Nathaniel Erskine

A systematic review and meta-analysis on herpes zoster and the risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events

Background Patients who develop herpes zoster or herpes zoster ophthalmicus may be at risk for cerebrovascular and cardiac complications. We systematically reviewed the published literature to determine the association between herpes zoster and its subtypes with the occurrence of cerebrovascular and cardiac events. Methods/Results Systematic searches of PubMed (MEDLINE), SCOPUS (Embase) and Google Scholar were performed in December 2016. Eligible studies were cohort, case-control, and self-controlled case-series examining the association between herpes zoster or subtypes of herpes zoster with the occurrence of cerebrovascular and cardiac events including stroke, transient ischemic attack, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Data on the occurrence of the examined events were abstracted. Odds ratios and their accompanying confidence intervals were estimated using random and fixed effects models with statistical heterogeneity estimated with the I2 statistic. Twelve studies examining 7.9 million patients up to 28 years after the onset of herpes zoster met our pre-defined eligibility criteria. Random and fixed effects meta-analyses showed that herpes zoster, type unspecified, and herpes zoster ophthalmicus were associated with a significantly increased risk of cerebrovascular events, without any evidence of statistical heterogeneity. Our meta-analysis also found a significantly increased risk of cardiac events associated with herpes zoster, type unspecified. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the accumulating body of evidence that herpes zoster and herpes zoster ophthalmicus are significantly associated with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events.

Decade Long Trends (2001–2011) in Duration of Pre‐Hospital Delay Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized for an Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Early intervention with medical and/or coronary revascularization treatment approaches remains the cornerstone of the management of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, several patient groups, especially the elderly, are known to delay seeking prompt medical care after onset of AMI‐associated symptoms. Current trends, and factors associated with prolonged prehospital delay among elderly patients hospitalized with AMI, are incompletely understood. Methods and Results Data from a population‐based study of patients hospitalized at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts with a confirmed AMI on a biennial basis between 2001 and 2011 were analyzed. Information about duration of prehospital delay after onset of acute coronary symptoms was abstracted from hospital medical records. In patients 65 years and older, the overall median duration of prehospital delay was 2.0 hours, with corresponding median delays of 2.0, 2.1, and 2.0 hours in those aged 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and in patients 85 years and older, respectively. There were no significant changes over time in median delay times in each of the age strata examined in both crude and multivariable adjusted analyses. A limited number of patient characteristics were associated with prolonged delay in this patient population. Conclusions The results of this community‐wide study demonstrate that delay in seeking prompt medical care continues to be a significant problem among elderly patients hospitalized with AMI. The lack of improvement in the timeliness of patients’ care‐seeking behavior during the years under study remains of considerable clinical and public health concern.

Multiple Chronic Conditions and Psychosocial Limitations in Patients Hospitalized with an Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND As adults live longer, multiple chronic conditions have become more prevalent over the past several decades. We describe the prevalence of, and patient characteristics associated with, cardiac- and non-cardiac-related multimorbidities in patients discharged from the hospital after an acute coronary syndrome. METHODS We studied 2174 patients discharged from the hospital after an acute coronary syndrome at 6 medical centers in Massachusetts and Georgia between April 2011 and May 2013. Hospital medical records yielded clinical information including presence of eight cardiac-related and eight non-cardiac-related morbidities on admission. We assessed multiple psychosocial characteristics during the index hospitalization using standardized in-person instruments. RESULTS The mean age of the study sample was 61 years, 67% were men, and 81% were non-Hispanic whites. The most common cardiac-related morbidities were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes (76%, 69%, and 31%, respectively). Arthritis, chronic pulmonary disease, and depression (20%, 18%, and 13%, respectively) were the most common noncardiac morbidities. Patients with ≥4 morbidities (37% of the population) were slightly older and more frequently female than those with 0-1 morbidity; they were also heavier and more likely to be cognitively impaired (26% vs 12%), have symptoms of moderate/severe depression (31% vs 15%), high perceived stress (48% vs 32%), a limited social network (22% vs 15%), low health literacy (42% vs 31%), and low health numeracy (54% vs 42%). CONCLUSION Multimorbidity, highly prevalent in patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome, is strongly associated with indices of psychosocial deprivation. This emphasizes the challenge of caring for these patients, which extends well beyond acute coronary syndrome management.

Changing Trends in, and Characteristics Associated with, Not Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization in Elderly Adults Hospitalized with ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction

To describe decade‐ long trends (1999–2009) in the rates of not undergoing cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in individuals aged 65 and older presenting with an ST‐segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and factors associated with not undergoing these procedures.

Underuse of Effective Cardiac Medications Among Women, Middle-Aged Adults, and Racial/Ethnic Minorities With Coronary Artery Disease (from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 to 2014)

Given the proven effectiveness of several cardiac medications for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we examined the national use of 4 classes of effective medications, overall and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity in 2005 to 2014. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including a self-reported diagnosis of CAD and independently verified medication use. Weighting procedures extrapolated our data to the adult US population with CAD. Analyses included 1,789 US adults aged ≥45 years with a history of CAD. The average age of this population was 68 years; 40% were women and 79% were non-Hispanic whites. In 2005 to 2014, 53.2% (standard error [SE] = 1.5) reported use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers, 58.5% (SE = 1.5) β blockers, and 67.2% (SE = 1.4) statins. Two of these medications were used by 64.1% (SE = 1.5) of the study population and all 3 by 29.1% (SE = 1.3). In 2011 to 2014, 68.5% (SE = 2.4) of American adults with a history of CAD reported use of aspirin. The use of statins increased from 63.1% in 2005/2006 to 76.8% in 2013/2014. Adults aged 45 to 64 years old, women, and racial/ethnic minorities had lower use of effective cardiac medications compared with older adults, men, and non-Hispanic whites. In conclusion, the use of statins, but not other medications, has increased over the past 10 years among American adults with previously diagnosed CAD. Continued targeted efforts are needed to increase the receipt of effective cardiac medications among all US adults with CAD, especially those aged 45 to 64 years, women, and racial/ethnic minorities.

Survivors of an Acute Coronary Syndrome With Lower Patient Activation Are More Likely to Experience Declines in Health-Related Quality of Life

Background:Patient activation comprises the knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-care and may lead to better health outcomes. Objectives:We examined the relationship between patient activation and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods:We studied patients from 6 medical centers in central Massachusetts and Georgia who had been hospitalized for an ACS between 2011 and 2013. At 1 month after hospital discharge, the patients completed the 6-item Patient Activation Measure and were categorized into 4 levels of activation. Multinomial logistic regression analyses compared activation level with clinically meaningful changes (≥3.0 points, generic; ≥10.0 points, disease-specific) in generic physical (SF-36v2 Physical Component Summary [PCS]), generic mental (SF-36v2 Mental Component Summary [MCS]), and disease-specific (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]) HRQOL from 1 to 3 and 1 to 6 months after hospitalization, adjusting for potential sociodemographic and clinical confounders. Results:The patients (N = 1042) were, on average, 62 years old, 34% female, and 87% non-Hispanic white. A total of 10% were in the lowest level of activation. The patients with the lowest activation had 1.95 times (95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.62) and 2.18 times (95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.05) the odds of experiencing clinically significant declines in MCS and SAQ HRQOL, respectively, between 1 and 6 months than the most activated patients. The patient activation level was not associated with meaningful changes in PCS scores. Conclusions:Hospital survivors of an ACS with lower activation may be more likely to experience declines in mental and disease-specific HRQOL than more-activated patients, identifying a group at risk of poor outcomes.

Hospital evaluation of health literacy and associated outcomes in patients after acute myocardial infarction

Background Low health literacy is common in the United States and may affect outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). How often hospitals screen for low health literacy is unknown. Methods We surveyed 122 hospitals in the TRANSLATE‐ACS study and divided them into those that reported routinely (>75% of patients), selectively (1%‐75%), or never (0%) screening MI patients for low health literacy prior to discharge. We performed logistic regression with random intercepts to compare 6‐week and 6‐month patient‐reported medication adherence and multivariable Cox regression to compare 1‐year major adverse cardiovascular events and all‐cause readmission risks between hospital groups. Results Overall, 25 (20.5%), 47 (38.5%), and 50 (41.0%) hospitals reported routinely, selectively, or never screening patients for low health literacy, respectively. Patients discharged from hospitals that routinely screened were more likely to report 6‐week medication adherence [routinely: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.26, 95% CI 1.01‐1.57; selectively: adjusted OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.00‐1.43, both referenced to those discharged from hospitals that never screened]. Compared with hospitals that never screened health literacy, 1‐year major adverse cardiovascular events were similar for hospitals that reported routinely screening (adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.75‐1.14) or selectively screening (adjusted HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.84‐1.21). Hospitals that reported selectively screening health literacy were associated with a lower adjusted risk of 1‐year all‐cause readmission (adjusted HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.79‐1.00, P = .041). Conclusion Only a minority of US hospitals routinely screen MI patients for low health literacy. Hospital screening was associated with higher medication adherence and lower readmission risk. Further investigation is needed to understand how inpatient screening can be implemented to improve longitudinal post‐MI care.

Impact of anxiety on the post-discharge outcomes of patients discharged from the hospital after an acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND Symptoms of anxiety are highly prevalent among survivors of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but do not necessarily indicate an anxiety disorder. The extent to which symptoms of anxiety or a diagnosis of this condition impacts hospital readmission and post-discharge mortality among patients with an ACS remains unclear. METHODS We used data from 1909 patients discharged from six hospitals in Massachusetts and Georgia after an ACS. Moderate/severe symptoms of anxiety were defined based on responses to a Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire during the patients index hospitalization. The diagnosis of an anxiety disorder was based on review of hospital medical records. Multivariable adjusted Poisson regression and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate the risk of 30-day hospital readmissions and 2-year total mortality. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was 61 years, two thirds were men, and 78% were non-Hispanic whites. In this population, 10.4% had a documented diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, 18.8% had moderate/severe symptoms of anxiety, and 70.8% had neither a diagnosis nor symptoms of anxiety. Neither a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder nor symptoms of anxiety were associated with 30-day all-cause or cardiovascular-related rehospitalizations. Patients with an anxiety disorder (multivariable adjusted HR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.11-3.42) were at greatest risk for dying during the 2-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS We identified patients with an anxiety disorder as being at greater risk for dying after hospital discharge for an ACS. Interventions may be more appropriately targeted to those with a history of, rather than acute symptoms of, anxiety.

Increase in white blood cell count is associated with the development of atrial fibrillation after an acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND Evidence linking an elevated white blood cell count (WBCC), a marker of inflammation, to the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is limited. We examined the association between WBCC at hospital admission, and changes in WBCC during hospitalization, with the development of new-onset AF during hospitalization for an ACS. METHODS Development of AF was based on typical ECG changes in a systematic review of hospital medical records. Increase in WBCC was calculated as the difference between maximal WBCC during hospitalization and WBCC at hospital admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for several potentially confounding demographic and clinical variables in examining the association between WBCC, and changes over time therein, with the occurrence of AF. RESULTS The median age of study patients (n = 1325) was 60 years, 31.8% were women, and 80.1% were non-Hispanic whites. AF developed in 7.3% of patients with an ACS. Patients who developed AF, as compared with those who did not, had a similar WBCC at admission, but a greater increase in WBCC during hospitalization (6.0 × 109 cell/L vs. 2.7 × 109 cell/L, p < 0.001). After adjusting for several potentially confounding factors, an increase in WBCC was associated with the development of AF. This association was observed in patients with different ACS subtypes, types of treatment received, and according to time of acute symptom onset. CONCLUSION Increase in the WBCC during hospitalization for an ACS should be further studied as a potentially simple predictor for new-onset AF in these patients.

Are we “missing the big picture” in transitions of care? Perspectives of healthcare providers managing patients with unplanned hospitalization

BACKGROUND Healthcare providers play a critical role in the care transitions. Therefore, efforts to improve this process should be informed by their perspectives. AIM The study objective was to explore the factors that negatively/positively influence care transitions following an unplanned hospitalization from the perspective of healthcare providers. METHODS A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews conducted between February and September of 2016 at a single academic medical center. We enrolled fifteen healthcare providers from multiple disciplines involved in the management of patients experiencing an unplanned hospitalization. Respondents shared their experiences with care transitions and identified factors within and outside of the discharging health facility that impede or facilitate this process. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using emerging themes from the interviews. RESULTS We identified six themes and associated subthemes from the interviews on factors that influence care transitions. Three themes focused on factors within the discharging healthcare facility: untailored and overloaded patient discharge information, timing of the post-discharge care conversation, provider-to-patient and provider-to-provider miscommunication. The other three themes were related to external factors including caregiver involvement, having a safe and stable housing environment, and access to healthcare and community resources. Providers discussed how these factors positively/negatively influence the hospital-to-home transition. CONCLUSIONS Our study identifies factors within and outside the discharging healthcare facility that influence care transitions, ultimately affect patient-centered outcomes and provider satisfaction with delivered care. Strategies aimed at improving the quality of care transitions should address these barriers and actively engage healthcare providers who are pivotal in care transitions.