Heart Failure and the Affordable Care Act: Past, Present, and Future

Exploring Heart Failure Mortality Trends and Disparities in Women: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Population-level analyses shed light on existing disparities and promote targeted interventions. We evaluated HF-related mortality data in women in the United States to identify disparities based on race/ethnicity, urbanization level, and geographic region. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to identify HF-related mortality in the death files from 1999 to 2020. Age-adjusted HF mortality rates were standardized to the 2000 US population. We fit log-linear regression models to analyze mortality trends. Age-adjusted HF mortality rates in women have decreased significantly over time, from 97.95 in 1999 to 89.19 in 2020. Mortality mainly downtrended from 1999 to 2012, followed by a significant increase from 2012 to 2020. Our findings revealed disparities in mortality rates based on race and ethnicity, with the most affected population being non-Hispanic Black (age-adjusted mortality rates [AAMR] 90.36), followed by non-Hispanic White (AAMR 83.25), American Indian/Alaska Native (AAMR 64.27), and Asian/Pacific Islander populations (AAMR 37.46). We also observed that nonmetropolitan (AAMR 103.36) and Midwestern (AAMR 90.45) regions had higher age-adjusted mortality rates compared with metropolitan (AAMR 78.43) regions and other US census regions. In conclusion, significant differences in HF mortality rates were observed based on race/ethnicity, urbanization level, and geographic region. Disparities in HF outcomes persist and efforts to reduce HF-related mortality rates should focus on targeted interventions that address social determinants of health, including access to care and socioeconomic status.

Achieving Health Equity in the Care of Patients with Heart Failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss the prevailing racial and ethnic disparities in heart failure (HF) care by identifying barriers to equitable care and proposing solutions for achieving equitable outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Throughout the entire spectrum of HF care, from prevention to implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy and advanced interventions, racial and ethnic disparities exist. Factors such as differential distribution of risk factors, poor access to care, inadequate representation in clinical trials, and discrimination from healthcare clinicians, among others, contribute to these disparities. Recent data suggests that despite improvements, disparities prevail in several aspects of HF care, hindering our progress towards equity in HF care. This review highlights the urgent need to address racial and ethnic disparities in HF care, emphasizing the importance of a multifaceted approach involving policy changes, quality improvement strategies, targeted interventions, and intentional community engagement. Our proposed framework was derived from existing research and emphasizes integrating equity into routine quality improvement efforts, tailoring interventions to specific populations, and advocating for policy transformation. By acknowledging these disparities, implementing evidence-based strategies, and fostering collaborative efforts, the HF community can strive to reduce disparities and achieve equity in HF care.

Rural-Urban Disparities in Heart Failure and Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalizations

Substantial gaps in clinical outcomes exist in rural and urban hospitals in the United States. We used the National Inpatient Sample to examine trends in hospitalizations, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and inflation-adjusted cost of adults admitted for heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rural and urban hospitals between 2004 and 2018. From 2004 to 2013 and 2014, there was an initial decrease in age-adjusted HF hospitalizations in both urban (annual percent change [APC] -3.9 [95% confidence interval [CI] -4.3 to -3.5] p <0.001) and rural hospitals (APC -5.9 [95% CI -6.4 to -5.3] p <0.001), after which hospitalizations for HF increased in urban areas (APC 4.2 [95% CI 3.2 to 5.3] p <0.001) and remained stable in rural areas (APC 0.2 [95% CI -2.1 to 2.6] p = 0.863). Urban AMI hospitalizations decreased between 2004 and 2010 (APC -4.4 [95% CI -5.3 to -3.3] p <0.001) and subsequently remained stable (APC 0.2 [95% CI -0.5 to 0.9] p = 0.552), whereas rural AMI hospitalizations had a consistent decrease throughout the study period (APC -4.2 [95% CI -5.0 to -3.4] p <0.001). Overall, urban hospitals had lower in-hospital mortality for HF and AMI than rural hospitals (3.1% vs 3.5%, p <0.001% and 5.4% vs 6.5%, p <0.001), respectively. Initially, in-hospital mortality was higher in rural hospitals; however, the rural-urban hospital mortality gap decreased during the study period for both HF and AMI. Rural hospitals had a shorter mean length of stay for HF and AMI (4.4 vs 5.5 days, p <0.001 and 3.9 vs 4.7 days, p <0.001) and lower inflation-adjusted costs for both HF and AMI ($8,897.1 vs $13,420.8, p <0.001 and $15,301.6 vs $22,943.7, p <0.001) when compared with urban hospitals. In conclusion, a consistent decrease in the in-hospital mortality gap in rural and urban hospitals for HF and AMI suggests improvement in inpatient rural cardiovascular care during the study period. Continued healthcare policy reforms are warranted to alleviate the disparities in rural-urban cardiovascular outcomes.

Diagnostic Protocols for Alveolar Clefting and Barriers to Acquiring Imaging: A Survey of ACPA-Approved Cleft Teams in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To report current diagnostic protocols, practices, and barriers related to imaging of alveolar clefting among American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)-approved cleft/craniofacial teams.

METHODS

An electronic survey was sent to 162 ACPA-approved teams in the United States. Key items were team location, venue of orthodontic treatment, imaging modality(s) and access, barriers to imaging, billing, imaging protocols including team members involved in decisions pre- and post-alveolar bone grafting (ABG), and craniofacial fellowship status of team orthodontist(s).

RESULTS

A total of 66 responses were received (40.7%). Responding teams were university-based (47%), hospital-based (42.4%), and independent clinics (10.6%). Orthodontic treatment for most patients was in private practice (53%). On-site 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) dental imaging capabilities were reported by 42% of teams; 29% have no on-site imaging. One or more barrier(s) to acquiring imaging were reported by 67%, with insurance challenges reported by 47%. Most teams bill medical payors for cleft-related dental imaging (58%). Pre- and post-ABG imaging was most frequently 3D (35% and 36%, respectively). Surgeons and orthodontists commonly evaluate ABG timing and outcome together (53%-65%). Periapical radiographs were included significantly more often in cleft imaging protocols by orthodontists with versus without fellowship training (P = .011, P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

Barriers to acquiring imaging are frequent. 3D is the most common imaging pre- and post-ABG. Our study endorses multi-level advocacy for improved medical insurance coverage of diagnostic cleft-related dental imaging to decrease barriers to providing timely care.

Defragmenting Heart Failure Care: Medical Records Integration

Heart failure management requires intensive care coordination. Guideline-directed medical therapies have been shown to save lives but are practically challenging to implement because of the fragmented care that heart failure patients experience. Electronic health record adoption has transformed the collection and storage of clinical data, but accessing these data often remains prohibitively difficult. Current legislation aims to increase the interoperability of software systems so that providers and patients can easily access the clinical information they desire. Novel heart failure devices and technologies leverage patient-generated data to manage heart failure patients, whereas new data standards make it possible for this information to guide clinical decision-making.