Ankle- and Toe-Brachial Index for Peripheral Artery Disease Identification: Unlocking Clinical Data Through Novel Methods.

BACKGROUND: Despite its high prevalence and clinical impact, research on peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains limited due to poor accuracy of billing codes. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index can be used to identify PAD patients with high accuracy within electronic health records. METHODS: We developed a novel natural language processing (NLP) algorithm for extracting ABI and toe-brachial index values and laterality (right or left) from ABI reports. A random sample of 800 reports from 94 Veterans Affairs facilities during 2015 to 2017 was selected and annotated by clinical experts. We trained the NLP system using random forest models and optimized it through sequential iterations of 10-fold cross-validation and error analysis on 600 test reports and evaluated its final performance on a separate set of 200 reports. We also assessed the accuracy of NLP-extracted ABI and toe-brachial index values for identifying patients with PAD in a separate cohort undergoing ABI testing. RESULTS: The NLP system had an overall precision (positive predictive value) of 0.85, recall (sensitivity) of 0.93, and F1 measure (accuracy) of 0.89 to correctly identify ABI/toe-brachial index values and laterality. Among 261 patients with ABI testing (49% PAD), the NLP system achieved a positive predictive value of 92.3%, sensitivity of 83.1%, and specificity of 93.1% to identify PAD when compared with a structured chart review. The above findings were consistent in a range of sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed and validated an NLP system for identifying patients with PAD within the Veterans Affairs electronic health record. Our findings have broad implications for PAD research and quality improvement.

Trajectory of Risk-Standardized Survival Rates for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: A hospital's risk-standardized survival rate (RSSR) for in-hospital cardiac arrest has emerged as an important metric to benchmark and incentivize hospital resuscitation quality. We examined whether hospital performance on the RSSR metric was stable or dynamic year-over-year and whether low-performing hospitals were able to improve survival outcomes over time. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used data from 84 089 adult patients with an in-hospital cardiac arrest from 166 hospitals with continuous participation in Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation from 2012 to 2017. A 2-level hierarchical regression model was used to compute RSSRs during a baseline (2012-2013) and two follow-up periods (2014-2015 and 2016-2017). At baseline, hospitals were classified as top-, middle-, and bottom-performing if they ranked in the top 25%, middle 50%, and bottom 25%, respectively, on their RSSR metric during 2012 to 2013. We compared hospital performance on RSSR during follow-up between top, middle, and bottom-performing hospitals' at baseline. During 2012 to 2013, 42 hospitals were identified as top-performing (median RSSR, 31.7%), 82 as middle-performing (median RSSR, 24.6%), and 42 as bottom-performing (median RSSR, 18.7%). During both follow-up periods, >70% of top-performing hospitals ranked in the top 50%, a substantial proportion remained in the top 25% of RSSR during 2014 to 2015 (54.6%) and 2016 to 2017 (40.4%) follow-up periods. Likewise, nearly 75% of bottom-performing hospitals remained in the bottom 50% during both follow-up periods, with 50.0% in the bottom 25% of RSSR during 2014 to 2015 and 40.5% in the bottom 25% during 2016 to 2017. While percentile rankings were generally consistent over time at ≈45% of study hospitals, ≈1 in 5 (21.4%) bottom-performing hospitals showed large improvement in percentile rankings over time and a similar proportion (23.7%) of top-performing hospitals showed large decline in percentile rankings compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital performance on RSSR during baseline period was generally consistent over 4 years of follow-up. However, 1 in 5 bottom-performing hospitals had large improvement in survival over time. Identifying care and quality improvement innovations at these sites may provide opportunities to improve in-hospital cardiac arrest care at other hospitals.

Transcatheter Repair of Anterior Mitral Leaflet Perforation: Deploy, Retrieve, Redeploy.

We describe a case of anterior mitral leaflet perforation successfully treated with the Amplatzer Cribriform device, with resultant hemolytic anemia. The device was retrieved, and perforation occluded with the GORE CARDIOFORM device with resolution of hemolysis. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Fluoroquinolones and the risk of aortopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between fluoroquinolones use and development of aortopathy. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines for reporting systematic reviews of observational studies. Multiple databases were searched and two authors independently screened studies for eligibility. Newcastle Ottawa scale was used to assessed the quality of included studies. Primary outcome of interest was development of aortic aneurysm or dissection among fluoroquinolones users in comparison to non-users. An inverse variance model meta-analysis was used to pool odds ratio or hazards ratio from included studies to calculate the overall effect estimate. Pre specified subgroups analyses were also conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Three observational studies that enrolled 941,639 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. All studies were of a good methodological quality. Current use of fluoroquinolones, defined as within 60 days from development of the primary outcome, was associated with significantly elevated risk of developing aortic aneurysm and/or dissection in comparison to controls, (OR = 2.04; 95% CI [1.67, 2.48]). There was only a mild degree of between study heterogeneity, I2 = 33%. The association remains robust among all subgroups analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that current fluoroquinolone use was significantly associated with increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection. Health care providers need to be aware of this serious association and use fluoroquinolones judiciously in order to minimize the risk of the serious sequela of aortopathy.

Workup and Management of Native and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant serious adverse outcomes including death. IE usually presents with diverse clinical picture and syndromic diagnoses including heart failure, stroke, and peripheral embolization. Given variable, vague, and syndromic presentations, the diagnosis of IE may be delayed for days to weeks. Maintaining a high index of suspicion among clinicians is the key to early recognition of the disease and prompt initiation of antimicrobial therapy to prevent IE-associated mortality and morbidity. Blood culture and echocardiography remain essential tools in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. However, advances in molecular techniques, serology testing, computed tomography scan, and nuclear medicine have led to growth in the available tools that may aid in early diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Antimicrobial agents are the mainstay of IE therapy; however, as many as 50% of endocarditis cases will undergo valve surgery, even on an urgent or emergent basis.

Impact of timing of cardiac arrest during hospitalization on survival outcomes and subsequent length of stay.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is common and often fatal. However, the association between timing of cardiac arrest and likelihood of survival to discharge, neurological status, and subsequent hospital length of stay (LOS) is unknown. METHODS: Within the Get-With-The-Guidelines Resuscitation registry, we identified 175,904 patients between 2000 and 2014 with an IHCA. Time from admission to IHCA was categorized as <3, 3-7, or >7days from admission. Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression models examined the association between timing of IHCA and survival to discharge, and, among survivors, favorable neurological survival (cerebral performance category score of 1) and LOS after IHCA. RESULTS: Overall, 83,811 (47.6%) of IHCAs occurred <3days from admission, whereas 47,713 (27.1%) and 44,380 (25.5%) occurred between 3 and 7 and >7days from admission, respectively. Cardiac arrests occurring later during the hospitalization were associated with lower survival ([reference: <3days]; for 3-7days: adjusted OR 0.93 [0.90-0.96]; for >7days: adjusted OR 0.89 [0.86-0.92]; P<0.01) and favorable neurological survival ([reference: <3days]; for 3-7days: adjusted OR 0.83 [0.77-0.89], for >7days: adjusted OR 0.55 [0.51-0.59]; P<0.01). Among survivors, later timing of IHCA was associated with longer subsequent LOS ([reference: <3days]; for 3-7days: 2.7 additional days [2.2-3.2]; for >7days: 6.8 additional days [6.3-7.3]; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Most IHCA occur after 3 hospitalization days. Patients with IHCA after 3 hospital days had lower rates of survival to discharge, and, among survivors, lower rates of favorable neurological survival and longer duration of hospitalization from the time of cardiac arrest.

Computed Tomography for Coronary Artery Calcification Scoring: Mammogram for the Heart.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC), identified via low-radiation, non-contrast computed tomography of the heart, quantifies the burden of calcified coronary atherosclerosis. This modality is highly useful for cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification among individuals without known coronary heart disease (CHD), especially for those at intermediate risk. The presence of CAC is associated with up to a 10-fold higher risk of adverse CV events, even after fully adjusting for the standard CV risk factors. In fact, the CAC score is among the strongest clinically available predictors of future risk of adverse CV events among primary prevention patients. Additionally, the absence of CAC in asymptomatic individuals confers a very low risk of CV events. Even in the presence of a benign CV risk factor profile and normal cardiac stress test, a very high CAC score portends a high risk of adverse CV events. On the other hand, a CAC score of zero is associated with a low CHD risk despite significant CV risk factor profiles. CAC scoring is a quick, low-cost screening tool to help risk-stratify patients and identify those likely to benefit from aggressive preventive treatments (such as high-intensity statin therapy, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and aspirin) and to identify those likely who warrant close monitoring. Moreover, individuals with a zero CAC score may be at low enough risk to avoid or defer daily aspirin therapy and pharmacological therapy for cholesterol management, and instead work on therapeutic lifestyle changes. An abnormal CAC score may also lead to better adherence to pharmacological regimens and suggested lifestyle changes.

Resolution (and Late Recurrence) of WATCHMAN Device-Related Thrombus Following Treatment with Dabigatran.

The WATCHMAN left atrial (LA) appendage closure system is an alternative therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation who are intolerant to chronic oral anticoagulation with warfarin. Infrequently, LA device-related thrombus (DRT) has been suspected. Optimal treatment of DRT is not known, and the efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) in this setting has not been previously described. A 69-year-old woman with permanent atrial fibrillation underwent WATCHMAN device placement. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) performed 45 days following implant revealed a well-seated device. A 1-year follow-up TEE revealed a 1.2 × 0.8 cm sized DRT on the LA aspect of the WATCHMAN device. She was prescribed dabigatran 150 mg po BID for 3 months and she remained on aspirin 325 mg per day. She returned approximately 4 months later (and several weeks after completing her 3-month course of dabigatran) for a repeat TEE, which revealed complete resolution of the DRT. A TEE was performed approximately 8 months later and revealed a new DRT measuring 1 cm in diameter on the LA aspect of the device. This is the first report of successful WATCHMAN DRT treatment with a NOAC, and the first report of late DRT recurrence following treatment to resolution with an anticoagulant. This case report demonstrates that (1) WATCHMAN DRT may form late following implantation, (2) DRT resolution is possible with NOACs, specifically dabigatran, and (3) late recurrence of DRT is possible, even after treatment to initial resolution with systemic anticoagulation.

Azithromycin and Risk of Cardiovascular Death: A Meta-Analytic Review of Observational Studies.

Recent evidence, though conflicting, suggests an association between azithromycin use and cardiovascular death. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of azithromycin on risk of death. Multiple databases were searched. Authors independently screened and extracted the data from studies. Primary outcome of interest was risk of death (cardiovascular and/or noncardiovascular). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the source of a possible heterogeneity. Random effects model meta-analysis and hazards ratio (HR) were used to pool the data and calculate the overall effect estimate, respectively. Eight hundred twenty-eight citations, identified with 5 cohort studies that involved 2,246,178 episodes of azithromycin use, met our inclusion criteria. Azithromycin use was not associated with higher risk of death from any cause, HR = 0.99 [confidence interval (CI), 0.82-1.19], I = 54%, or cardiovascular cause, HR = 1.15 (CI, 0.66-2.00), I = 64%, but there was a moderate degree of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses have shown no increased risk of death with azithromycin use in younger population with zero degree of heterogeneity, HR = 0.85 (CI, 0.66-1.09), I = 0%. However, current use of azithromycin (within 1-5 days of therapy) was associated with a higher risk of death among older population with mild degree of heterogeneity, HR = 1.64 (CI, 1.23-2.19), I = 4%. In summary, azithromycin use was not associated with higher risk of death particularly in younger population. Nevertheless, older population might be at higher risk of death with current use of azithromycin, and an alternative therapy should probably be considered.