Post-discharge Follow-up Characteristics Associated With 30-Day Readmission After Heart Failure Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Readmission within 30 days after hospitalization for heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether timing and type of post-discharge follow-up impacts risk of 30-day readmission in adults hospitalized for HF. DESIGN: Nested matched case-control study (January 1, 2006-June 30, 2013). SETTING: A large, integrated health care delivery system in Northern California. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized adults with a primary diagnosis of HF discharged to home without hospice care. MEASUREMENTS: Outpatient visits and telephone calls with cardiology and general medicine providers in non-emergency department and non-urgent care settings were counted as follow-up care. Statistical adjustments were made for differences in patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, acute severity of illness, hospitalization characteristics, and post-discharge medication changes and laboratory testing. RESULTS: Among 11,985 eligible adults, early initial outpatient contact within 7 days after discharge was associated with lower odds of readmission [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.81; 95% CI, 0.70-0.94], whereas later outpatient contact between 8 and 30 days after hospital discharge was not significantly associated with readmission (adjusted OR=0.99; 95% CI, 0.82-1.19). Initial contact by telephone was associated with lower adjusted odds of 30-day readmission (adjusted OR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.69-1.06) but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In adults discharged to home after hospitalization for HF, outpatient follow-up with a cardiology or general medicine provider within 7 days was associated with a lower chance of 30-day readmission.

Effectiveness and safety of spironolactone for systolic heart failure.

Aldosterone receptor antagonists have been shown in randomized trials to reduce morbidity and mortality in adults with symptomatic systolic heart failure. We studied the effectiveness and safety of spironolactone in adults with newly diagnosed systolic heart failure in clinical practice. We identified all adults with newly diagnosed heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction of <40%, and no previous spironolactone use from 2006 to 2008 in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. We excluded patients with baseline serum creatinine level of >2.5 mg/dl or a serum potassium level of >5.0 mEq/L. We used Cox regression with time-varying covariates to evaluate the independent association between spironolactone use and death, hospitalization, severe hyperkalemia, and acute kidney injury. Among 2,538 eligible patients with a median follow-up of 2.5 years, 521 patients (22%) initiated spironolactone, which was not associated with risk of hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.08) or death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.93, confidence interval 0.60 to 1.44). Crude rates of severe hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury during spironolactone use were similar to that seen in clinical trials. Spironolactone was independently associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk of hyperkalemia but not with acute kidney injury. Within a diverse community-based cohort with incident systolic heart failure, use of spironolactone was not independently associated with risks of hospitalization or death. Our findings suggest that the benefits of spironolactone in clinical practice may be reduced compared with other guideline-recommended medications.

Short-term and long-term success of electrical cardioversion in atrial fibrillation in managed care system.

BACKGROUND: Initial success of electrical cardioversion (ECV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported in several studies as 50%-90%, of which only 50% patients remain in sinus rhythm (SR) at the end of one year. We conducted this study to see if outcomes of other trials are applicable in managed care setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in 370 consecutive patients who underwent ECV for AF. They were reviewed for initial outcome of ECV and recurrence of AF after a successful ECV, with and without prophylactic antiarrhythmic drugs. RESULTS: Initial success of ECV for AF was 65.7%. At one year, 47% remained in SR. AF for

Palliative care for patients with heart failure.

Heart failure accounts for more hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries than any other condition. Its symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema, can be frightening and diminish quality of life. Although treatment advances have allowed patients to live longer with a better quality of life, heart failure remains a leading cause of death in the United States. Half of heart failure patients die within 5 years of diagnosis, and for many patients, death is sudden. Given the availability of effective treatments, the prevalence of distressing symptoms, and a persistent high risk of death that may occur suddenly, physicians must simultaneously treat the underlying condition while helping patients plan for future needs and complete advance directives. Using the case of Mr R, a 74-year-old man with heart failure, we illustrate ways that physicians can address these issues to improve the care of patients with heart failure, including symptom management and discussing advance directives, prognosis, and hospice care. By combining optimal medical management with palliative care, physicians can best care for heart failure patients and their families.