Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF) is a syndromemwith limited treatment modalities. Our control over 30 day readmissions and readmission outcomes is limited. Methods: HCUP’s Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2013-14 was used for HFpEF related hospitalizations using ICD-9- CM diagnostic code:428.3x in primary diagnosis field. 30-day readmissions were identified and classified into two groups: same-hospital readmissions and different-hospital readmissions. A comparative analysis was conducted focused on three metrics - mortality, length of stay (LOS) and cost of hospitalization. We used hierarchical two-level modeling and propensity score matching to adjust for confounders. Results: Of the 94,988 readmitted patients (age >65 years: 79%, Females: 61.45%) - 76,665 (80.70%) to the same hospital and rest to different hospitals. After adjusting extensive list of confounders, same hospital readmission was associated with better outcomes including in hospital mortality (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.66 - 0.80, p<0.001), LOS (Days: -1.14, 95% CI: -1.31 - -0.97, p<0.001), Cost of care ($: -4208, 95% CI: - 4681 - -3734, p<0.001). For validation of our results, we ran propensity score matching, showed similar results - in hospital mortality (6.23% vs 8.07%), LOS (6.30 ± 0.08 vs 7.47 ± 0.095), Cost of care (14042.7 ± 215.7 vs 18685.4 ± 279.2). Post hoc high-risk subgroup analysis were conducted and showed similar results (Figure). Number needed to treat (for mortality) was 74 patients. Up to ~ 100 million dollars could have been saved over 2 years. Conclusions: Considering scale of problem and limited option to prevent worse outcomes, Simple interventions such as redirecting patient to same hospital as previous admission would be beneficial.
Frequency of in‐hospital adverse outcomes and cost utilization associated with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator implantation in the United States
AbstractBackground: The utilization of cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) has increased significantly, since its initial approval for use in selected patients with heart failure. Limited data exist as for current trends in implant‐related in‐hospital complications and cost utilization. The aim of our study was to examine in‐hospital complication rates associated with CRT‐D and their trends over the last decade.Methods and Results: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we estimated 378 248 CRT‐D procedures from 2003 to 2012. We investigated common complications, including mechanical, cardiovascular, pericardial complications (hemopericardium, cardiac tamponade, or pericardiocentesis), pneumothorax, stroke, vascular complications (consisting of hemorrhage/hematoma, incidents requiring surgical repair, and accidental arterial puncture), and in‐hospital deaths described with CRT‐D, defining them by the validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code. Mechanical complications (5.9%) were the commonest, followed by cardiovascular (3.6%), respiratory failure (2.4%), and pneumothorax (1.5%). Age (≥65 years), female gender (OR, 95% CI; P value) (1.08, 1.03‐1.13; 0.001), and the Charlson score ≥3 (1.52, 1.45‐1.60; <0.001) were significantly associated with increased mortality/complications.Conclusions: The overall complication rate in patients undergoing CRT‐D has been increasing in the last decade. Age (≥65), female sex, and the Charlson score ≥3 were associated with higher complications. In patients who underwent CRT‐D implantation, postoperative complications were associated with significant increases in cost.