The economic impact of patients with heart failure on the Lebanese healthcare system

Advanced heart failure therapies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: current status, challenges, and future directions

While there has been a global decrease in rates of heart failure (HF) prevalence between 1990 and 2019, the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) is experiencing an increase. In 2019, approximately 1,229,766 individuals lived with moderate to severe HF in the EMR. Despite the growth in the utilization of advanced heart failure (AHF) therapies in the EMR in the past two decades, current volumes are yet to meet the growing AHF burden in the region. Heart transplantation (HT) volumes in EMR have grown from 9 in the year 2000 to 179 HTs in 2019. However, only a few centers provide the full spectrum of AHF therapies, including durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and HT. Published data on the utilization of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) in the EMR are scarce. Notably, patients undergoing LVAD implantation in the EMR are on average, 13 year younger, and more likely to present with critical cardiogenic shock, as compared to their counterparts in the Western world. Furthermore, AHF care in the region is hampered by the paucity of multidisciplinary HF programs, inherent costs of AHF therapies, limited access to short and long-term MCS, organ shortage, and lack of public awareness and acceptance of AHF therapeutics. All stakeholders in the EMR should work together to strategize tackling the challenging AHF burden in the region.

Cost analysis of chronic heart failure management in Malaysia: A multi-centred retrospective study

Background

Estimation of the economic burden of heart failure (HF) through a complete evaluation is essential for improved treatment planning in the future. This estimation also helps in reimbursement decisions for newer HF treatments. This study aims to estimate the cost of HF treatment in Malaysia from the Ministry of Health’s perspective.

Materials and methods

A prevalence-based, bottom-up cost analysis study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. Chronic HF patients who received treatment between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018 were included in the study. The direct cost of HF was estimated from the patients’ healthcare resource utilisation throughout a one-year follow-up period extracted from patients’ medical records. The total costs consisted of outpatient, hospitalisation, medications, laboratory tests and procedure costs, categorised according to ejection fraction (EF) and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification.

Results

A total of 329 patients were included in the study. The mean ± standard deviation of total cost per HF patient per-year (PPPY) was USD 1,971 ± USD 1,255, of which inpatient cost accounted for 74.7% of the total cost. Medication costs (42.0%) and procedure cost (40.8%) contributed to the largest proportion of outpatient and inpatient costs. HF patients with preserved EF had the highest mean total cost of PPPY, at USD 2,410 ± USD 1,226. The mean cost PPPY of NYHA class II was USD 2,044 ± USD 1,528, the highest among all the functional classes. Patients with underlying coronary artery disease had the highest mean total cost, at USD 2,438 ± USD 1,456, compared to other comorbidities. HF patients receiving angiotensin-receptor neprilysin-inhibitor (ARNi) had significantly higher total cost of HF PPPY in comparison to patients without ARNi consumption (USD 2,439 vs. USD 1,933, p < 0.001). Hospitalisation, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary angiogram, and comorbidities were the cost predictors of HF.

Conclusion

Inpatient cost was the main driver of healthcare cost for HF. Efficient strategies for preventing HF-related hospitalisation and improving HF management may potentially reduce the healthcare cost for HF treatment in Malaysia.

Follow up from the Lebanese Heart Failure Snapshot: Reflection of geopolitical instability

BACKGROUND

Heart failure has a great cost on the health care system. The readmission and mortality rates and their predictors are greatly affected by political and sociocultural unrests.

AIMS

To determine the readmission and mortality rates and their predictors in heart failure population in times of political and sociocultural unrests.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional follow-up with patients recruited for the Lebanese Heart Failure Snapshot was conducted over the month of June in 2019.

METHODS

Phone calls were conducted at 30-90 days, 6-12 months following hospital discharge for patient previously admitted to one of the study hospitals for heart failure exacerbation. Follow-up data was conducted from July 2019 till May 2020.

FINDINGS

The mean age of the 120 participants was 71 years with a mean ejection fraction of 41%. The 30-90 days, 6-12 months readmission rates were 20%, 56%, 75%, and 78%, respectively. Readmission predictors were non-sinus rhythm and low diastolic blood pressure at admission. Mortality rates at 30-90 days, 6-12 months were 7%, 11%, 17%, and 28%, respectively. Low diastolic blood pressure and longer length of hospital stay were associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

The rapid changes in the country make it difficult to formulate an intervention plan. This was seen in the increased rates of readmission and the decreased rates of mortality. Rigorous research should be conducted at every phase of the sociocultural changes in developing countries that were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and had their economy largely affected.

IMPACT

The occurrences of the countries can greatly influence the outcomes of patients with heart failure. This is true in developing countries that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic socially, economically, and politically. Research should be done regularly to establish the effect of these changes on patients with heart failure. Nevertheless, nursing roles are the common denominator that should be adapted to all the changes and provided despite all challenges to assure improved outcomes. Such practices include discharge education tailored to the subjective needs of the patients and continuous, uninterrupted follow-up despite of all the occurrences. These practices are likely to decrease adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Healthcare Expenditures Associated with Heart Failure in Saudi Arabia: A Cost of Illness Study

Heart failure (HF) is considered to be a global health problem that generates a significant economic burden. Despite the growing prevalence in Saudi Arabia, the economic burden of HF is not well studied. The aim of this study was to estimate the health care expenditures associated with HF in Saudi Arabia from a social perspective. We conducted a multicenter cost of illness (COI) study in two large governmental centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia using 369 HF patients. A COI model was developed in order to estimate the direct medical costs associated with HF. The indirect costs of HF were estimated based on a human capital approach. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. The direct medical cost per HF patient was $9563. Hospitalization costs were the major driver in total spending, followed by medication and diagnostics costs. The cost significantly increased in line with the disease progression, ranging from $3671 in class I to $16,447 in class IV. The indirect costs per working HF patient were $4628 due to absenteeism, and $6388 due to presenteeism. The economic burden of HF is significantly high in Saudi Arabia. Decision makers need to focus on allocating resources towards strategies that prevent frequent hospitalizations and improve HF management and patient outcomes in order to lower the growing economic burden.

A single educational intervention on heart failure self-care: Extended follow-up from a multisite randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Heart failure outcomes remain poor, and little is known about the causes and predictors of these outcomes in Lebanon.

AIM

The purpose of this article is to report the causes and predictors of the 6- and 12-month readmission and mortality of previously recruited patients to the Family focused Approach to iMprove Heart Failure care In LebanonQualitY intervention (FAMILY) study.

METHODS

A multi-site block randomized controlled trial in three tertiary medical centers in Beirut. Initially, participants were randomized to either the control or the intervention group. The latter group, with their family caregivers, received heart failure self-care resources and an educational intervention on self-care and symptom management during their index admission. Participants from the FAMILY study were followed up with through phone calls for readmission and mortality at 6 and 12 months following their hospital discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 218 (85%) patients were followed up with for this evaluation. There was a significant difference between the intervention group and the control group in terms of mortality at 6 months (n=18 (16%) versus n=36 (33%); p<0.05) and 12 months (n=29 (26%) versus n=45 (42%); p<0.05) post the index discharge. Mortality at 6 and 12 months was associated with aging, lower body mass index scores and readmission at 30 days post the index admission. Results of a logistic regression for mortality at 6 months showed hypertensive etiology of heart failure and 30-day readmission to be the only significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

A single session intervention was associated with lower mortality, even after an extended period of time, possibly mediated by other variables. Future studies should be powered for such outcomes while also addressing the cultural needs and literacy levels of the patients using multi-session trials and more frequent follow-ups.

Comprehensive Review of Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia in Lebanon

The Middle East and North Africa regions, including Lebanon, have recently witnessed rapid urbanization and modernization over the last couple of decades that has led to a dramatic transformation affecting lifestyle and diet. The World Health Organization reports that the leading cause of death in Lebanon is due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) at 47% of all-cause mortality. Over the last 30 years, especially the last 10, the population of Lebanon has changed dramatically due to the effect of wars in the region and refugees seeking asylum. With a population of around 4.5 million and a relatively high rate of consanguinity in Lebanon, a variety of novel mutations have been discovered explaining several familial causes of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathies. Due to the Syrian civil war, 1.5 million Syrian refugees now reside in Lebanon in either low-income housing or tented settlements. A National Institutes of Health study is examining diabetes and CVD in Syrian refugees in comparison to native Lebanese. We provide the first review of CVD in Lebanon in its metabolic component including coronary artery disease and its risk factors, mainly hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus, and its structural component, including congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure. The knowledge in this review has been compiled to guide clinicians and assist researchers in efforts to recognize risk factors for disease, improve delivery of health care, and prevent and treat CVDs in Lebanon, both for the native Lebanese and Syrian refugees.

[Epidemiological and prognostic profile of acute heart failure: experience in the emergency department at the Charles Nicole Hospital of Tunis from 2013 to 2014]

Introduction

l'Insuffisance Cardiaque Aiguë (ICA) correspond à une entité syndromique spécifique, regroupant plusieurs tableaux cliniques hétérogènes; fréquemment rencontrées aux urgences. L'objectif de cette étude a été de décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, cliniques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques des patients admis aux urgences pour ICA.

Méthodes

Nous avons mené une étude prospective descriptive dans un service d'accueil des urgences qui a inclus tous les patients admis pour ICA. Nous avons étudié les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, cliniques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques chez ces patients.

Résultats

Nous avons inclus 180 patients pour ICA ayant entrainé une hospitalisation dans le service d'urgence. Le sexe ratio a été de 1,27. L'âge moyen a été de 66±12 ans. Quatre vingt deux pour cent des patients étaient hypertendus et 69% étaient diabétiques connus. Les étiologies de décompensation étaient essentiellement une poussée hypertensive chez 61,7% des patients, un syndrome coronaire aigu chez 24%. Le support respiratoire a été assuré essentiellement par la CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) dans 73,3% des cas. Le traitement pharmacologique a été à base de dérivés nitrés dans 70% et de diurétique dans 40,5% des cas. Le taux de récidive de l'insuffisance cardiaque aiguë à un mois a été de 21,7% (n=39 patients), et celui de la mortalité à 3 mois a été de 13,3%.

Conclusion

l'ICA vue au niveau des urgences est essentiellement sous forme hypertensive. Le traitement est basé essentiellement sur la CPAP, les vasodilatateurs et les diurétiques. Le taux de récidive était important, et la mortalité était aussi élevée.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire

BACKGROUND

The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is commonly used to measure quality of life (QOL) in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the psychometric properties and cultural validity of an Arabic version of the MLHFQ.

METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 adult HF outpatients. Patients were interviewed with the Arabic MLHFQ and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Patients with different NYHA classes and HF-hospitalization histories were compared on QOL to test known-group validity.

RESULTS

The confirmatory factor analysis yielded 3 factors: physical, emotional, and social. Three items (4, 8, and 15) had low loadings. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92. There were significant differences in MLHFQ by PHQ-9 categories, NYHA class, and HF-hospitalization history.

CONCLUSIONS

This Arabic version of MLHFQ is valid and reliable and can be used in Arabic-speaking Lebanese HF populations.

Systematic review of economic burden of heart failure

The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review of the costing methodological approaches adopted by published cost-of-illness (COI) studies. A systematic review was performed to identify cost-of-illness studies of heart failure published between January 2003 and September 2015 via computerized databases such as Pubmed, Wiley Online, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Costs reported in the original studies were converted to 2014 international dollars (Int$). Thirty five out of 4972 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nineteen out of the 35 studies reported the costs as annual cost per patient, ranging from Int$ 908.00 to Int$ 84,434.00, while nine studies reported costs as per hospitalization, ranging from Int$ 3780.00 to Int$ 34,233.00. Cost of heart failure increased as condition of heart failure worsened from New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I to NYHA class IV. Hospitalization cost was found to be the main cost driver to the total health care cost. The annual cost of heart failure ranges from Int$ 908 to Int$ 40,971 per patient. The reported cost estimates were inconsistent across the COI studies, mainly due to the variation in term of methodological approaches such as disease definition, epidemiological approach of study, study perspective, cost disaggregation, estimation of resource utilization, valuation of unit cost components, and data sources used. Such variation will affect the reliability, consistency, validity, and relevance of the cost estimates across studies.

Cardiovascular disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region: epidemiology and risk factor burden

The Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) comprises 22 countries or territories spanning from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, and contains a population of almost 600 million people. Like many other developing regions, the burden of disease in the EMR has shifted in the past 30 years from primarily communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular mortality in the EMR, mostly attributable to ischaemic heart disease, is expected to increase more dramatically in the next decade than in any other region except Africa. The most prominent CVD risk factors in this region include tobacco consumption, physical inactivity, depression, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Many individuals living in the EMR are unaware of their risk factor status, and even if treated, these risk factors are often poorly controlled. Furthermore, infrequent use of emergency medical services, delays in access to care, and lack of access to cardiac catheterization affects the timely diagnosis of CVD. Treatment of CVD is also suboptimal in this region, consisting primarily of thrombolysis, with insufficient provision of timely revascularization. In this Review, we summarize what is known about CVD burden, risk factors, and treatment strategies for individuals living in the EMR. This information will hopefully aid decision-makers when devising strategies on how to improve CVD prevention and management in this region.

An evaluation of involving family caregivers in the self-care of heart failure patients on hospital readmission: Randomised controlled trial (the FAMILY study)

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of heart failure is increasing in Lebanon but to date there is no systematic evaluation of a disease management intervention.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of involving family caregivers in the self-care of patients with heart failure on the risk of hospital readmission.

DESIGN

A multi-site, block randomised controlled trial.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted over a 13-month period in three tertiary medical centres in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Lebanon.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients presenting for an exacerbation of heart failure to one of the study centres were included. Patients with limited life expectancy or physical functionality, planned cardiac bypass or valve replacement surgery, living alone or in nursing homes, or aged less than 18 years were excluded.

METHODS

Patients allocated to the intervention group and their family caregivers were provided with a comprehensive, culturally appropriate, educational session on self-care maintenance and symptom management along with self-care resources. The usual care group received the self-care resources only. Follow-up phone calls were conducted 30days following discharge by a research assistant blinded to treatment assignment. The primary outcome was hospital readmission and the secondary outcomes were self-care, quality of life, major vascular events and healthcare utilization.

RESULTS

The final sample included 256 patients hospitalized for heart failure randomised into control (130 patients) and intervention (126 patients) groups. The mean age was 67 (SD=8)years, and the majority (55%) were male. Readmission at 30days was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (n=10, 9% vs. n=20, 19% respectively, OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.02, 0.10, p=0.02). Self-care scores improved in both groups at 30days, with a significantly larger improvement in the intervention group than the control group in the maintenance and confidence sub-scales, but not in the self-care management sub-scale. No differences were seen in quality of life scores or emergency department presentations between the groups. More patients in the control group than in the intervention group visited health care facilities (n=24, 23% vs. n=12, 11% respectively, OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.18, 0.83, p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

The trial results confirmed the potential of the family-centred self-care educational intervention under evaluation to reduce the risk of readmission in Lebanese patients suffering from exacerbated heart failure. Further research is needed to validate these findings with longer periods of follow-up and to identify the intervention components and intensity required to induce sustained benefits on patients' self-care management and quality of life.

A family-focused intervention for heart failure self-care: conceptual underpinnings of a culturally appropriate intervention

AIM

A discussion of the conceptual elements of an intervention tailored to the needs of Lebanese families.

BACKGROUND

The role of informal caregiving is strongly recommended for individuals with chronic conditions including heart failure. Although this importance is recognized, conceptual and theoretical underpinnings are not well elucidated nor are methods of intervention implementation.

DESIGN

Discussion paper on the conceptual underpinning of the FAMILY model.

METHODS AND DATA SOURCES

This intervention was undertaken using linked methods: (1) Appraisal of theoretical model; (2) review of systematic reviews on educational interventions promoting self-management in chronic conditions in four databases with no year limit; (3) socio-cultural context identification from selected papers; (4) expert consultation using consensus methods; and (5) model development.

RESULTS

Theories on self-care and behavioural change, eighteen systematic reviews on educational interventions and selected papers identifying sociocultural elements along with expert opinion were used to guide the development of The FAMILY Intervention Heart Failure Model. Theory and practice driven concepts identified include: behavioural change, linkage, partnership and self-regulation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Heart failure is a common condition often requiring in-hospital and home-based care. Educational interventions targeting the socio-cultural influences of the patients and their family caregivers through a structured and well-designed program can improve outcomes.

CONCLUSION

As the burden of chronic diseases increases globally, particularly in emerging economies, developing models of intervention that are appropriate to both the individual and the socio-cultural context are necessary.

The economic impact of patients with heart failure on the Lebanese healthcare system

AIMS

This paper aimed to calculate the annual cost for heart failure (HF) patients in Lebanon.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Heart failure care can reach up to $31 billion annually in the USA. Data in Lebanon are lacking. Estimating it based on USA data is biased; hence, collecting data from all healthcare providers will reflect the actual cost in Lebanon. Data were collected from all healthcare providers on HF hospitalization during the year 2012. In addition, data from 600 outpatient visits were collected by medical students to estimate the cost for outpatient care. The total cost was calculated by adding up all hospitalization cost-plus outpatient-estimated cost. There were 72 000 individuals suffering from HF. The hospitalization care in Lebanon is largely delivered by the public sector (91% public vs 9% private). However, the outpatient care is largely paid cash by patients. The direct cost for HF hospitalizations paid by the public and the private sector was $38 081 535. The average cost for each HF hospitalization was $3769. The direct cost for outpatients care was estimated at $65 592 000. The average cost for outpatient care was $911 per patient per year. The annual total direct cost was calculated at $103 673 535. The true cost was almost one third the extrapolated cost based on US statistics ($103 673 535 vs 268 370 607, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The annual total direct cost for HF patients in Lebanon in 2012 was $103 673 535, which is much less than the extrapolated cost based on US statistics.