follow-up after hospital discharge. However, face-to-face nursing care is expensive; therefore, remote care options are required.

Objective

To determine whether there are differences in the effects (rehospitalization rate and drug adherence) between face-to-face transitional care and remote technology, such as information and communication technologies, for transitional care in patients with heart failure within 30 days post-discharge.

Design

A scoping review.

Setting

Patients with heart failure who received an intervention using information and communication technologies within 30 days of discharge after being hospitalized for heart failure, based on published studies.

Methods

Eight English, Japanese, and Chinese databases were searched for research papers published between January 2000 and November 2021 that examined outcomes such as readmission rates in patients with heart failure who received transitional care using remote technologies. This study followed the screening criteria outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines.

Results

Seventeen studies were included in this review. Among them, 14 studies reported lower readmission rates in the transitional care group using information and communication technologies compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant in nine studies. In addition, one paper showed that the transitional care group experienced more significant improvements in patient satisfaction and quality of life.

Conclusions

Transitional care using information and communication technologies can provide necessary guidance according to the patient's schedule, regardless of the patient's location and time. Patients can share their self-monitored information with medical practitioners and receive timely feedback and guidance. With continuous follow-up support from medical practitioners, patients can adjust their care plans to ensure optimal execution, and the patient's doubts and anxieties can be quickly resolved, increasing the patient's self-confidence. As a result, patients' self-care ability was improved, and controlling symptoms and preventing deterioration became easier. We inferred that the transitional care group achieved a higher self-care ability compared with the control group. Transitional care using remote technologies, such as information and communication technologies following discharge for heart failure patients, can help to reduce readmission rates within 30 days of discharge compared to face-to-face care. In addition, the study demonstrated that remote technologies may improve quality of life and patient satisfaction.

Association between fingertip-measured advanced glycation end products and cardiovascular events in outpatients with cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between the AGEs measured by an AGEs sensor noninvasively at the fingertip and prognosis in patients with CVD remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between AGEs score and prognosis among patients with CVD.

METHODS

A total of 191 outpatients with CVD were included. AGEs score were measured using an AGEs sensor and the patients were classified into groups by the median value of AGEs score. The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 30 months was compared between high- and low-AGEs score groups. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to calculate cutoff value for the AGEs score, which discriminates the occurrence of MACCE. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with the presence of MACCE. MACCE included cardiac death, myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, heart failure, and stroke.

RESULTS

AGEs score was normally distributed, with a median value of 0.51. No significant intergroup differences were found in laboratory findings, physical functions, or medications. The high-AGEs score group had a significantly higher incidence of MACCE than the low-AGEs score group (27.1 vs. 10.5%, P = 0.007). A high-AGEs score was a risk factor for MACCE (hazard ratio, 2.638; 95% confidence interval, 1.271-5.471; P = 0.009). After the adjustment for confounders other than 6-min walking distance, the AGEs score remained a factor associated with the occurrence of MACCE. The best cutoff AGEs score for the detection of MACCE was 0.51 (area under the curve, 0.642; P = 0.008; sensitivity, 72.2%; specificity, 54.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

AGEs score measured at the fingertip in patients with CVD is associated with MACCE. AGEs score, which can be measured noninvasively and easily, may be useful as an assessment for the secondary prevention of CVD in patients with CVD.

Multifactorial Effects of Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Heart Failure: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

AIM

Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a strongly recommended therapy, no large study has assessed the effects of outpatient CR in patients with heart failure (HF) in real-world settings. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the multifactorial effects of outpatient CR in patients with HF using a nationwide database.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This nationwide retrospective cohort study was performed using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. Patients with acute HF who underwent inpatient CR between April 2014 and March 2020 were included. The association between outpatient CR participation and all-cause mortality, rehospitalisation for HF, use of medical resources, and medical costs was analysed using propensity score matching analysis. Of 250,528 patients, 17,884 (7.1%) underwent outpatient CR. After propensity score matching, the CR (+) group was associated with a reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.68, p < 0.001) and rehospitalisation for HF compared to the CR (-) group (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82-0.92, p < 0.001). The proportion of guideline-based medication use for HF at 1 year was higher in the CR (+) group than in the CR (-) group. The total medical costs from the index hospitalisation to 1.5 years after admission were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Outpatient CR participation after discharge from HF was associated with reduced mortality and rehospitalisation for HF without increasing medical costs.

Association between class of foundational medication for heart failure and prognosis in heart failure with reduced/mildly reduced ejection fraction

We clarified the association between changes in the number of foundational medications for heart failure (FMHF) during hospitalization for worsening heart failure (HF) and post-discharge prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed a combined dataset from three large-scale registries of hospitalized patients with HF in Japan (NARA-HF, WET-HF, and REALITY-AHF) and patients diagnosed with HF with reduced or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFr/mrEF) before admission. Patients were stratified by changes in the number of prescribed FMHF classes from admission to discharge: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor blockers. Primary endpoint was the combined endpoint of HF rehospitalization and all-cause death within 1 year of discharge. The cohort comprised 1113 patients, and 482 combined endpoints were observed. Overall, FMHF prescriptions increased in 413 (37.1%) patients (increased group), remained unchanged in 607 (54.5%) (unchanged group), and decreased in 93 (8.4%) (decreased group) at discharge compared with that during admission. In the multivariable analysis, the increased group had a significantly lower incidence of the primary endpoint than the unchanged group (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.60; P < 0.001). In conclusion, increase in FMHF classes during HF hospitalization is associated with a better prognosis in patients with HFr/mrEF.

Astragaloside IV alleviates heart failure by regulating SUMO-specific protease 1

The present study investigated whether the protective effect and mechanism of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on heart failure (HF) involves small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific protease 1 (Senp1). Mouse HF was established by aortic constriction, inducing pressure overload. The model was confirmed by echocardiography 6 weeks after surgery. Mice were randomly divided into control, HF, HF+AS-IV, and AS-IV groups. Ventricular function was examined by echocardiography. Morphological changes of myocardial tissues were examined by H&E staining. The protein levels of the apoptosis-related proteins, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-3, Bcl2, Bax, and SUMO-Senp1 were determined by Western blotting. H₂O₂ in isolated mitochondria and cells was determined by Amplex Red. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection kit determined ROS levels in isolated mitochondria and HL-1 cells. JC-1 reagent measured mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Apoptosis of HL-1 cells was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling. Compared with the control group, the heart weight and heart mass/body weight ratio increased in the HF group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the ejection fraction and left ventricular shortening fraction decreased (P<0.05), while the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVID;d) and end-systolic diameter (LVID;s) increased (P<0.05). Finally, mitochondrial ROS and H₂O₂ increased (P<0.05), while the ΔΨm decreased (P<0.05). However, AS-IV improved the cardiac function of HF mice, decreased the level of ROS and H₂O₂ in the myocardium, suppressed the decrease in ΔΨm, and decreased the apoptosis of myocardial cells (P<0.05). AS-IV also decreased the Senp1-overexpression. Furthermore, in HL-1 cells, Senp1-overexpression significantly inhibited the protective effects of AS-IV. AS-IV decreased oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes, decreased mitochondrial damage, inhibited ventricular remodeling, and ultimately improved cardiac function by inhibiting HF-induced Senp1-overexpression. This mechanism provides a novel theoretical basis and clinical treatment for HF.

Precipitating factors and clinical impact of early rehospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart failure in Awaji Island, Japan

BACKGROUND

Recent reports have revealed that patients who experienced early rehospitalization for heart failure (HF) had worse prognoses in terms of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths as compared to those who did not. However, precipitating factors for early rehospitalization for HF remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the precipitating factors for early rehospitalization and their impact in patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We consecutively included 242 patients (mean age: 80.4 years, females: 46.3%) with a history of rehospitalization for HF. They were divided into 2 groups: the early rehospitalization group (71 patients who were readmitted within 3 months of discharge) and the late rehospitalization group (171 patients who were readmitted after more than 3 months following discharge). During the mean follow-up period of 1,144 days (range: 857-1,417 days), 121 patients (50.0%) died. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients in the early rehospitalization group had worse prognosis (all-cause death and cardiovascular death) than those in the late rehospitalization group (log-rank p<0.001). As the major precipitating factor for rehospitalization, poor compliance with the doctor's instructions on fluid and physical activity restrictions (determined by the patients or their families admittance of non-compliance with the instructions given at the time of discharge) was higher in the early rehospitalization group than in the late rehospitalization group [poor compliance with fluid restriction: 19.7% vs. 7.6% (p = 0.006), poor compliance with physical activity restriction: 21.1% vs. 9.4% (p = 0.013)].

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that early hospital readmission in patients with HF was associated with higher mortality rates. Compared to late rehospitalization, precipitating factors for early rehospitalization were more strongly dependent on the self-care behaviors of the patients. A more effective approach, such as multidisciplinary intervention, is essential to prevent early hospital readmission and subsequent poor prognosis.

Prognostic Implications of Early and Midrange Readmissions After Acute Heart Failure Hospitalizations: A Report From a Japanese Multicenter Registry

Background

Although 30‐day readmission is thought to be an important quality indicator in patients with hospitalized heart failure, its prognostic impact and comparison of patients who were readmitted beyond 30 days has not been investigated. We assessed early (0–30 days) versus midrange (31–90 days) readmission in terms of incidence and distribution, and elucidated whether the timing of readmission could have a different prognostic significance.

Methods and Results

We examined patients with hospitalized heart failure registered in the WET‐HF (West Tokyo Heart Failure) registry. The primary outcomes analyzed were all‐cause death and HF readmission. Data of 3592 consecutive patients with hospitalized heart failure (median follow‐up, 2.0 years [interquartile range, 0.8–3.1 years]; 39.6% women, mean age 73.9±13.3 years) were analyzed. Within 90 days after discharge, HF readmissions occurred in 11.1% patients. Of them, patients readmitted within 30 and 31 to 90 days after discharge accounted for 43.1% and 56.9%, respectively. Independent predictors of 30‐ and 90‐day readmission were almost identical, and after adjustment, readmission for HF within 90 days (including both early and midrange readmission) was an independent predictor of subsequent all‐cause death (hazard ratio, 2.36; P<0.001). Among 90‐day readmitted patients, the time interval from discharge to readmission was not significantly associated with subsequent all‐cause death.

Conclusions

Among patients readmitted within 90 days after index hospitalization discharge, ≈60% of readmission events occurred beyond 30 days. Patients readmitted within 90 days had a higher risk of long‐term mortality, regardless of the temporal proximity of readmission to the index hospitalization.