Heart failure describing the underlying cause of death: a misconception, lack of information on the true underlying causes, or both?

AIM: The underlying cause of death represents the most important information on death certificates. Often, conditions that cannot represent a true underlying cause of death are listed as such. This phenomenon affects the quality of vital statistics and results of studies using cause-specific mortality as endpoints. We aimed at exploring the magnitude and factors associated with the use of heart failure to describe the underlying cause of death. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, register based study we linked data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and the Norwegian Patient Registry. We used logistic regression models to analyse the association between external factors and heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death. RESULTS: Heart failure was listed as the underlying cause of death in 3.6% of all deaths. The odds of heart failure increased: (a) by 35% for 5-year increment in age; (b) by 78% for deaths occurring at nursing homes (compared with in-hospital deaths); and (c) by 602% for deaths not followed by an autopsy (compared with those followed by an autopsy). Deceased with a previous hospitalisation with heart failure as the discharge diagnosis had 514% higher odds of having heart failure listed as their underlying cause of death. Of the deceased with heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death, 9.4% did not have any, and 69.2% had only irrelevant additional information for assessing the true underlying cause of death in their death certificates. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death was associated with age, place of death, autopsy and previous hospitalisations - all factors that should not influence coding procedures. Better completion of death certificates in accordance with the World Health Organization rules will help reduce the use of heart failure to describe the underlying cause of death.

Paradoxical sinus deceleration during dobutamine stress echocardiography: case series and review of the literature.

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography is an established diagnostic modality for assessing myocardial ischaemia in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Dobutamine infusion causes dose-dependent increase in heart rate and contractility. However, in some cases, it induces paradoxical sinus deceleration, whose underlying mechanism and clinical significance are not fully understood. Case summary: We present episodes of paradoxical sinus deceleration observed during dobutamine stress echocardiography in six (four males and two females) patients and described its patterns of occurrence and clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. Discussion: Paradoxical sinus deceleration occurred mostly at maximal dobutamine infusion was accompanied with a decline in blood pressure and resolved spontaneously following cessation of dobutamine infusion. Individuals experiencing paradoxical sinus deceleration had in common abnormal left ventricle geometry but differed with regard to age, sex, and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Socioeconomic Gradients in Mortality Following HF Hospitalization in a Country With Universal Health Care Coverage.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and long-term mortality following first heart failure (HF) hospitalization. BACKGROUND: It is not clear to what extent education and income-individually or combined-influence mortality among patients with HF. METHODS: This study included 49,895 patients, age 35+ years, with a first HF hospitalization in Norway during 2000 to 2014 and followed them until death or December 31, 2014. The association between education, income, and mortality was explored using Cox regression models, stratified by sex and age group (35 to 69 years and 70+ years). RESULTS: Compared with patients with primary education, those with tertiary education had lower mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78 to 0.99 in younger men; HR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.75 in younger women; HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.84 to 0.97 in older men, and HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.93 in older women). After adjusting for educational differences, younger and older men and younger women in the highest income quintile had lower mortality compared with those in the lowest income quintile (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.72; HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.96, and HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.97, respectively). The association between income and mortality was almost linear. No association between income and mortality was observed in older women. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the well-organized universal health care system in Norway, education and income were independently associated with mortality in patients with HF in a clear sex- and age group-specific pattern.

Ischemic heart failure as a complication of incident acute myocardial infarction: Timing and time trends: A national analysis including 78,814 Danish patients during 2000-2009.

Aim: Heart failure is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction leading to poor prognosis. We aimed at exploring time trends of heart failure and their impact on mortality among patients with an incident acute myocardial infarction. Methods: From the National Patient Danish Registry we collected data on all patients hospitalized with an incident of acute myocardial infarction during 2000-2009 and identified cases with in-hospital heart failure (presented on admission or developing heart failure during acute myocardial infarction hospitalization) or post-discharge heart failure (a hospitalization or outpatient visit following acute myocardial infarction discharge), and assessed in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality. Results: Of the 78,814 patients included in the study, 10,248 (13.0%) developed in-hospital heart failure. The odds of in-hospital heart failure declined 0.9% per year (odds ratio=0.991, 95% confidence interval: 0.983-0.999). In-hospital heart failure was associated with 13% (odds ratio=1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.20) and 14% (odds ratio=1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.20) higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality, respectively. Of the 61,637 patients discharged alive without in-hospital heart failure, 5978 (9.7%) experienced post-discharge heart failure, 4116 (6.7%) were hospitalized and 1862 (3.0%) were diagnosed at outpatient clinics. The risk of heart failure requiring hospitalization declined 5.5% per year (hazard ratio=0.945, 95% confidence interval: 0.934-0.955) whereas the risk of heart failure diagnosed at outpatient clinics increased 13.4% per year (hazard ratio=1.134, 95% confidence interval: 1.115-1.153). Post-discharge heart failure was associated with 239% (hazard ratio=3.39, 95% confidence interval: 3.18-3.63) higher 1-year mortality. Conclusions: In-hospital and post-discharge heart failure requiring hospitalization decreased whereas post-discharge heart failure diagnosed at outpatient clinics increased among incident acute myocardial infarction patients during 2000-2009. The development of heart failure, especially after acute myocardial infarction discharge, indicates a poor prognosis.

Mortality following first-time hospitalization with acute myocardial infarction in Norway, 2001-2014: Time trends, underlying causes and place of death.

BACKGROUND: Trends on cause-specific mortality following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are poorly described and no studies have analyzed where do AMI patients die. We analyzed trends in 28-day and one-year mortality following an incident AMI with focus on changes over time in the underlying cause and place of death. METHODS: We identified in the 'Cardiovascular Disease in Norway' Project all patients 25+ years, hospitalized with an incident AMI in Norway, 2001-2014. Information on date, underlying cause and place of death was obtained from the Cause of Death Registry. RESULTS: Of 144,473 patients included in the study, 11.4% died within first 28 days. The adjusted 28-day mortality declined by 5.2% per year (ptrend < 0.001). Of 118,881 patients surviving first 28 days, 10.1% died within one year. The adjusted one-year CVD mortality declined by 6.2% per year (ptrend < 0.001) while non-CVD mortality increased by 1.4% per year (ptrend < 0.001), mainly influenced by increased risk of dying from neoplasms. We observed a shift over time in the underlying cause of death toward more non-CVD deaths, and in the place of death toward more deaths occurring in nursing homes. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a decline in 28-day mortality following an incident AMI hospitalization. One-year CVD mortality declined while one-year risk of dying from non-CVD conditions increased. The resulting shift toward more non-CVD deaths and deaths occurring outside a hospital need to be considered when formulating priorities in treating and preventing adverse events among AMI survivors.

Clinical Profile and Management of Patients with Incident and Recurrent Acute Myocardial Infarction in Albania - a Call for More Focus on Prevention Strategies.

BACKGROUND: The clinical profile of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients reflects the burden of risk factors in the general population. Differences between incident (first) and recurrent (repeated) events and their impact on treatment are poorly described. We studied potential differences in the clinical profile and in-hospital treatment between patients hospitalised with an incident and recurrent AMI. METHODS: A total of 324 patients admitted in the Coronary Care Unit of 'Mother Teresa' hospital, Tirana, Albania (2013-2014), were included in the study. Information on AMI type, complications and risk factors was obtained from patient's medical file. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore differences between the incident and recurrent AMIs regarding clinical profile and in-hospital treatment. RESULTS: Of all patients, 50 (15.4%) had a prior AMI. Compared to incident cases, recurrent cases were older (P=0.01), more often women (P=0.01), less educated (P=0.01), and smoked less (P=0.03). Recurrent cases experienced more often heart failure (HF) (OR=2.48; 95% CI: 1.31-4.70), impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (OR=1.97; 95% CI:1.05-3.71), and multivessel disease (OR=6.32; 95% CI: 1.43-28.03) than incident cases. In-hospital use of beta-blockers was less frequent among recurrent compared to incident cases (OR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.24-0.85), while no statistically significant differences between groups were observed regarding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, statin, aspirin or invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: A more severe clinical expression of the disease and underutilisation of treatment among recurrent AMIs are likely to explain their poorer prognosis compared to incident AMIs.

Time Trends and Educational Inequalities in Out-of-Hospital Coronary Deaths in Norway 1995-2009: A Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) Project.

BACKGROUND: Recent time trends and educational gradients characterizing out-of-hospital coronary deaths (OHCD) are poorly described. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified all deaths from coronary heart disease occurring outside the hospital in Norway during 1995 to 2009. Time trends were explored using Poisson regression analysis with year as the independent, continuous variable. Information on the highest achieved education was obtained from The National Education Database and classified as primary (up to 10 years of compulsory education), secondary (high school or vocational school), or tertiary (college/university). Educational gradients in OHCD were explored using Poisson regression, stratified by sex and age (<70 and ≥70 years), and results were expressed as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95%CIs. Of 100 783 coronary heart disease deaths, 58.8% were OHCDs. From 1995 to 2009, age-adjusted OHCD rates declined across all education categories (primary, secondary, and tertiary) in younger men (IRR=0.35; 95%CI 0.32-0.38; IRR=0.38; 95%CI 0.35-0.42; IRR=0.33; 95%CI 0.28-0.40), younger women (IRR=0.47; 95% CI 0.40-0.56; IRR=0.55; 95%CI 0.45-0.67; IRR=0.28; 95% CI 0.16-0.47), older men (IRR=0.20; 95%CI 0.19-0.22; IRR=0.20; 95%CI 0.18-0.22; IRR=0.20; 95%CI 0.17-0.23), and older women (IRR=0.26; 95%CI 0.24-0.28; IRR=0.25; 95%CI 0.23-0.28; IRR=0.28; 95%CI 0.22-0.34). Tertiary education was associated with lower risk of OHCD compared to primary education (IRR=0.37; 95%CI 0.35-0.40 in younger men, IRR=0.26; 95%CI 0.22-0.30 in younger women, IRR=0.52; 95%CI 0.49-0.55 in older men, and IRR=0.61; 95%CI 0.57-0.66 in older women). These gradients did not change over time (P interaction=0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Although OHCD rates declined substantially during 1995 to 2009, they displayed educational gradients that remained constant over time.

Higher education is associated with reduced risk of heart failure among patients with acute myocardial infarction: A nationwide analysis using data from the CVDNOR project.

AIMS: Coronary heart disease (CHD) outcomes are characterised by socioeconomic gradients. Although heart failure (HF) is a severe complication of CHD, sparse evidence exists on the association between socioeconomic status and HF among coronary patients. This study aimed to explore potential educational differences in the risk of HF among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients in Norway during 2001-2009. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 70,506 patients hospitalised for an incident (first) AMI and without history of HF were included in the analyses. Information on education was obtained from the Norwegian Education Database and categorised into primary, secondary or tertiary. In 12,487 (17.7%) patients, HF was present at admission or developed during the AMI hospitalisation (early-onset HF). Compared to patients with primary education, patients with secondary or tertiary education had 9% [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87-0.94] and 20% (IRR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.75-0.86) lower risks of early-onset HF, respectively. Of the 54,095 AMI patients discharged alive without concurrent HF, 6375 (11.8%) were subsequently hospitalised with or died from late-onset HF during a median follow-up period of 3.4 years. Compared to patients with primary education, those with secondary or tertiary education had 14% [hazard ratio (HR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.82-0.91] and 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.66-0.80) lower risks of HF, respectively. Educational differences in the risk of HF were not influenced by gender. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an inverse association between educational level and risk of HF. More efforts in preventing this severe complication of AMI among less educated patients may help to reduce the socioeconomic gap in survival following coronary events.

Coronary angiography and myocardial revascularization following the first acute myocardial infarction in Norway during 2001-2009: Analyzing time trends and educational inequalities using data from the CVDNOR project.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed trends in the utilization of coronary angiography and revascularization - including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) - related to the first AMI and explored potential educational inequalities in such procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: All first AMI patients aged 35-89, hospitalized during 2001-2009 were retrieved from 'The Cardiovascular Disease in Norway' project. Information on education was obtained from The Norwegian Education Database. Gender and age group-specific trends in coronary procedures were analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Educational inequalities were explored using multivariable Poisson regression and reported as incidence rate ratios (IRR). A total of 104 836 patients (37.3% women) were included. Revascularization rates increased on average 9.0% and 15.4% per year among younger (35-64years) and older (65-89years) men. Corresponding increases among women were 5.6% and 16.6%. Compared to patients with primary education only, those with secondary and tertiary education had 8% (IRR=1.08, 95% CI; 1.06-1.10) and 12% (IRR=1.12, 95% CI; 1.09-1.14) higher revascularization rates. Educational inequalities were entirely driven by educational differences in receiving coronary angiography (IRR=1.10, 95% CI; 1.08-1.11 for secondary versus primary and IRR=1.14, 95% CI; 1.12-1.16 for tertiary versus primary education level.) Among diagnosed patients, no educational differences were observed in coronary revascularization rates. CONCLUSION: Revascularization rates increased whereas educational differences in revascularization decreased among AMI patients in Norway during 2001-2009. Lower coronary revascularization rates among patients with low education were explained by educational differences in receiving coronary angiography.

Heart Failure Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction; Burden and Timing of Occurrence: A Nation-wide Analysis Including 86 771 Patients From the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) Project.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) represents often the underlying conditions for the development of heart failure (HF). We aimed at exploring the burden and timing of HF complicating an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), using the total population of AMI patients hospitalized during 2001-2009 in Norway. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 86 771 patients with a first AMI during 2001-2009 and without previous HF were identified in the "Cardiovascular Disease in Norway" project and followed until HF development, death, or December 31, 2009. In 16 219 patients (18.7%), HF was present on admission or developed during hospitalization for the incident AMI. HF occurrence varied according to age (8.9%, 15.2%, and 25.6% among men and 10.2%, 16.8%, and 27.1% among women ages 25-54, 55-74, and 75-85 years). Among 63 853 patients discharged alive without HF, 8058 (12.6%) were hospitalized with or died because of HF during a median follow-up time of 3.2 years. HF incidence rates (IRs) per 1000 person-years during follow-up were 31 (95% CI, 30-32) for men and 46 (95% CI, 44-47) for women (P<0.01). IRs of HF were highest during the first 6 months of follow-up, after which they leveled off and remained stable until the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this nation-wide cohort study, we observed that HF remains a frequent complication of the first AMI; both during the acute phase and shortly after the discharge from the hospital.

Effect of the Lookback Period's Length Used to Identify Incident Acute Myocardial Infarction on the Observed Trends on Incidence Rates and Survival: Cardiovascular Disease in Norway Project.

BACKGROUND: In studies using patient administrative data, the identification of the first (incident) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in an individual is based on retrospectively excluding previous hospitalizations for the same condition during a fixed time period (lookback period [LP]). Our aim was to investigate whether the length of the LP used to identify the first AMI had an effect on trends in AMI incidence and subsequent survival in a nationwide study. METHODS AND RESULTS: All AMI events during 1994 to 2009 were retrieved from the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway project. Incident AMIs during 2004 to 2009 were identified using LPs of 10, 8, 7, 5, and 3 years. For each LP, we calculated time trends in incident AMI and subsequent 28-day and 1-year mortality rates. Results obtained from analyses using the LP of 10 years were compared with those obtained using shorter LPs. In men, AMI incidence rates declined by 4.2% during 2004 to 2009 (incidence rate ratio, 0.958; 95% confidence interval, 0.935-0.982). The use of other LPs produced similar results, not significantly different from the LP of 10 years. In women, AMI incidence rates declined by 7.3% (incidence rate ratio, 0.927; 95% confidence interval, 0.901-0.955) when an LP of 10 years was used. The decline was statistically significantly smaller for the LP of 5 years (6.2% versus 7.3%; P=0.02) and 3 years (5.9% versus 7.3%; P=0.03). The choice of LP did not influence trends in 28-day and 1-year mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: The length of LP may influence the observed time trends in incident AMIs. This effect is more evident in older women.

A higher burden of metabolic risk factors and underutilization of therapy among women compared to men might influence a poorer prognosis: a study among acute myocardial patients in Albania, a transitional country in Southeastern Europe.

AIM: To determine the clinical profile, burden of risk factors, and quality of care among patients hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with special focus on gender differences. METHODS: The study included 256 AMI patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of "Mother Teresa" hospital in Tirana during 2013-2014. We obtained information on patients' demographic data, AMI characteristics, complications (heart failure [HF] and ventricular fibrillation [VF]), risk factors and medication use prior and during the AMI hospitalization. Age-adjusted Poisson regression analyses were applied to explore gender differences (women vs men) with regard to clinical profile and quality of care and results are expressed as incidence rate ratios (IRR). RESULTS: 55.4% of patients had ≥3 risk factors, 44.5% developed HF, and 5.7% developed VF. Only 40.4% of patients received all 4 medication classes (beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, and aspirin) and 46.4% had revascularization. Significantly more women than men were obese, (P=0.042) had diabetes, (P=0.001) developed HF (P<0.001) or experienced a VF episode (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, differences with regard to obesity (IRR=.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-4.09), diabetes (IRR=1.35; 95% CI 1.07-1.71), HF (IRR=1.32; 95% CI 1.02-1.74) and VF (IRR=2.82; 95% CI 1.07-7.43) remained significant. There were no differences with regard to individual drug classes taken. However, women had fewer revascularization procedures than men (IRR=0.65; 95% CI 0.43-0.98). CONCLUSION: Women were found to have more unfavorable clinical profile, higher complication rates, and underutilization of therapy, which may be influenced by socioeconomic differences between genders and lead to a differential prognosis.

Educational inequalities in 28 day and 1-year mortality after hospitalisation for incident acute myocardial infarction--a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is little recent evidence on the impact of comorbidities and access to revascularisation procedures on educational inequalities in mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of the study was to investigate educational inequalities in mortality among all patients hospitalised for an incident AMI during 2001-2009 in Norway. METHODS: Data were obtained through the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) project. Incident AMI was defined as an AMI-hospitalisation without any AMI-events in the previous 7 years. Education was categorised as basic, upper secondary or tertiary (college/university). Cox regression was used to assess educational differences in 28-day and 29-365-day mortality after an incident AMI in terms of hazard ratios and relative index of inequality (RII). RII can be interpreted as the ratio in mortality between the 0 th and the 100th percentile of the education distribution. RESULTS: 111 993 incident AMIs were included (39.4% women). Among patients aged 35-69, RIIs (95% CI) adjusted for age, sex and year were 1.86 (1.59-2.18) and 2.10 (1.69-2.59) for 28-day and 29-365-day mortality respectively. Among patients aged 70-94 the corresponding RIIs were 1.12 (1.06-1.30) and 1.28 (1.19-1.38). Educational inequalities in mortality were attenuated after adjustment for comorbidities and revascularisation, but were still significant. Educational inequalities did not decrease during 2001-2009. CONCLUSION: Educational inequalities in both 28-day and 29-365 day mortality were strong and persistent during 2001-2009. Further research is needed to investigate if these disparities are driven by inequalities in the severity of the AMI or by inequitable access to treatment and rehabilitation.