Background Heart failure (HF) inpatient mortality prediction models can help clinicians make treatment decisions and researchers conduct observational studies. Published models have not been validated in external populations, however. Methods and Results We compared the performance of seven models that predict inpatient mortality in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF): Four HF-specific mortality prediction models developed from three clinical databases (Acute Decompensated HF National Registry [ADHERE], Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment [EFFECT] Study, Get with the Guidelines-HF [GWTG-HF] Registry); two administrative HF mortality prediction models (Premier, Premier+); and a model that uses clinical data but is not specific for HF (Laboratory-Based Acute Physiology Score [LAPS2]). Using a multi-hospital electronic health record-derived (EHR) dataset (HealthFacts [Cerner Corp], 2010–2012), we identified patients ≥18 years admitted with HF. Of 13,163 eligible patients, median age was 74 years; half were women; and 27% were black. In-hospital mortality was 4.3%. Model predicted mortality ranges varied: Premier+ (0.8–23.1%), LAPS2 (0.7–19.0%), ADHERE (1.2–17.4%), EFFECT (1.0–12.8%), GWTC-Eapen (1.2–13.8%), and GWTG-Peterson (1.1–12.8%). The LAPS2 and Premier models outperformed the clinical models (c-statistics: LAPS2 0.80 [95% CI: 0.78–0.82], Premier models 0.81 [95% CI: 0.79–0.83]) and 0.76 [95% CI: 0.74–0.78]; clinical models 0.68–0.70). Conclusions Four clinically-derived inpatient HF mortality models exhibited similar performance, with c-statistics near 0.70. Three other models, one developed in EHR data and two developed in administrative data, also were predictive, with c-statistics from 0.76–0.80. Because every model performed acceptably, the decision to use a given model should depend on practical concerns and intended use.

The long term clinical outcomes in patients with ambiguous LMCA stenosis for whom revascularization is deferred based on FFR are favorable and similar to the revascularized group in terms of overall mortality and subsequent myocardial infarctions.

BackgroundComparing heart failure (HF) outcomes across hospitals requires adequate risk adjustment. We aimed to develop and validate a model that can be used to compare quality of HF care across hospitals.Methods and ResultsWe included patients with HF aged ≥18 years admitted to one of 433 hospitals that participated in the Premier Inc Data Warehouse. This model (Premier) contained patient demographics, comorbidities, and acute conditions present on admission, derived from administrative and billing records. In a separate data set derived from electronic health records, we validated the Premier model by comparing hospital risk‐standardized mortality rates calculated with the Premier model to those calculated with a validated clinical model containing laboratory data (LAPS [Laboratory‐Based Acute Physiology Score]). Among the 200 832 admissions in the Premier Inc Data Warehouse, inpatient mortality was 4.0%. The model showed acceptable discrimination in the warehouse data (C statistic 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.76). In the validation data set, both the Premier model and the LAPS models showed acceptable discrimination (C statistic: Premier: 0.76 [95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.77]; LAPS: 0.78 [95% confidence interval, 0.76–0.80]). Risk‐standardized mortality rates for both models ranged from 2% to 7%. A linear regression equation describing the association between Premier‐ and LAPS‐specific mortality rates revealed a regression line with a slope of 0.71 (SE: 0.07). The correlation coefficient of the standardized mortality rates from the 2 models was 0.82.ConclusionsCompared with a validated model derived from clinical data, an HF mortality model derived from administrative data showed highly correlated risk‐standardized mortality rate estimates, suggesting it could be used to identify high‐ and low‐performing hospitals for HF care.

Background: Inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (ICR) programs provide important services to hospitalized patients by delivering risk factor education, daily ambulation, and facilitation of referral to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. However, little is known about ICR utilization or practice patterns. Methods: We examined the use of ICR, between January 2007 and June 2011, in a geographically and structurally diverse sample of US hospitals (Premier, Inc.). Results: Among 458 hospitals, there were 1 343 537 admissions with a qualifying diagnosis for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Formal ICR was available at 223 (49%) of these hospitals. Overall, patient utilization of ICR was low (21.2%) and varied by indication. Utilization was highest in those undergoing cardiac surgery (43.3%) and lowest in patients with medically managed myocardial infarction (15.6%) or heart failure (10.6%). A larger bed count, the presence of cardiac interventional services, and Midwest location were associated with increased likelihood of a hospital having an ICR program. In multivariable hierarchical analysis adjusting for known hospital characteristics among hospitals that provided ICR, multiple patient factors were associated with a lower likelihood of ICR utilization, including older age, more comorbidities, female sex, and Medicare insurance, but unspecified hospital characteristics explained the vast majority of the variability. Conclusions: We found substantial variation in the delivery of ICR across US hospitals and by patient condition. Overall, only a minority of eligible patients ever received ICR and fewer than half of hospitals treating cardiac patients provided formal ICR services. This substantial gap in the secondary prevention of heart disease warrants further investigation and intervention.

Background The mechanisms by which acute left atrial ischemia (LAI) leads to AF initiation and perpetuation remain unclear. Methods and Results LAI (90-minute ischemia) was obtained in isolated sheep hearts by selectively perfusing microspheres into the left anterior atrial artery. Two CCD cameras and several bipolar electrodes enabled recording from multiple atrial locations: with a dual-camera set-up (Protocol 1, n=10; and 1′, n=4; for bi-atrial or atrio-ventricular camera set-ups respectively), in the presence of propranolol/atropine (1μM) added to the perfusate after LAI (protocol 2, n=3) and after a pre-treatment with glibenclamide 10 μM (protocol 3, n=4). Spontaneous AF occurred in 41.2% (7/17) of the hearts that were in sinus rhythm before LAI. LAI caused APD shortening in both the ischemic (IZ) and non-ischemic (NIZ) zones by 21±8 and 34±13%, respectively (pacing, 5Hz, p<0.05 compared to baseline). Apparent impulse velocity was significantly reduced in the IZ but not in the NIZ (−65±19% and +9±18%, p=0.001 and n.s, respectively). During LAI-related AF, a significant NIZ maximal dominant frequency (DFmax) increase from 7.4±2.5 to 14.0±5.5 Hz; p<0.05, was observed. Glibenclamide, an IKATP channel blocker, averted LAI-related DFmax increase (NIZ: LAI vs Gli, 14.0±5.5 vs. 5.9±1.3 Hz, p<0.05). Interplay between spontaneous focal discharges and rotors, locating at the IZ-NIZ border zone, maintained LAI-related AF. Conclusions LAI leads to an IKATP conductance-dependent APD shortening and spontaneous AF maintained by both spontaneous focal discharges and reentrant circuits locating at the IZ border zone.

No abstract

Sivalingam et al. ventricular arrhythmias include phase two re-entry as well as triggered automaticity following intracellular calcium accumulation in epicardial cells (5). Cardiac arrhythmias seen with hypothermia usually resolve spontaneously with rewarming (6). It has been noted that hypothermic myocardium is less responsive to antiarrhythmic drugs and defi brillation at temperatures below 28 ° C/82.4 ° F (6), as noted in our patient. When cardiac instability with loss of circulation is noted, the best available care includes extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or CPB (7). Th e neurologically intact survival rate in cardiac arrest patients treated with these modalities is approximately 50% (8). In patients with return of spontaneous circulation, the rates of multi-organ failure are high and pulmonary edema is encountered frequently (8). Th is is probably why ECMO has slightly better outcomes than traditional CPB as it is capable of providing pulmonary support (7).Remarkably, the patient walked home, neurologically intact aft er a prolonged hospital stay complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome, prolonged delirium, clostridium diffi cile colitis and acute tubular necrosis due to rhabdomyolysis.In summary, it is important to anticipate life-threatening arrhythmias when managing a severely hypothermic patient and recognize that usual resuscitative measures may fail. Early activation of surgical/trauma protocols to institute appropriate re-warming including CPB/ECMO is vital.

Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction are infrequent in the modern era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, but they are associated with high mortality rates. Papillary muscle rupture with acute severe mitral regurgitation is one such life-threatening complication that requires early detection and urgent surgical intervention. ( Level of Difficulty: Beginner. )