Assessing the Impact of the American Heart Association's Research Portfolio: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

A task force composed of American Heart Association (AHA) Research Committee members established processes to measure the performance of the AHA's research portfolio and evaluated key outcomes that are fundamental to the overall success of the program. This report reviews progress that the AHA research program has had in achieving its goals relevant to the research programs in the AHA's research portfolio from 2008 to 2017. Comprehensive performance metrics were identified to assess the impact of AHA funding on researchers' career progress and research outcomes. Metrics included bibliometric analysis (ie, tracking of publications and their impact) and career development measures (ie, subsequent grant funding, intellectual property, faculty appointment/promotion, or industry position). Publication rates ranged from ≈0.5 to 4 publications per year, with a strong correlation between number of publications per year and later career stage. The Field-Weighted Citation Index, a metric of bibliometric impact, was between 1.5 and 3.0 for all programs, indicating that AHA awardee publications had a higher citation impact compared with similar publications. To gain insight into the career progression of AHA awardees, a 2-year postaward survey was distributed. Of the Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient respondents, 72% obtained academic research positions, with the remaining working in industry or government research settings; 72% of those in academic positions obtained additional funding. Among respondents who were Beginning Grant-in-Aid and Scientist Development Grant awardees, 45% received academic promotions and 83% obtained additional funding. Measuring performance of the AHA's research portfolio is critical to ensure that its strategic goals are met and to show the AHA's commitment to high-quality, impactful research.

Protein signatures of heart failure mortality in the community

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that affects over 60 million persons worldwide.1 The 5-year survival rate of HF is less than 50% irrespective of ejection fraction (EF) and the limitations of EF in sufficiently phenotyping HF are recognized.2,3 High throughput proteomics assays are an attractive option for precision phenotyping.4

Purpose

To explore the proteomic profiles and biomarker pathways associated with death in an HF community cohort.

Methods

We measured proteomics in plasma specimens collected from an HF cohort (2003–2012) of patients predominantly of European Ancestry (92%). The relative concentrations of circulating plasma proteins were measured using an aptamer-based assay containing 7335 human protein targets. Proteins significantly associated with mortality were selected while adjusting for age, sex, and eGFR. These proteins were employed in clustering analysis and subjected to 10-fold cross-validation. We quantified and corrected the clustering bias via bootstrapping and subsequently validated the results via semi-supervised clustering. Multivariable Cox regression was implemented for the cluster variable while adjusting for the Meta-analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score. Additionally, we performed enrichment and pathway analysis of the outcome-associated proteins considering significance thresholds of −log10(P-value) >2, FDR corrected P<0.05 (regulator analysis) and Z-scores of >2 and <−2 as thresholds for activation and inhibition of proteins/pathways.

Results

From a total of 1,388 patients (mean age 75±13; 52% male), 2 distinct clusters, (HR: 2.04; 95% CI [1.78–2.34]; p-value: <0.0001 independent of MAGGIC) were identified, cluster 1; n=722, mean age 72±14; NYHA class III/IV: 41%/26%; EF: 47%±17 and cluster 2; n=666, mean age 79±11; NYHA class III/IV: 41%/31%, EF: 48%±16 based on the 447 proteins [354 positively and 93 negatively] significantly associated with mortality (1,158 events). Gene-set enrichment analysis of all 447 proteins revealed cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, enzyme-linked protein/tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, humoral immune response, tissue development, growth factor signaling, post-translational protein modification, and platelet degranulation as the dominant biological themes. Finally, we found 18 upstream regulators predicted to be driving the expressions of the proteins in the dataset including a predicted outcome-associated protein-Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 – TGFB1 (p=7.46E-09), Interleukin 1B, IL1B (p=9.40E-08), and oncostatin M, OSM (p=6.61E-05) as the top 3 regulators (predicted activation) based on FDR-corrected statistical significance of P<0.05 (Figure 1)

Conclusion

We identified distinct clusters based on proteomic profiles associated with HF mortality independently of clinical prognostic makers. Further, we delineated protein regulators driving the major pathways associated with HF survival.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Department of Intramural Research, NIH/NHLBI

Associations of Atrial Fibrillation After Noncardiac Surgery With Stroke, Subsequent Arrhythmia, and Death : A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after noncardiac surgery confers increased risks for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). How outcomes for postoperative AF after noncardiac surgery compare with those for AF occurring outside of the operative setting is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risks for ischemic stroke or TIA and other outcomes in patients with postoperative AF versus those with incident AF not associated with surgery.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Olmsted County, Minnesota.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with incident AF between 2000 and 2013.

MEASUREMENTS

Patients were categorized as having AF occurring within 30 days of a noncardiac surgery (postoperative AF) or having AF unrelated to surgery (nonoperative AF).

RESULTS

Of 4231 patients with incident AF, 550 (13%) had postoperative AF as their first-ever documented AF presentation. Over a mean follow-up of 6.3 years, 486 patients had an ischemic stroke or TIA and 2462 had subsequent AF; a total of 2565 deaths occurred. The risk for stroke or TIA was similar between those with postoperative AF and nonoperative AF (absolute risk difference [ARD] at 5 years, 0.1% [95% CI, -2.9% to 3.1%]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.01 [CI, 0.77 to 1.32]). A lower risk for subsequent AF was seen for patients with postoperative AF (ARD at 5 years, -13.4% [CI, -17.8% to -9.0%]; HR, 0.68 [CI, 0.60 to 0.77]). Finally, no difference was seen for cardiovascular death or all-cause death between patients with postoperative AF and nonoperative AF.

LIMITATION

The population consisted predominantly of White patients; caution should be used when extrapolating the results to more racially diverse populations.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative AF after noncardiac surgery is associated with similar risk for thromboembolism compared with nonoperative AF. Our findings have potentially important implications for the early postsurgical and subsequent management of postoperative AF.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institute on Aging.

Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) Study: Study Design

The Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) is a national prospective study of adults comprising 14 established US prospective cohort studies. Starting as early as 1971, investigators in the C4R cohort studies have collected data on clinical and subclinical diseases and their risk factors, including behavior, cognition, biomarkers, and social determinants of health. C4R links this pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) phenotyping to information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and acute and postacute COVID-related illness. C4R is largely population-based, has an age range of 18-108 years, and reflects the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the United States. C4R ascertains SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness using standardized questionnaires, ascertainment of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, and a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey conducted via dried blood spots. Master protocols leverage existing robust retention rates for telephone and in-person examinations and high-quality event surveillance. Extensive prepandemic data minimize referral, survival, and recall bias. Data are harmonized with research-quality phenotyping unmatched by clinical and survey-based studies; these data will be pooled and shared widely to expedite collaboration and scientific findings. This resource will allow evaluation of risk and resilience factors for COVID-19 severity and outcomes, including postacute sequelae, and assessment of the social and behavioral impact of the pandemic on long-term health trajectories.

Call to Action for Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Epidemiology, Awareness, Access, and Delivery of Equitable Health Care: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

Addressing the pervasive gaps in knowledge and care delivery to reduce sex-based disparities and achieve equity is fundamental to the American Heart Association's commitment to advancing cardiovascular health for all by 2024. This presidential advisory serves as a call to action for the American Heart Association and other stakeholders around the globe to identify and remove barriers to health care access and quality for women. A concise and current summary of existing data across the areas of risk and prevention, access and delivery of equitable care, and awareness and education provides a framework to consider knowledge gaps and research needs critical toward achieving significant progress for the health and well-being of all women.

Establishing a National Cardiovascular Disease Surveillance System in the United States Using Electronic Health Record Data: Key Strengths and Limitations

Cardiovascular disease surveillance involves quantifying the evolving population-level burden of cardiovascular outcomes and risk factors as a data-driven initial step followed by the implementation of interventional strategies designed to alleviate this burden in the target population. Despite widespread acknowledgement of its potential value, a national surveillance system dedicated specifically to cardiovascular disease does not currently exist in the United States. Routinely collected health care data such as from electronic health records (EHRs) are a possible means of achieving national surveillance. Accordingly, this article elaborates on some key strengths and limitations of using EHR data for establishing a national cardiovascular disease surveillance system. Key strengths discussed include the: (1) ubiquity of EHRs and consequent ability to create a more "national" surveillance system, (2) existence of a common data infrastructure underlying the health care enterprise with respect to data domains and the nomenclature by which these data are expressed, (3) longitudinal length and detail that define EHR data when individuals repeatedly patronize a health care organization, and (4) breadth of outcomes capable of being surveilled with EHRs. Key limitations discussed include the: (1) incomplete ascertainment of health information related to health care-seeking behavior and the disconnect of health care data generated at separate health care organizations, (2) suspect data quality resulting from the default information-gathering processes within the clinical enterprise, (3) questionable ability to surveil patients through EHRs in the absence of documented interactions, and (4) the challenge in interpreting temporal trends in health metrics, which can be obscured by changing clinical and administrative processes.

Identification of Incident Atrial Fibrillation From Electronic Medical Records

Background Electronic medical records are increasingly used to identify disease cohorts; however, computable phenotypes using electronic medical record data are often unable to distinguish between prevalent and incident cases. Methods and Results We identified all Olmsted County, Minnesota residents aged ≥18 with a first-ever International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic code for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter from 2000 to 2014 (N=6177), and a random sample with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code from 2016 to 2018 (N=200). Trained nurse abstractors reviewed all medical records to validate the events and ascertain the date of onset (incidence date). Various algorithms based on number and types of codes (inpatient/outpatient), medications, and procedures were evaluated. Positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity of the algorithms were calculated. The lowest PPV was observed for 1 code (64.4%), and the highest PPV was observed for 2 codes (any type) >7 days apart but within 1 year (71.6%). Requiring either 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient codes separated by >7 days but within 1 year had the best balance between PPV (69.9%) and sensitivity (95.5%). PPVs were slightly higher using ICD-10 codes. Requiring an anticoagulant or antiarrhythmic prescription or electrical cardioversion in addition to diagnostic code(s) modestly improved the PPVs at the expense of large reductions in sensitivity. Conclusions We developed simple, exportable, computable phenotypes for atrial fibrillation using structured electronic medical record data. However, use of diagnostic codes to identify incident atrial fibrillation is prone to some misclassification. Further study is warranted to determine whether more complex phenotypes, including unstructured data sources or using machine learning techniques, may improve the accuracy of identifying incident atrial fibrillation.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and heart failure: A community study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive function is essential to effective self-management of heart failure (HF). Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) can coexist with HF, but its exact prevalence and impact on health care utilization and death are not well defined.

METHODS

Residents from 7 southeast Minnesota counties with a first-ever diagnosis code for HF between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018 were identified. Clinically diagnosed AD/ADRD was ascertained using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse algorithm. Patients were followed through March 31, 2020. Cox and Andersen-Gill models were used to examine associations between AD/ADRD (before and after HF) and death and hospitalizations, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 6336 patients with HF (mean age [SD] 75 years [14], 48% female), 644 (10%) carried a diagnosis of AD/ADRD at index HF diagnosis. The 3-year cumulative incidence of AD/ADRD after HF diagnosis was 17%. During follow-up (mean [SD] 3.2 [1.9] years), 2618 deaths and 15,475 hospitalizations occurred. After adjustment, patients with AD/ADRD before HF had nearly a 2.7 times increased risk of death, but no increased risk of hospitalization compared to those without AD/ADRD. When AD/ADRD was diagnosed after the index HF date, patients experienced a 3.7 times increased risk of death and a 73% increased risk of hospitalization compared to those who remain free of AD/ADRD.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large, community cohort of patients with incident HF, the burden of AD/ADRD is quite high as more than one-fourth of patients with HF received a diagnosis of AD/ADRD either before or after HF diagnosis. AD/ADRD markedly increases the risk of adverse outcomes in HF underscoring the need for future studies focused on holistic approaches to improve outcomes.

Minnesota COVID-19 Lockdowns - The Effect on Acute Myocardial Infarctions and Revascularizations in the Community

Objective

To study associations between the Minnesota coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation strategies on incidence rates of acute myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularization among residents of Southeast Minnesota.

Methods

Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, all adult residents of a nine-county region of Southeast Minnesota who had an incident MI or revascularization between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, were identified. Events were defined as primary in-patient diagnosis of MI or undergoing revascularization. We estimated age- and sex-standardized incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) stratified by key factors, comparing 2020 to 2015–2019. We also calculated IRRs by periods corresponding to Minnesota’s COVID-19 mitigation timeline: “Pre-lockdown” (January 1–March 11, 2020), “First lockdown” (March 12–May 31, 2020), “Between lockdowns” (June 1–November 20, 2020), and “Second lockdown” (November 21–December 31, 2020).

Results

The incidence rate in 2020 was 32% lower than in 2015–2019 (24 vs 36 events/100,000 person-months; IRR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.62-0.74). Incidence rates were lower in 2020 versus 2015–2019 during the first lockdown (IRR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44-0.66), in between lockdowns (IRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61-0.79), and during the second lockdown (IRR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.72). April had the lowest IRR (IRR 0.48; 95% CI, 0.34-0.68), followed by August (IRR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.76) and December (IRR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41-0.77). Similar declines were observed across sex and all age groups, and in both urban and rural residents.

Conclusion

Mitigation measures for COVID-19 were associated with a reduction in hospitalizations for acute MI and revascularization in Southeast Minnesota. The reduction was most pronounced during the lockdown periods but persisted between lockdowns.

Cardiac remodeling in acute myocardial infarction: Prospective insights from multimodality ultrasound imaging

BACKGROUND

The severity of MI declined markedly in the last decade, and contemporary patterns of cardiac remodeling after MI are not defined.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled community patients with first MI and performed comprehensive two- and three-dimensional echocardiography. Remodeling was defined as left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume index (ESVI) above American Society of Echocardiography normal values. Remodeling patterns were characterized as an increase in LVESVI or LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), or both.

RESULTS

Between 2014 and 2016, 213 patients (63±13 years; 34% women) were enrolled within 3 days after MI (77% non-ST-elevation MI). Acute remodeling was present in 51% of patients. Higher troponin and wall motion score index were associated with greater remodeling (p < 0.001). Atrial annular area, leaflet tenting and papillary muscle areas increased with greater remodeling (p < 0.001). The greater the cardiac remodeling, the lower the LV ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain (p < 0.001). This decrease in LV function was accompanied by stroke volume augmentation and maintenance of cardiac index at the expense of increased LVEDVI. Different remodeling patterns were identified. Cases showing increased LVEDVI and normal LVESVI had smallest infarct size and better hemodynamics compared to cases with augmented LVESVI and normal LVEDVI.

CONCLUSION

Acute remodeling occurs in more than half of first MI cases and exhibits different patterns defined by cavity size and hemodynamic profile. Acute remodeling is a global phenomenon, which also involves the left atrium and the mitral apparatus.

Psychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes and Transmission Prevention Behaviors: Working During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Objective

To investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on psychosocial and behavioral responses of the non–health care workforce and to evaluate transmission prevention behavior implementation in the workplace.

Participants and Methods

We deployed the baseline questionnaire of a prospective online survey from November 20, 2020, through February 8, 2021 to US-based employees. The survey included questions on psychosocial and behavioral responses in addition to transmission prevention behaviors (e.g., mask wearing). Select questions asked employees to report perceptions and behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed descriptively and stratified by work from home (WFH) percentage.

Results

In total, 3607 employees from 8 companies completed the survey. Most participants (70.0%) averaged 90% or more of their time WFH during the pandemic. Employees reported increases in stress (54.0%), anxiety (57.4%), fatigue (51.6%), feeling unsafe (50.4%), lack of companionship (60.5%), and feeling isolated from others (69.3%) from before to during the pandemic. Productivity was perceived to decrease for 42.9% of employees and non–work-related screen time and alcohol consumption to increase for 50.7% and 25.1% of employees, respectively, from before to during the pandemic. Adverse changes were worse among those with lower WFH percentages. Most employees reported wearing a mask (98.2%), washing hands regularly (95.7%), and physically distancing (93.6%) in the workplace.

Conclusion

These results suggest worsened psychosocial and behavioral outcomes from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic and higher transmission prevention behavior implementation among non–health care employees. These observations provide novel insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted non–health care employees.

Advanced Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with advanced heart failure (HF) in a geographically defined population.

BACKGROUND

Some patients with HF progress to advanced HF, characterized by debilitating HF symptoms refractory to therapy. Limited data are available on the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with advanced HF.

METHODS

This was a population-based cohort study of all Olmsted County, Minnesota, adults with and without HF from 2007 to 2017. The 2018 European Society of Cardiology advanced HF diagnostic criteria were operationalized and applied to all patients with HF. Hospitalization and mortality in advanced HF, overall and according to ejection fraction (EF) type (reduced EF <40% [HFrEF], mid-range EF 40%-49% [HFmrEF], and preserved EF ≥50% [HFpEF]) were examined using Andersen-Gill and Cox models.

RESULTS

Of 6,836 adults with HF, 936 (13.7%) met criteria for advanced HF. The prevalence of advanced HF increased with age and was higher in men. At advanced HF diagnosis, 396 (42.3%) patients had HFrEF, 134 (14.3%) had HFmrEF, and 406 (43.4%) had HFpEF. The median (interquartile range) time from advanced HF diagnosis to death was 12.2 months (3.7 months-29.9 months). The mean rate of hospitalization was 2.91 (95% CI: 2.78-3.06) per person-year in the first year after advanced HF diagnosis. There were no differences in risks of all-cause mortality or hospitalization by EF. Patients with advanced HFpEF were at lower risk for cardiovascular mortality compared with advanced HFrEF (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.65-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based study, more than one-half of patients with advanced HF had mid-range or preserved EF, and survival was poor regardless of EF.

Recent trends in cardiovascular disease deaths: a state specific perspective

BACKGROUND

The rate of decline in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has lessened nationally. How these findings apply to specific states or causes of CVD deaths is not known. Examining these trends at the state level is important to plan local interventions.

METHODS

We analyzed CVD mortality trends in Minnesota (MN) using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER). Trends were analyzed by age, sex, type of CVD and location of death.

RESULTS

CVD mortality rates in MN declined in 2000-2009 and then leveled off in 2010-2018, paralleling national rates. Age- and sex-adjusted CVD mortality decreased by 3.7% per year in 2000-2009 (average annual percent changes [AAPC]: -3.7; 95% CI: - 4.8, - 2.6) with no change observed in 2010-2018. Those aged 65-84 years had the most rapid early decline in CVD mortality (AAPC: -5.9, 95% CI: - 6.2, - 5.7) and had less improvement in 2010-2018 (AAPC: -1.8, 95% CI: - 2.2, - 1.5), and the younger age group (25-64 years) now experiences the most adverse trends (AAPC: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.7-1.8). Coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease had the largest relative decreases in mortality in 2000-2009 (CHD AAPC: -5.2; 95% CI: - 6.5,-3.9; cerebrovascular disease AAPC: -4.4, 95% CI: - 5.2, - 3.6) with no change 2010-2018. Heart failure (HF)/cardiomyopathy followed similar trends with a 2.5% decrease (AAPC 95% CI: - 3.5, - 1.5) per year in 2000-2009 and no change in 2010-2018. Deaths from other CVD also decreased in the early time period (AAPC: -1.6, 95% CI: - 2.7, - 0.5) but increased in 2010-2018 (AAPC: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.5, 3.3). In- and out-of-hospital death rates improved in 2000-2009 with a slowing in improvement for in-hospital death and no further improvement for out-of-hospital death in 2010-2018.

CONCLUSION

Concerning CVD mortality trends occurred in MN. In the most recent decade (2010-2018) mortality from all CVD subtypes plateaued or even increased. CVD mortality among the younger age groups increased as well. These data are congruent with adverse national trends supporting their generalizability. These adverse trends underscore the urgent need for CVD prevention and treatment, as well as continued surveillance to assess progress at the state and national level.

Epidemiology of Heart Failure: A Contemporary Perspective

Designated as an emerging epidemic in 1997, heart failure (HF) remains a major clinical and public health problem. This review focuses on the most recent studies identified by searching the Medline database for publications with the subject headings HF, epidemiology, prevalence, incidence, trends between 2010 and present. Publications relevant to epidemiology and population sciences were retained for discussion in this review after reviewing abstracts for relevance to these topics. Studies of the epidemiology of HF over the past decade have improved our understanding of the HF syndrome and of its complexity. Data suggest that the incidence of HF is mostly flat or declining but that the burden of mortality and hospitalization remains mostly unabated despite significant ongoing efforts to treat and manage HF. The evolution of the case mix of HF continues to be characterized by an increasing proportion of cases with preserved ejection fraction, for which established effective treatments are mostly lacking. Major disparities in the occurrence, presentation, and outcome of HF persist particularly among younger Black men and women. These disturbing trends reflect the complexity of the HF syndrome, the insufficient mechanistic understanding of its various manifestations and presentations and the challenges of its management as a chronic disease, often integrated within a context of aging and multimorbidity. Emerging risk factors including omics science offer the promise of discovering new mechanistic pathways that lead to HF. Holistic management approaches must recognize HF as a syndemic and foster the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches to address major contributors to the persisting burden of HF including multimorbidity, aging, and social determinants of health.

Premature Myocardial Infarction: A Community Study

Objective

To evaluate the trends in incident premature myocardial infarction (MI) and prevalence of cardiac risk factors in a population-based cohort.

Methods

We studied a population-based cohort of incident premature MIs among residents (MI in men aged 18-55 years and women aged 18-65 years) in Olmsted County, Minnesota, during a 26-year period from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2012. Recurrent MI and death after incident premature MI were enumerated through September 30, 2018.

Results

Of 3276 MI cases, 850 were premature events (37.9% [322/850] women). Age-adjusted premature MI incidence rates (2012 vs 1987) declined by 39% in men (rate ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.81]) and 61% in women (rate ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.57). Among men with premature MI, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia increased over time, whereas in women, only the prevalence of hyperlipidemia increased. During a mean follow-up of 13.3 years, there was no temporal decline in recurrent MI in men and women. Women showed 66% decreased risk for mortality (hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.68) over time, whereas men showed no change.

Conclusion

The incidence of premature MI declined over a 26-year period for both men and women. The risk factor profile of persons presenting with MI worsened over time, especially in men. Death following incident MI declined only in women. These results underscore the importance of primary prevention in young adults and of sex-specific approaches.

Health Literacy and Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine if health literacy is associated with mortality, hospitalizations, or emergency department (ED) visits among patients living with heart failure (HF).

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests an association between health literacy and health-related outcomes in patients with HF.

METHODS

We searched Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EBSCO CINAHL from inception through January 1, 2019, with the help of a medical librarian. Eligible studies evaluated health literacy among patients with HF and assessed mortality, hospitalizations, and ED visits for all causes with no exclusion by time, geography, or language. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the identified studies.

RESULTS

We included 15 studies, 11 with an overall high methodological quality. Among the observational studies, an average of 24% of patients had inadequate or marginal health literacy. Inadequate health literacy was associated with higher unadjusted risk for mortality (risk ratio [RR]: 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18 to 2.36), hospitalizations (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.29), and ED visits (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.32). When the adjusted measurements were combined, inadequate health literacy remained statistically associated with mortality (RR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.88) and hospitalizations (RR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.25). Among the 4 interventional studies, 2 effectively improved outcomes among patients with inadequate health literacy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the estimated prevalence of inadequate health literacy was high, and inadequate health literacy was associated with increased risk of death and hospitalizations. These findings have important clinical and public health implications and warrant measurement of health literacy and deployment of interventions to improve outcomes.

Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) Study: Study Design

The Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) is a national prospective study of adults at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) comprising 14 established United States (US) prospective cohort studies. For decades, C4R cohorts have collected extensive data on clinical and subclinical diseases and their risk factors, including behavior, cognition, biomarkers, and social determinants of health. C4R will link this pre-COVID phenotyping to information on SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute and post-acute COVID-related illness. C4R is largely population-based, has an age range of 18-108 years, and broadly reflects the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the US. C4R is ascertaining severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19 illness using standardized questionnaires, ascertainment of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, and a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey via dried blood spots. Master protocols leverage existing robust retention rates for telephone and in-person examinations, and high-quality events surveillance. Extensive pre-pandemic data minimize referral, survival, and recall bias. Data are being harmonized with research-quality phenotyping unmatched by clinical and survey-based studies; these will be pooled and shared widely to expedite collaboration and scientific findings. This unique resource will allow evaluation of risk and resilience factors for COVID-19 severity and outcomes, including post-acute sequelae, and assessment of the social and behavioral impact of the pandemic on long-term trajectories of health and aging.

Rurality, Death, and Healthcare Utilization in Heart Failure in the Community

Background Prior reports indicate that living in a rural area may be associated with worse health outcomes. However, data on rurality and heart failure (HF) outcomes are scarce. Methods and Results Residents from 6 southeastern Minnesota counties with a first-ever code for HF (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9], code 428, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10] code I50) between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016, were identified. Resident address was classified according to the rural-urban commuting area codes. Rurality was defined as living in a nonmetropolitan area. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between living in a rural versus urban area and death; Andersen-Gill models were used for hospitalization and emergency department visits. Among 6003 patients with HF (mean age 74 years, 48% women), 43% lived in a rural area. Rural patients were older and had a lower educational attainment and less comorbidity compared with patients living in urban areas (P<0.001). After a mean (SD) follow-up of 2.8 (1.7) years, 2440 deaths, 20 506 emergency department visits, and 11 311 hospitalizations occurred. After adjustment, rurality was independently associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09-1.29) and a reduced risk of emergency department visits (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97) and hospitalizations (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.84). Conclusions Among patients with HF, living in a rural area is associated with an increased risk of death and fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Further study to identify and address the mechanisms through which rural residence influences mortality and healthcare utilization in HF is needed in order to reduce disparities in rural health.

Achieving Optimal Population Cardiovascular Health Requires an Interdisciplinary Team and a Learning Healthcare System: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Population cardiovascular health, or improving cardiovascular health among patients and the population at large, requires a redoubling of primordial and primary prevention efforts as declines in cardiovascular disease mortality have decelerated over the past decade. Great potential exists for healthcare systems-based approaches to aid in reversing these trends. A learning healthcare system, in which population cardiovascular health metrics are measured, evaluated, intervened on, and re-evaluated, can serve as a model for developing the evidence base for developing, deploying, and disseminating interventions. This scientific statement on optimizing population cardiovascular health summarizes the current evidence for such an approach; reviews contemporary sources for relevant performance and clinical metrics; highlights the role of implementation science strategies; and advocates for an interdisciplinary team approach to enhance the impact of this work.

Rationale and Design of the Aspirin Dosing-A Patient-Centric Trial Assessing Benefits and Long-term Effectiveness (ADAPTABLE) Trial

Importance

Determining the right dosage of aspirin for the secondary prevention treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains an unanswered and critical question.

Objective

To report the rationale and design for a randomized clinical trial to determine the optimal dosage of aspirin to be used for secondary prevention of ASCVD, using an innovative research method.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This pragmatic, open-label, patient-centered, randomized clinical trial is being conducted in 15 000 patients within the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet), a distributed research network of partners including clinical research networks, health plan research networks, and patient-powered research networks across the United States. Patients with established ASCVD treated in routine clinical practice within the network are eligible. Patient recruitment began in April 2016. Enrollment was completed in June 2019. Final follow-up is expected to be completed by June 2020.

Interventions

Participants are randomized on a web platform in a 1:1 fashion to either 81 mg or 325 mg of aspirin daily.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary efficacy end point is the composite of all-cause mortality, hospitalization for nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for a nonfatal stroke. The primary safety end point is hospitalization for major bleeding associated with a blood-product transfusion. End points are captured through regular queries of the health systems' common data model within the structure of PCORnet's distributed data environment.

Conclusions and Relevance

As a pragmatic study and the first interventional trial conducted within the PCORnet electronic data infrastructure, this trial is testing several unique and innovative operational approaches that have the potential to disrupt and transform the conduct of future patient-centered randomized clinical trials by evaluating treatments integrated in clinical practice while at the same time determining the optimal dosage of aspirin for secondary prevention of ASCVD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02697916.

Sex Differences in Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction in the Community

PURPOSE

Prior studies observed that women experienced worse outcomes than men after myocardial infarction but did not convincingly establish an independent effect of female sex on outcomes, thus failing to impact clinical practice. Current data remain sparse and information on long-term nonfatal outcomes is lacking. To address these gaps in knowledge, we examined outcomes after incident myocardial infarction for women compared with men.

METHODS

We studied a population-based myocardial infarction incidence cohort in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between 2000 and 2012. Patients were followed for recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death. A propensity score was constructed to balance the clinical characteristics between men and women; Cox models were weighted using inverse probabilities of the propensity scores.

RESULTS

Among 1959 patients with incident myocardial infarction (39% women; mean age 73.8 and 64.2 for women and men, respectively), 347 recurrent myocardial infarctions, 464 heart failure episodes, 836 deaths, and 367 cardiovascular deaths occurred over a mean follow-up of 6.5 years. Women experienced a higher occurrence of each adverse event (all P <0.01). After propensity score weighting, women had a 28% increased risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio: 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.59), and there was no difference in risk for any other outcomes (all P >0.05).

CONCLUSION

After myocardial infarction, women experience a large excess risk of recurrent myocardial infarction but not of heart failure or death independently of clinical characteristics. Future studies are needed to understand the mechanisms driving this association.

Evaluation of claims-based computable phenotypes to identify heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction

The purpose of this analysis was to develop and validate computable phenotypes for heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using claims-type measures using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. This retrospective study utilized an existing cohort of Olmsted County, Minnesota residents aged ≥ 20 years diagnosed with HF between 2007 and 2015. The gold standard definition of HFpEF included meeting the validated Framingham criteria for HF and having an LVEF ≥ 50%. Computable phenotypes of claims-type data elements (including ICD-9/ICD-10 diagnostic codes and lab test codes) both individually and in combinations were assessed via sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) with respect to the gold standard. In the Framingham-validated cohort, 2,035 patients had HF; 1,172 (58%) had HFpEF. One in-patient or two out-patient diagnosis codes of ICD-9 428.3X or ICD-10 I50.3X had 46% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 84% PPV, and 54% NPV. The addition of a BNP/NT-proBNP test code reduced sensitivity to 35% while increasing specificity to 91% (PPV = 84%, NPV = 51%). Broadening the diagnostic codes to ICD-9 428.0, 428.3X, and 428.9/ICD-10 I50.3X and I50.9 increased sensitivity at the expense of decreasing specificity (diagnostic code-only model: 87% sensitivity, 8% specificity, 56% PPV, 30% NPV; diagnostic code and BNP lab code model: 61% sensitivity, 43% specificity, 60% PPV, 45% NPV). In an analysis conducted to mimic real-world use of the computable phenotypes, any one in-patient or out-patient code of ICD-9 428/ICD-10 150 among the broader population (N = 3,755) resulted in lower PPV values compared with the Framingham cohort. However, one in-patient or two out-patient instances of ICD-9 428.0, 428.9, or 428.3X/ICD-10 150.3X or 150.9 brought the PPV values from the two cohorts closer together. While some misclassification remains, the computable phenotypes defined here may be used in claims databases to identify HFpEF patients and to gain a greater understanding of the characteristics of patients with HFpEF.

Patient-centered communication and outcomes in heart failure

OBJECTIVES

To measure the impact of patient-centered communication on mortality and hospitalization among patients with heart failure (HF).

STUDY DESIGN

This was a survey study of 6208 residents of 11 counties in southeast Minnesota with incident HF (first-ever International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 428 or International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code I50) between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2016.

METHODS

Perceived patient-centered communication was assessed with the health care subscale of the Chronic Illness Resources Survey and measured as a composite score on three 5-point scales. We divided our cohort into tertiles and defined them as having fair/poor (score < 12), good (score of 12 or 13), and excellent (score ≥ 14) patient-centered communication. The survey was returned by 2868 participants (response rate: 45%), and those with complete data were retained for analysis (N = 2398). Cox and Andersen-Gill models were used to determine the association of patient-centered communication with death and hospitalization, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 2398 participants (median age, 75 years; 54% men), 233 deaths and 1194 hospitalizations occurred after a mean (SD) follow-up of 1.3 (0.6) years. Compared with patients with fair/poor patient-centered communication, those with good (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97) and excellent (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.96) patient-centered communication experienced lower risks of death after adjustment for various confounders (Ptrend = .020). Patient-centered communication was not associated with hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Among community patients living with HF, excellent and good patient-centered communication is associated with a reduced risk of death. Patient-centered communication can be easily assessed, and consideration should be given toward implementation in clinical practice.