Harsh Golwala

Trends in infective endocarditis incidence, microbiology, and valve replacement in the United States from 2000 to 2011

BACKGROUND In accordance with the 2007 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association infective endocarditis (IE) guideline update, antibiotic prophylaxis is now being restricted to a smaller number of cardiac conditions with very high risk for adverse outcomes from IE. However, there is scant data on IE trends since this major practice change in the United States. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare temporal trends in IE incidence, microbiology, and outcomes before and after the change in the 2007 IE prophylaxis guideline in the United States. METHODS The NIS (Nationwide Inpatient Sample) database was used to investigate IE hospitalization rates in the United States from 2000 through 2011. The mean annual rates of IE before and after the 2007 guideline change were compared using segmented regression analysis. RESULTS There were 457,052 IE-related hospitalizations in the United States from 2000 to 2011, with a steady increase in incidence (p < 0.001). The trend in IE hospitalization rates from 2000 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2011 was not significantly different (p = 0.74). The increases in the number of Staphylococcus IE cases per million population during the study periods 2000 to 2007 and 2008 to 2011 were similar (p = 0.13), but Streptococcus IE hospitalization rates were significantly higher after the release of new guidelines (p = 0.002). Finally, valve replacement rates for IE steadily increased from 2000 to 2007 (p = 0.03) but showed a plateau from 2007 to 2011. Overall, there was no significant difference in the rates of valve replacement for IE before and after the release of new guideline (p = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS These results show that IE incidence has increased in the United States over the past decade. With regard to the microbiology of IE, there has been a significant rise in the incidence of Streptococcus IE since the 2007 guideline revisions. However, the rates of hospitalization and valve surgery for IE have not increased since the change in IE prophylaxis guideline in 2007.

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator for Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: An Updated Meta-Analysis

The use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) has been a major advancement in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction 1100 patients with NICM on optimal medical therapy (OMT) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to ICD versus no ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death, revealed no difference in all-cause mortality between the 2 groups at 5-year follow-up.4 Although the primary results of DANISH were neutral, the ICD group showed reduction in incidence of sudden cardiac death by half, and there was an interaction …

Use of hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate combination in African American and other race/ethnic group patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background Hydralazine‐isosorbide dinitrate (H‐ISDN) therapy is recommended for African American patients with moderate to severe heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (<40%) (HFrEF), but use, temporal trends, and clinical characteristics associated with H‐ISDN therapy in clinical practice are unknown. Methods and Results An observational analysis of 54 622 patients admitted with HFrEF and discharged home from 207 hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure registry from April 2008 to March 2012 was conducted to assess prescription, trends, and predictors of use of H‐ISDN among eligible patients. Among 11 185 African American patients eligible for H‐ISDN therapy, only 2500 (22.4%) received H‐ISDN therapy at discharge. In the overall eligible population, 5115 of 43 498 (12.6%) received H‐ISDN at discharge. Treatment rates increased over the study period from 16% to 24% among African Americans and from 10% to 13% among the entire HFrEF population. In a multivariable model, factors associated with H‐ISDN use among the entire cohort included younger age; male sex; African American/Hispanic ethnicity; and history of diabetes, hypertension, anemia, renal insufficiency, higher systolic blood pressure, and lower heart rate. In African American patients, these factors were similar; in addition, being uninsured was associated with lower use. Conclusions Overall, few potentially eligible patients with HFrEF are treated with H‐ISDN, and among African‐Americans fewer than one‐fourth of eligible patients received guideline‐recommended H‐ISDN therapy. Improved ways to facilitate use of H‐ISDN therapy in African American patients with HFrEF are needed.

Racial/ethnic differences in atrial fibrillation symptoms, treatment patterns, and outcomes: Insights from Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

BACKGROUND Significant racial/ethnic differences exist in the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, less is known about racial/ethnic differences in quality of life (QoL), treatment, and outcomes associated with AF. METHODS Using data from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation, we compared clinical characteristics, QoL, management strategies, and long-term outcomes associated with AF among various racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS We analyzed 9,542 participants with AF (mean age 74 ± 11 years, 43% women, 91% white, 5% black, 4% Hispanic) from 174 centers. Compared with AF patients identified as white race, patients identified as Hispanic ethnicity and those identified as black race were younger, were more often women, and had more cardiac and noncardiac comorbidities. Black patients were more symptomatic with worse QoL and were less likely to be treated with a rhythm control strategy than other racial/ethnic groups. There were no significant racial/ethnic differences in CHA2DS2-VASc stroke or ATRIA bleeding risk scores and rates of oral anticoagulation use were similar. However, racial and ethnic minority populations treated with warfarin spent a lower median time in therapeutic range of international normalized ratio (59% blacks vs 68% whites vs 62% Hispanics, P < .0001). There was no difference in long-term outcomes associated with AF between the 3 groups at a median follow-up of 2.1 years. CONCLUSION Relative to white and Hispanic patients, black patients with AF had more symptoms, were less likely to receive rhythm control interventions, and had lower quality of warfarin management. Despite these differences, clinical events at 2 years were similar by race and ethnicity.

Factors associated with and prognostic implications of cardiac troponin elevation in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Findings from the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure program

Importance Elevated levels of cardiac troponins are associated with adverse clinical outcomes among patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction. However, the clinical significance of troponin elevation in the setting of decompensated HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is not well established. Objective To determine the clinical predictors of troponin elevation and its association with in-hospital and long-term outcomes among patients with decompensated HFpEF. Design, Setting, and Participants Observational analysis of Get With The Guidelines–HF registry participants who were admitted for decompensated HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥50%) from January 2009 through December 2014 and who had quantitative or categorical (elevated vs normal based on institution’s reference laboratory) measures of troponin level (troponin T or troponin I, as available). Main Outcomes and Measures In-hospital outcomes (mortality, length of stay, and discharge destination) and postdischarge outcomes (30-day mortality, 30-day readmission rate, 1-year mortality). Results We included 34 233 patients with HFpEF from 224 sites with measured troponin levels (33.4% men; median age, 79 years): 78.6% (n = 26 896) with troponin I and 21.4% (n = 7319) with troponin T measurements. Among these, 22.6% (n = 7732) had elevation in troponin levels. In adjusted analysis, higher serum creatinine level, black race, older age, and ischemic heart disease were associated with troponin elevation. Elevated troponin was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.19; 95% CI, 1.88-2.56), greater length of stay (length of stay >4 days OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.29-1.47), and lower likelihood of discharge to home (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.61-0.71) independent of other clinical predictors and measured confounders. Presence of elevated troponin I levels was also significantly associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.42-1.80), 30-day all-cause readmission (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.25), and 1-year mortality HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.26-1.45). Conclusions and Relevance Troponin elevation among patients with acutely decompensated HFpEF is associated with worse in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes, independent of other predictive variables. Future studies are needed to determine if measurement of troponin levels among patients with decompensated HFpEF may be useful for risk stratification.

Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheterization in US Patients With Heart Failure, 2001-2012

Prepare | In busy primary care practices, the time-honored habit of reviewing the patient’s medical record before entering the examination room may be overlooked and several precious minutes of face-to-face time may be spent silently reviewing the medical record with the patient in the examination room. This method is inefficient and can sometimes prove embarrassing when a patient reminds the physician of why he or she is there (eg, “You told me to schedule a follow-up for my diabetes care.”). Preparation for the visit is key to efficiency and improved patient experience and trust.

Safety and efficacy of dual vs. triple antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation following percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Aims Of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), approximately 10% undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We studied the safety and efficacy of dual vs. triple antithrombotic therapy (DAT vs. TAT) in this population. Methods and results A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted using PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Web of Science, and relevant meeting abstracts for Phase 3, randomized trials that compared DAT vs. TAT in patients with AF following PCI. Four trials including 5317 patients were included, of whom 3039 (57%) received DAT. Compared with the TAT arm, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) major or minor bleeding showed a reduction by 47% in the DAT arm [4.3% vs. 9.0%; hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.36‐0.85, I2 = 42.9%]. In addition, there was no difference in the trial‐defined major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (10.4% vs. 10.0%, HR 0.85, 95% CrI 0.48‐1.29, I2 = 58.4%), or in individual outcomes of all‐cause mortality, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or stroke between the two arms. Conclusion Compared with TAT, DAT shows a reduction in TIMI major or minor bleeding by 47% with comparable outcomes of MACE. Our findings support the concept that DAT may be a better option than TAT in many patients with AF following PCI. Figure. No Caption available.

Impact of total occlusion of culprit artery in acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims Total occlusion (TO) of the culprit artery usually presents with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. A subset of patients with TO present as non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) without classic ST-elevation on the electrocardiogram. This may lead to delay in identification of these patients and further management. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the difference in outcomes between totally occluded and non-occluded culprit arteries in patients with NSTEMI. Methods and results Our literature search yielded seven studies with 40 777 patients. The outcomes assessed were clinical presentation (Killip class), left ventricular ejection fraction, time to angiography, major cardiac adverse events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. The generic inverse or Mantel-Haenszel method was used to pool relevant outcomes and the mean difference (MD) or relative risk (RR) was calculated. A total of 10 415 (25.5%) patients had an occluded culprit artery with a predominant infero-lateral distribution (40% right coronary and 33% left circumflex artery). There was an increased risk of both MACE (short-term RR: 1.41; CI: 1.17, 1.70; P = 0.0003; I2 = 26%; medium- to long-term RR: 1.32; CI: 1.11, 1.56; P = 0.001; I2 = 25%) and all-cause mortality (short-term RR: 1.67; CI: 1.31, 2.13; P < 0.0001; I2 = 41%; medium to long-term RR: 1.42; CI: 1.08, 1.86; P = 0.01; I2 = 32%) with TO of the culprit artery. Conclusion Our meta-analysis suggests that patients with NSTEMI who demonstrate a totally occluded culprit vessel on coronary angiography are at higher risk of mortality and major adverse cardiac events. Better risk stratification tools are needed to identify such high-risk acute coronary syndrome patients to facilitate earlier revascularization and potentially to improve outcomes.

Association of US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital 30-Day Risk-Standardized Readmission Metric With Care Quality and Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Findings From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry/Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get With the Guidelines

Importance The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program penalizes hospitals with higher-than-expected risk-adjusted 30-day readmission rates (excess readmission ratio [ERR] > 1) after acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, the association of ERR with MI care processes and outcomes are not well established. Objective To evaluate the association between ERR for MI with in-hospital process of care measures and 1-year clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants Observational analysis of hospitalized patients with MI from National Cardiovascular Data Registry/Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get With the Guidelines centers subject to the first cycle of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2011. Exposures The ERR for MI (MI-ERR) in 2011. Main Outcomes and Measures Adherence to process of care measures during index hospitalization in the overall study population and risk of the composite outcome of mortality or all-cause readmission within 1 year of discharge and its individual components among participants with available Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services–linked data. Results The median ages of patients in the MI-ERR greater than 1 and tertiles 1, 2, and 3 of the MI-ERR greater than 1 groups were 64, 63, 64, and 63 years, respectively. Among 380 hospitals that treated a total of 176 644 patients with MI during the study period, 43% had MI-ERR greater than 1. The proportions of patients of black race, those with heart failure signs at admission, and bleeding complications increased with higher MI-ERR. There was no significant association between adherence to MI performance measures and MI-ERR (adjusted odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.81-1.08, per 0.1-unit increase in MI-ERR for overall defect-free care). Among the 51 453 patients with 1-year outcomes data available, higher MI-ERR was associated with higher adjusted risk of the composite outcome and all-cause readmission within 1 year of discharge. This association was largely driven by readmissions early after discharge and was not significant in landmark analyses beginning 30 days after discharge. The MI-ERR was not associated with risk for mortality within 1 year of discharge in the overall and 30-day landmark analyses. Conclusions and Relevance During the first cycle of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, participating hospitals’ risk-adjusted 30-day readmission rates following MI were not associated with in-hospital quality of MI care or clinical outcomes occurring after the first 30 days after discharge.

Effect of Preoperative Angina Pectoris on Cardiac Outcomes in Patients With Previous Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Major Noncardiac Surgery (Data from ACS-NSQIP)

The impact of preoperative stable angina pectoris on postoperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent major noncardiac surgery is not well studied. We studied patients with previous MI who underwent elective major noncardiac surgeries within the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005 to 2011). Primary outcome was occurrence of an adverse cardiac event (MI and/or cardiac arrest). Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the impact of stable angina on outcomes. Of 1,568 patients (median age 70 years; 35% women) with previous MI who underwent major noncardiac surgery, 5.5% had postoperative MI and/or cardiac arrest. Patients with history of preoperative angina had significantly greater incidence of primary outcome compared to those without anginal symptoms (8.4% vs 5%, p = 0.035). In secondary outcomes, reintervention rates (22.5% vs 11%, p <0.001) and length of stay (median 6-days vs 5-days; p <0.001) were also higher in patients with preoperative angina. In multivariable analyses, preoperative angina was a significant predictor for postoperative MI (odds ratio 2.49 [1.20 to 5.58]) and reintervention (odds ratio 2.40 [1.44 to 3.82]). In conclusion, our study indicates that preoperative angina is an independent predictor for adverse outcomes in patients with previous MI who underwent major noncardiac surgery, and cautions against overreliance on predictive tools, for example, the Revised Cardiac Risk Index, in these patients, which does not treat stable angina and previous MI as independent risk factors during risk prognostication.