Mini-cog performance: novel marker of post discharge risk among patients hospitalized for heart failure

Rationale and design of the French Observatory of Acute Heart Failure (OFICA2)

BACKGROUND

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality - especially in patients aged≥65 years in high-income countries - and represents a high healthcare burden. In the past decade, the epidemiology and management of heart failure (HF) has changed, with the emergence of new medical and interventional therapeutics, but up-to-date real-life data are scarce.

AIMS

The main objectives are to describe baseline characteristics (with an emphasis on lifestyle, cognitive status, HF knowledge and treatment adherence), management, and in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of AHF patients in France. Secondary objectives are to investigate determinants of prognosis, modalities of treatment and follow-up, and identify gaps between guidelines and real-life management.

METHODS

OFICA2 is a prospective multicentre observational survey that enrolled 1513 patients hospitalized for AHF in 80 participating centres in France during March and April 2021. The diagnosis of AHF was made according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines definition. Inclusion criteria were age≥18years, health coverage and consent to participate. Detailed information was collected prospectively starting at admission. Thanks to direct linking with the French National Health Database, the anteriority up to 2years before inclusion, as well as a 3-year follow-up is specified for each patient and includes individual information on death, hospital admissions, major clinical events, drug delivery and use of reimbursed health resources.

CONCLUSION

This cohort provides a representative snapshot on contemporary AHF, with a particular focus on self-care determinants, and will improve knowledge about AHF presentation, management and outcomes.

Association of cardiovascular diseases with cognitive performance in older adults

BACKGROUND

Cognitive function and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a bidirectional relationship, but studies on the impact of CVD subtypes and aging spectrum have been scarce.

METHODS

We assessed older adults aged ≥60 years from the 2011 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had coronary heart disease, angina, prior myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or prior stroke. We compared CERAD-IR, CERAD-DR, Animal Fluency test, and DSST scores to assess cognitive performance in older adults with and without CVD.

RESULTS

We included 3,131 older adults, representing 55,479,673 older adults at the national level. Older adults with CVD had lower CERAD-IR (mean difference 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.1, P < .001), CERAD-DR (mean difference 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-1.0, P < .001), Animal Fluency test (mean difference 2.1, 95% CI 1.6-2.6, P < .001), and DSST (mean difference 9.5, 95% CI 8.0-10.9, P < .001) scores compared with those without CVD. After adjustment, no difference in CERAD-IR, CERAD-DR, and Animal Fluency test scores was observed, but DSST scores were lower in older adults with CVD (adjusted mean difference 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-4.7, P = .001). Across CVD subtypes, individuals with congestive heart failure had lower performance on the DSST score. The oldest-old cohort of patients ≥80 years old with CVD had lower performance than those without CVD on both the DSST and Animal Fluency test.

CONCLUSION

Older adults with CVD had lower cognitive performance as measured than those free of CVD, driven by pronounced differences among those with CHF and those ≥80 years old with CVD.

Pharmacist-led telehealth deprescribing for people living with dementia and polypharmacy in primary care: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

People living with dementia (PLWD) have complex medication regimens, exposing them to increased risk of harm. Pragmatic deprescribing strategies that align with patient-care partner goals are needed.

METHODS

A pilot study of a pharmacist-led intervention to optimize medications with patient-care partner priorities, ran May 2021-2022 at two health systems. PLWD with ≥7 medications in primary care and a care partner were enrolled. After an introductory mailing, dyads were randomized to a pharmacist telehealth intervention immediately (intervention) or delayed by 3 months (control). Feasibility outcomes were enrollment, intervention completion, pharmacist time, and primary care provider (PCP) acceptance of recommendations. To refine pragmatic data collection protocols, we assessed the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI; primary efficacy outcome) and the Family Caregiver Medication Administration Hassles Scale (FCMAHS).

RESULTS

69 dyads enrolled; 27 of 34 (79%) randomized to intervention and 28 of 35 (80%) randomized to control completed the intervention. Most visits (93%) took more than 20 min and required multiple follow-up interactions (62%). PCPs responded to 82% of the pharmacists' first messages and agreed with 98% of recommendations. At 3 months, 22 (81%) patients in the intervention and 14 (50%) in the control had ≥1 medication discontinued; 21 (78%) and 12 (43%), respectively, had ≥1 new medication added. The mean number of medications decreased by 0.6 (3.4) in the intervention and 0.2 (1.7) in the control, reflecting a non-clinically meaningful 1.0 (±12.4) point reduction in the MRCI among intervention patients and a 1.2 (±12.9) point increase among control. FCMAHS scores decreased by 3.3 (±18.8) points in the intervention and 2.5 (±14.4) points in the control.

CONCLUSION

Though complex, pharmacist-led telehealth deprescribing is feasible and may reduce medication burden in PLWD. To align with patient-care partner goals, pharmacists recommended deprescribing and prescribing. If scalable, such interventions may optimize goal-concordant care for PLWD.

Cognitive impairment in young and middle-aged patients with acute heart failure

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and prognostic implications of cognitive impairment in young and middle-aged patients with acute heart failure (HF).

METHODS

In a prospective cohort of patients with acute HF, we assessed cognitive function by the Mini-Cog, predictors of the cognitive impairment and its associations with 30 day and 1 year cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalization among young and middle-aged patients (<65 years old).

RESULTS

Among 1958 young and middle-aged patients, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 19.6%. Predictors of cognitive impairment included older age, females, lower education levels and prior strokes. Compared with patients having normal cognitive function, cognitive impairment was associated with a higher risk of 30 day cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalization [hazard ratio (HR), 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-2.17, P = 0.02], but not for 1 year cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalization (HR, 1.06, 95% CI, 0.87-1.30, P = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive impairment is present in a notable proportion of young and middle-aged patients with acute HF and is associated with an increased risk of short-term adverse outcomes. Strategies for screening and intervention for cognitive impairment at a younger age are necessary, particularly for those at high risk.

2024 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care and the ramifications of AD for family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report discusses the larger health care system for older adults with cognitive issues, focusing on the role of caregivers and non-physician health care professionals. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure AD. Official AD death certificates recorded 119,399 deaths from AD in 2021. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's was the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Official counts for more recent years are still being compiled. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 140%. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2023. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $346.6 billion in 2023. Its costs, however, extend to unpaid caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes. Members of the paid health care and broader community-based workforce are involved in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with dementia. However, the United States faces growing shortages across different segments of the dementia care workforce due to a combination of factors, including the absolute increase in the number of people living with dementia. Therefore, targeted programs and care delivery models will be needed to attract, better train and effectively deploy health care and community-based workers to provide dementia care. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2024 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $360 billion. The Special Report investigates how caregivers of older adults with cognitive issues interact with the health care system and examines the role non-physician health care professionals play in facilitating clinical care and access to community-based services and supports. It includes surveys of caregivers and health care workers, focusing on their experiences, challenges, awareness and perceptions of dementia care navigation.

Impact of mental disorders on unplanned readmissions for congestive heart failure patients: a population-level study

AIMS

Reducing preventable hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients is a challenge for health systems worldwide. CHF patients who also have a recent or ongoing mental disorder may have worse health outcomes compared with CHF patients with no mental disorders. This study examined the impact of mental disorders on 28 day unplanned readmissions of CHF patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study used population-level linked public and private hospitalization and death data of adults aged ≥18 years who had a CHF admission in New South Wales, Australia, between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2020. Individuals' mental disorder diagnosis and Charlson comorbidity and hospital frailty index scores were derived from admission records. Competing risk and cause-specific risk analyses were conducted to examine the impact of having a mental disorder diagnosis on all-cause hospital readmission. Of the 65 861 adults with index CHF admission discharged alive (mean age: 78.6 ± 12.1; 48% female), 19.2% (12 675) had at least one unplanned readmission within 28 days following discharge. Adults with CHF with a mental disorder diagnosis within 12 months had a higher risk of 28 day all-cause unplanned readmission [hazard ratio (HR): 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.27, P-value < 0.001], particularly those with anxiety disorder (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.35-1.65, P-value < 0.001). CHF patients aged ≥85 years (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11-1.28), having ≥3 other comorbidities (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.25-1.46), and having an intermediate (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.28-1.40) or high (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27-1.47) frailty score on admission had a higher risk of unplanned readmission. CHF patients with a mental disorder who have ≥3 other comorbidities and an intermediate frailty score had the highest probability of unplanned readmission (29.84%, 95% CI: 24.68-35.73%) after considering other patient-level factors and competing events.

CONCLUSIONS

CHF patients who had a mental disorder diagnosis in the past 12 months are more likely to be readmitted compared with those without a mental disorder diagnosis. CHF patients with frailty and a mental disorder have the highest probability of readmission. Addressing mental health care services in CHF patient's discharge plan could potentially assist reduce unplanned readmissions.

Computerized Cognitive Training and 24-Month Mortality in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Cognitive dysfunction predicts mortality in heart failure (HF). Computerized cognitive training (CCT) has shown preliminary efficacy in improving cognitive function. However, the relationship between CCT and mortality is unclear. Aims were to evaluate (1) long-term efficacy of CCT in reducing 24-month mortality and (2) age, HF severity, global cognition, memory, working memory, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life as predictors of 24-month mortality among patients with HF.

METHODS

In this prospective longitudinal study, 142 patients enrolled in a 3-arm randomized controlled trial were followed for 24 months. Logistic regression was used to achieve the aims.

RESULTS

Across 24 months, 16 patients died (CCT, 8.3%; control groups, 12.8%). Computerized cognitive training did not predict 24-month mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.65). Older age (OR, 1.08), worse global cognition (OR, 0.73), memory (OR, 0.81), and depressive symptoms (OR, 1.10) at baseline predicted 24-month mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficacious interventions are needed to improve global cognition, memory, and depressive symptoms and reduce mortality in HF.

A Correlative Relationship Between Heart Failure and Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide. While the cardinal manifestations of HF are related to the cardiovascular system, it has become progressively evident that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also a significant complication of the disease. In fact, a significant number of patients with HF may experience MCI, which can manifest as deficits in attention, memory, executive function, and processing speed. The mechanisms responsible for cognitive dysfunction in HF are intricate and multifactorial. Possible factors contributing to this condition include decreased cerebral blood flow, thrombogenicity associated with HF, systemic inflammatory conditions, and proteotoxicity. MCI in HF has significant clinical implications, as it is linked to poorer quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, and higher healthcare costs. Additionally, MCI can disrupt self-care behaviors, adherence to medication, and decision-making abilities, all of which are crucial for effectively managing HF. However, there is currently no gold standard diagnostic tool and follow-up strategy for MCI in HF patients. There is limited knowledge on the prevention and treatment of MCI. In conclusion, MCI is a common and clinically important complication of HF. Considering the substantial influence of MCI on patient outcomes, it is imperative for healthcare providers to be cognizant of this issue and integrate cognitive screening and management strategies into the care of HF patients.

The Clock-Drawing Test as a Useful Screening Assessment of Preoperative Cognitive Impairment with Readmission After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has recently become more common as a treatment for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). Cognitive impairment (CI) is strongly associated with the prognosis of TAVI patients. However, some cognitive assessments currently in use are difficult to perform routinely in the clinical setting. To easier CI evaluation, we investigated whether CI using the clock-drawing test (CDT), one part of the Mini-Cog, affects the postoperative prognosis of TAVI patients with AS.

Methods

The present study enrolled 52 patients (median age, 85 years; 28.8% male) who underwent TAVI and were discharged between 2019 and 2021. The outcome was readmission for all causes within one year of discharge and patients were grouped according to whether they were readmitted or not. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Cog which combines verbal playback and CDT.

Results

Of the 52, 11 patients (21.2%) comprised readmission group, including 4 (36.4%) each for fracture and infection, and 1 (9.1%) each for heart failure, subdural hematoma, and pneumothorax. Median Mini-Cog score was lower in the readmission group than in the non-readmission group (4 vs. 5; P < 0.05). The frequency of Mini-Cog score < 3 (indicative of CI) and CDT failure were significantly higher in the readmission group than in the non-readmission group, respectively (46% vs. 7%, P < 0.01) (46% vs. 12%, P < 0.05). Both of Mini-Cog score < 3 and CDT failure were independently associated with readmission. The areas under the curve showed CDT was an indicator of readmission with similar accuracy to the Mini-Cog score < 3. Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant differences in readmission after 1 year between the 2 Mini-Cog groups with scores of < 3 or ≥ 3 points and CDT failure and success.

Conclusion

The CDT may be a very easy and simple screening assessment of preoperative CI with readmission within one year after TAVI.

Individual Trajectories of Health Status During the First Year of Discharge From Hospitalization for Heart Failure and Their Associations With Death in the Following Years

Background Improving health status is one of the major goals in the management of heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the long-term individual trajectories of health status in patients with acute HF after discharge. Methods and Results We enrolled 2328 patients hospitalized for HF from 51 hospitals prospectively and measured their health status via the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 at admission and 1, 6, and 12 months after discharge, respectively. The median age of the patients included was 66 years, and 63.3% were men. Six patterns of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 trajectories were identified by a latent class trajectory model: persistently good (34.0%), rapidly improving (35.5%), slowly improving (10.4%), moderately regressing (7.4%), severely regressing (7.5%), and persistently poor (5.3%). Advanced age, decompensated chronic HF, HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction, HF with preserved ejection fraction, depression symptoms, cognitive impairment, and each additional HF rehospitalization within 1 year of discharge were associated with unfavorable health status (moderately regressing, severely regressing, and persistently poor) (P<0.05). Compared with the pattern of persistently good, slowly improving (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50 [95% CI, 1.06-2.12]), moderately regressing (HR, 1.92 [1.43-2.58]), severely regressing (HR, 2.26 [1.54-3.31]), and persistently poor (HR, 2.34 [1.55-3.53]) were associated with increased risks of all-cause death. Conclusions One-fifth of 1-year survivors after hospitalization for HF experienced unfavorable health status trajectories and had a substantially increased risk of death during the following years. Our findings help inform the understanding of disease progression from a patient perception perspective and its relationship with long-term survival. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; unique identifier: NCT02878811.

Impact of Radar Chart-Based Information Sharing in a Multidisciplinary Team on In-Hospital Outcomes and Prognosis in Older Patients With Heart Failure

Background: A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is crucial for managing older patients with heart failure (HF). We investigated the impact on clinical outcomes of implementation of a conference sheet (CS) with an 8-component radar chart for visualizing and sharing patient information. Methods and Results: We enrolled 395 older inpatients with HF (median age 79 years [interquartile range 72-85 years]; 47% women) and divided them into 2 groups according to CS implementation: a non-CS group (before CS implementation; n=145) and a CS group (after CS implementation; n=250). The clinical characteristics of patients in the CS group were assessed using 8 scales (physical function, functional status, comorbidities, nutritional status, medication adherence, cognitive function, HF knowledge level, and home care level). In-hospital outcomes (Short Physical Performance Battery, Barthel Index score, length of hospital stay, and hospital transfer rate) were significantly better in the CS than non-CS group. During the follow-up period, 112 patients experienced composite events (all-cause death or admission for HF). Inverse probabilities of treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazard analyses demonstrated a 39% reduction in risk of composite events in the CS group (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.97). Conclusions: Radar chart-based information sharing among MDT members is associated with superior in-hospital clinical outcomes and a favorable prognosis.

Processing speed test and 30-day readmission in elderly non-cardiac surgery patients- A retrospective study

Background and Aims

Preoperative cognitive function screening can help identify high-risk patients, but resource-intensive testing limits its widespread use. A novel self-administered tablet computer-based Processing Speed Test (PST) was used to assess cognitive "executive" function in non-cardiac surgery patients, but the relationship between preoperative test scores and postoperative outcomes is unclear. The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day readmission/death. The secondary outcome was a collapsed composite of discharge to a long-term care facility/death. Exploratory outcomes were 1) time to discharge alive, 2) 1-year mortality and 3) a collapsed composite of postoperative complications.

Methods

This retrospective study, after approval, was conducted in elective non-cardiac surgery patients ≥65 years old. We assessed the relationship between processing speed test scores and primary/secondary outcomes using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounding variables.

Results

Overall 1568 patients completed the PST, and the mean ± standard deviation test score was 33 ± 10. The higher PST score is associated with better executive function. A 10-unit increase in the test score was associated with an estimated 19% lower 30-day readmission/death odds, with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.81 (0.68, 0.96) (P = 0.015). Similarly, 10-unit increase in test score was associated with an estimated 26% lower odds of long-term care need/death, with OR (95% CI) of 0.74 (0.61, 0.91) (P = 0.004). We also found statistically significant associations between the test scores and time to discharge alive and to 1-year mortality, however, not with a composite of postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Elderly non-cardiac surgery patients with better PST scores were less likely to be readmitted, need long-term care after discharge or die within 30 days. Preoperative assessment of cognitive function using a simple self-administered test is feasible and may guide perioperative care.

Distinct Associations Between Postdischarge Cognitive Change Patterns and 1-year Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

The patterns of patients' cognitive function after hospital discharge for heart failure (HF), their prognostic implication and the predictors for new-onset cognitive impairment remain unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 2307 patients (64 ± 14 years, 36.4% female sex) hospitalized for HF from a cohort who completed cognitive testing before discharge and after 1 month. Among 1658 patients with normal cognition before discharge, 229 (13.8%) and 1429 (86.2%) had new-onset cognitive impairment and normal cognition at 1 month, respectively. Of the 649 with cognitive impairment, 315 (48.5%) and 334 (51.5%) had transient and persistent cognitive impairment, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that, compared with normal cognition, patients with new-onset cognitive impairment had an increased risk of cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalization (hazard ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.70); patients with persistent cognitive impairment showed an increased risk, but it was not statistically significant (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.44); patients with transient cognitive impairment had a similar risk (hazard ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.13). Older age, females, lower education level, prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, lower health status, and lower Mini-Cog score before discharge predicted new-onset cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute HF substantially affects short-term cognition. Patients who have developed new-onset cognitive impairment have an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Monitoring cognition is necessary, particularly in high-risk patients.

2023 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease, including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report examines the patient journey from awareness of cognitive changes to potential treatment with drugs that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer's. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, and Alzheimer's disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's was the seventh-leading cause of death. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2022. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $339.5 billion in 2022. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes - costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Members of the paid health care workforce are involved in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with dementia. In recent years, however, a shortage of such workers has developed in the United States. This shortage - brought about, in part, by COVID-19 - has occurred at a time when more members of the dementia care workforce are needed. Therefore, programs will be needed to attract workers and better train health care teams. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2023 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $345 billion. The Special Report examines whether there will be sufficient numbers of physician specialists to provide Alzheimer's care and treatment now that two drugs are available that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia and readmission risk in patients with heart failure participating in a transitional care program

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is prevalent in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF). We aimed to generate further evidence on the value of dementia screening in hospitalized HF patients by examining whether and when dementia would be an independent risk factor for 30-day readmission while modeling permutations of known risk factors such as patient demographics, disease burden, prior utilization, and index hospitalization characteristics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A retrospective cohort study was employed, consisting of 26,128 patients (2,075 or 7.9% with dementia) in a transitional care program post HF hospitalization. The overall 30-day all-cause readmission rate was 18.1%. Patients with dementia had higher unadjusted rates of readmission (22.0 vs 17.8%) and death (4.5 vs. 2.2%) within 30 days post hospitalization, compared to those without dementia. Hierarchical multivariable proportional hazards regression results showed that dementia independently predicted readmission when both patient demographics and disease burden variables were controlled for (HR=1.15, p=0.02). However, the association between dementia and readmission was attenuated in the full model when prior utilization and index hospitalization characteristics were added (HR=1.04, p=0.55). For dementia patients, Charlson comorbidity index, prior ED visits, and length of stay were significant risk factors of readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of dementia and the predictors of 30-day readmission in those with dementia may help identify this subset of high-risk HF patients for potential efforts to improve their prognosis.

Real-world safety of neurohormonal antagonist initiation among older adults following a heart failure hospitalization

AIMS

To optimize guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure, patients may require the initiation of multiple neurohormonal antagonists (NHAs) during and following hospitalization. The safety of this approach for older adults is not well established.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted an observational cohort study of 207 223 Medicare beneficiaries discharged home following a hospitalization for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (2008-2015). We performed Cox proportional hazards regression to examine the association between the count of NHAs initiated within 90 days of hospital discharge (as a time-varying exposure) and all-cause mortality, all-cause rehospitalization, and fall-related adverse events over the 90 day period following hospitalization. We calculated inverse probability-weighted hazard ratios (IPW-HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing initiation of 1, 2, or 3 NHAs vs. 0. The IPW-HRs for mortality were 0.80 [95% CI (0.78-0.83)] for 1 NHA, 0.70 [95% CI (0.66-0.75)] for 2, and 0.94 [95% CI (0.83-1.06)] for 3. The IPW-HRs for readmission were 0.95 [95% CI (0.93-0.96)] for 1 NHA, 0.89 [95% CI (0.86-0.91)] for 2, and 0.96 [95% CI (0.90-1.02)] for 3. The IPW-HRs for fall-related adverse events were 1.13 [95% CI (1.10-1.15)] for 1 NHA, 1.25 [95% CI (1.21-1.30)] for 2, and 1.64 [95% CI (1.54-1.76)] for 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating 1-2 NHAs among older adults within 90 days of HFrEF hospitalization was associated with lower mortality and lower readmission. However, initiating 3 NHAs was not associated with reduced mortality or readmission and was associated with a significant risk for fall-related adverse events.

Factors related to early readmissions after acute heart failure: a nested case-control study

AIMS

To describe the main characteristics of patients who were readmitted to hospital within 1 month after an index episode for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a nested case-control study in the ReIC cohort, cases being consecutive patients readmitted after hospitalization for an episode of ADHF and matched controls selected from those who were not readmitted. We collected clinical data and also patient-reported outcome measures, including dyspnea, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores, as well as symptoms during a transition period of 1 month after discharge. We created a multivariable conditional logistic regression model. Despite cases consulted more than controls, there were no statistically significant differences in changes in treatment during this first month. Patients with chronic decompensated heart failure were 2.25 [1.25, 4.05] more likely to be readmitted than de novo patients. Previous diagnosis of arrhythmia and time since diagnosis ≥ 3 years, worsening in dyspnea, and changes in MLWHF and TFI scores were significant in the final model.

CONCLUSION

We present a model with explanatory variables for readmission in the short term for ADHF. Our study shows that in addition to variables classically related to readmission, there are others related to the presence of residual congestion, quality of life and frailty that are determining factors for readmission for heart failure in the first month after discharge.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03300791. First registration: 03/10/2017.

Incidence of New Dementia Diagnosis in Veterans Admitted to Nursing Homes After Heart Failure Hospitalization

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization with heart failure (HF) may signal an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Nursing homes routinely assess cognition but the association of these results with new ADRD diagnosis in a population at high risk of ADRD is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between nursing home cognitive assessment results and new diagnosis of dementia after heart failure hospitalization.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included Veterans hospitalized for HF and discharged to nursing homes, from 2010 to 2015, without a prior diagnosis of ADRD. We determined mild, moderate, or severe cognitive impairment using multiple items of the nursing home admission assessment. We used Cox regression to determine the association of cognitive impairment with new ADRD diagnosis during 365 days of follow-up.

RESULTS

The cohort included 7,472 residents, new diagnosis of ADRD occurred in 4,182 (56%). The adjusted hazard ratio of ADRD diagnosis was 4.5 (95% CI 4.2, 4.8) for the mild impairment group, 5.4 (95% CI 4.8, 5.9) for moderate impairment, and 4.0 (95% CI 3.2, 5.0) for severe impairment compared to the cognitively intact group.

CONCLUSION

New ADRD diagnoses occurred in more than half of Veterans with HF admitted to nursing homes for post-acute care.

Geriatric Domains in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Because heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is closely linked to aging processes and disproportionately affects older adults, consideration of geriatric domains is paramount to ensure high-quality care to older adults with HFpEF. Multimorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, frailty, falls, and social isolation each have important implications on quality of life and clinical events including hospitalization and mortality. There are multiple strategies to screen for these conditions. This narrative review underscores the importance of screening for multiple geriatric conditions, integrating these conditions into decision making, and addressing these conditions when caring for older adults with HFpEF.

Clinical Perspectives on Cardiac Rehabilitation After Heart Failure in Elderly Patients with Frailty: A Narrative Review

The purpose of this narrative review is to examine rehabilitation modalities for patients with heart failure and Frailty who require comprehensive intervention. Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 16% of global mortality. Due to population growing and aging, the total number of heart failure patients continues to rise, a condition known as the heart failure pandemic. Furthermore, frailty has been associated with an increased risk for heart failure and increased morbidity and mortality. The 2021 update of the 2017 ACC expert consensus decision pathway for optimization of HF treatment has become more concerning, citing frailty as one of the 10 most important issues associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Frailty and heart failure share common pathological mechanisms and are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Most studies of frailty in patients with heart failure primarily focus on physical frailty, and associations between psycho-psychological and social factors such as cognitive dysfunction and social isolation have also been reported. These results suggest that a more comprehensive assessment of frailty is important to determine the risk in patients with heart failure. Therefore, mechanisms of the three domains, including not only physical frailty but also cognitive, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects, should be understood. In addition to interventions in these three domains, nutritional and pharmacological interventions are also important and require tailor-made interventions for the widely varied conditions associated with heart failure and frailty. Although several studies have shown a relationship between frailty and prognosis in patients with heart failure, interventions to improve the prognosis have not yet been established. Further information is needed on frailty intervention by a multidisciplinary team to improve the prognosis.

Association of cognitive impairment with mortality and readmission in patients with heart failure: A meta-analysis

Cognitive impairment is a frequent condition in patients with heart failure (HF). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of cognitive impairment on all-cause mortality and readmission among HF patients. We systematically searched articles indexing in PubMed and Embase databases until August 5, 2022. Original studies investigating the association of cognitive impairment with mortality and/or readmission for more than 3-month follow-up in patients with HF were selected. Twelve studies including 9556 patients were eligible. The prevalence of cognitive impairment ranged from 13.5% to 63.4% in HF patients. For patients with cognitive impairment versus those without, the pooled adjusted risk ratio (RR) was 1.88 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.42-2.48) for all-cause mortality, 1.48 (95% CI 1.19-1.84) for readmission, and 1.53 (95% CI 1.35-1.73) for combined endpoints of all-cause mortality/readmission, respectively. Cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of all-cause mortality/readmission in patients with HF, even after adjustment for the conventional confounding. Evaluation of cognitive function may help to improve risk classification of HF patients.

Geriatric Cardiology: Coming of Age

Older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) contend with deficits across multiple domains of health due to age-related physiological changes and the impact of CVD. Multimorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive changes, and diminished functional capacity, along with changes in the social environment, result in complexity that makes provision of CVD care to older adults challenging. In this review, we first describe the history of geriatric cardiology, an orientation that acknowledges the unique needs of older adults with CVD. Then, we introduce 5 essential principles for meeting the needs of older adults with CVD: 1) recognize and consider the potential impact of multicomplexity; 2) evaluate and integrate constructs of cognition into decision-making; 3) evaluate and integrate physical function into decision-making; 4) incorporate social environmental factors into management decisions; and 5) elicit patient priorities and health goals and align with care plan. Finally, we review future steps to maximize care provision to this growing population.

Delirium and its association with short-term outcomes in younger and older patients with acute heart failure

Younger patients (18 to 65 years old) are often excluded from delirium outcome studies. We sought to determine if delirium was associated with short-term adverse outcomes in a diverse cohort of younger and older patients with acute heart failure (AHF). We conducted a multi-center prospective cohort study that included adult emergency department patients with confirmed AHF. Delirium was ascertained using the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM). The primary outcome was a composite outcome of 30-day all-cause death, 30-day all-cause rehospitalization, and prolonged index hospital length of stay. Multivariable logistic regression was performed, adjusting for demographics, cognitive impairment without delirium, and HF risk factors. Older age (≥ 65 years old)*delirium interaction was also incorporated into the model. Odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were reported. A total of 1044 patients with AHF were enrolled; 617 AHF patients were < 65 years old and 427 AHF patients were ≥ 65 years old, and 47 (7.6%) and 40 (9.4%) patients were delirious at enrollment, respectively. Delirium was significantly associated with the composite outcome (adjusted OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.02 to 2.64). The older age*delirium interaction p-value was 0.47. In conclusion, delirium was common in both younger and older patients with AHF and was associated with poorer short-term outcomes in both cohorts. Younger patients with acute heart failure should be included in future delirium outcome studies.

Relation Between Frailty and 1-Year Outcomes After Implantation of a Left Ventricular Assist Device

Frailty has been associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and those who underwent cardiac surgery. We aimed to study the effect of frailty on cardiovascular outcomes and the reversibility of frailty after the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. A total of 51 consecutive patients (44 men; aged 54 ± 10 years) scheduled to undergo LVAD implantation were assessed for frailty (Fried's phenotype, frail ≥3/5), cognitive function (using Mini-Cog), and depression (utilizing Patient Health Questionnaire-9) before the surgery and 3 months afterward. Patients were observed for mortality and adverse events [all-cause readmission, bleeding, renal dysfunction, and ventricular fibrillation (VF)/sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT)] for 12 months. More than half of the patients (54%) were designated as frail. Although there was no statistical difference in mortality among frail and nonfrail patients, frail ones were more likely to have a prolonged length of stay [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 14.9, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 132.5, p = 0.01]. At the 3-month reassessment after operation, frailty and cognition rates were better (frailty score [lower is better]: 3 vs 1.5, p <0.0001; cognition score [higher is better]: 4.5 vs 5, p = 0.001), and patients had less depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score [lower is better]: 8 vs 4, p <0.0001). Of the secondary outcomes, only postoperative VF/sustained VT reached statistical significance in being more common among frail patients than nonfrail ones (p = 0.02). Although frailty was not associated with mortality at 1 year, prolonged length of stay occurred more with frail LVAD patients. Frailty status, cognitive function, and depressive mood all improved in most patients after LVAD.

A multidisciplinary approach to heart failure care in the hospital: improving the patient journey

Despite advancements in care for patients with heart failure (HF), morbidity and mortality remain high. Hospitalizations and readmissions for HF have been the focus of significant attention among health care providers and payers, with an eye towards reducing health care costs. However, considerable variability exists with regard to inpatient workflows and management for patients with HF, which represents a significant opportunity to improve care. Here we provide a summary of optimal inpatient management strategies for HF, focusing on the multidisciplinary team of emergency medicine providers, admitting hospitalists, cardiovascular consultants, pharmacists, nurses, and social workers. The patient journey serves as the template for this review article, from the initial presentation in the emergency department, to decongestion and stabilization, optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy, and discharge and appropriate disposition. Lastly, this review aims not to be proscriptive but rather to provide best practices that are clinically relevant and actionable, with the goal of improving care for patients during the sentinel hospitalization for HF.

2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" replaces the "2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" and the "2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure." The 2022 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with heart failure.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant clinical trials and research studies, published through September 2021, were also considered. This guideline was harmonized with other American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines published through December 2021. Structure: Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2022 heart failure guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with heart failure, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests. Many recommendations from the earlier heart failure guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. Value statements are provided for certain treatments with high-quality published economic analyses.

2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure

AIM

The "2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" replaces the "2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure" and the "2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure." The 2022 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with heart failure.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant clinical trials and research studies, published through September 2021, were also considered. This guideline was harmonized with other American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines published through December 2021.

STRUCTURE

Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2022 heart failure guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with heart failure, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests. Many recommendations from the earlier heart failure guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data. Value statements are provided for certain treatments with high-quality published economic analyses.

Clinical benefit of combined assessment of physical and psychological frailty in patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVES

Physical frailty becomes a robust risk factor in patients with heart failure (HF) and coexistence of physical and psychological frailty is likely to be a prognostic indicator. This study aimed to analyze the prognosis of coexistence of these two factors in patients with HF.

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study (FLAGSHIP). We analyzed data from 2502 patients with HF from the FLAGSHIP study in Japan. We divided the patients into four physical frailty categories using a frailty score ranging from 0 to 14 (<4: I, 4-8: II, 9-12: III, and 14: IV, the score 13 does not exist in calculation). The higher category indicates more severe physical frailty. Psychological frailty was defined as the presence of cognitive decline and/or depressive symptoms. The study outcome was a 2-year composite outcome of rehospitalization for HF or all-cause mortality after hospital discharge.

RESULTS

During the 3734.7 person-year follow-up, 774 patients experienced the composite outcome. After adjusting for confounders, physical and psychological frailty were independently associated with adverse outcomes. Using physical frailty category I, without psychological frailty as the reference, adjusted hazard ratios for adverse outcomes were 1.29 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-1.92] for category I with psychological frailty, 0.99 (95% CI 0.71-1.37) for category II without psychological frailty, 1.61 (95% CI 1.16-2.23) for category II with psychological frailty, 1.56 (95% CI 1.14-2.15) for category III without psychological frailty, 1.62 (95% CI 1.20-2.20) for category III with psychological frailty, 1.50 (95% CI 1.05-2.14) for category IV without psychological frailty, and 2.16 (95% CI 1.59-2.94) for category IV with psychological frailty, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined assessment of physical and psychological frailty leads to more detailed risk stratification of patients with HF.

2022 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report discusses consumers' and primary care physicians' perspectives on awareness, diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, the latest year for which data are available. Alzheimer's disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States in 2019 and the seventh-leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 16 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2021. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $271.6 billion in 2021. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes - costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Members of the dementia care workforce have also been affected by COVID-19. As essential care workers, some have opted to change jobs to protect their own health and the health of their families. However, this occurs at a time when more members of the dementia care workforce are needed. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2022 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $321 billion. A recent survey commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association revealed several barriers to consumers' understanding of MCI. The survey showed low awareness of MCI among Americans, a reluctance among Americans to see their doctor after noticing MCI symptoms, and persistent challenges for primary care physicians in diagnosing MCI. Survey results indicate the need to improve MCI awareness and diagnosis, especially in underserved communities, and to encourage greater participation in MCI-related clinical trials.

Cognitive Impairment in Heart Failure: Landscape, Challenges, and Future Directions

Heart failure (HF) is a major global healthcare problem accounting for substantial deterioration of prognosis. As a complex clinical syndrome, HF often coexists with multi-comorbidities of which cognitive impairment (CI) is particularly important. CI is increasing in prevalence among patients with HF and is present in around 40%, even up to 60%, of elderly patients with HF. As a potent and independent prognostic factor, CI significantly increases the hospitalization and mortality and decreases quality of life in patients with HF. There has been a growing awareness of the complex bidirectional interaction between HF and CI as it shares a number of common pathophysiological pathways including reduced cerebral blood flow, inflammation, and neurohumoral activations. Research that focus on the precise mechanism for CI in HF is still ever insufficient. As the tremendous adverse consequences of CI in HF, effective early diagnosis of CI in HF and interventions for these patients may halt disease progression and improve prognosis. The current clinical guidelines in HF have begun to emphasize the importance of CI. However, nearly half of CI in HF is underdiagnosed, and few recommendations are available to guide clinicians about how to approach CI in patients with HF. This review aims to synthesize knowledge about the link between HF and cognitive dysfunction, issues pertaining to screening, diagnosis and management of CI in patients with HF, and emerging therapies for prevention. Based on data from current studies, critical gaps in knowledge of CI in HF are identified, and future research directions to guide the field forward are proposed.

Identify Early and Involve Everyone: Interdisciplinary Comprehensive Care Pathway Developed for Inpatient Management and Transitions of Care for Heart Failure Patients Reported Using SQUIRE 2.0 Guidelines

Introduction

Heart failure accounts for 1-2% of overall healthcare costs. While the link between re-hospitalization and mortality is unclear, care pathways that standardize inpatient management and establish outpatient follow-up improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity.

Aim

To implement a comprehensive interdisciplinary care pathway for heart failure patients with the goal of optimizing inpatient management and improving transitions of care.

Methods

To address this clinical need, New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (NYP-BMH) identified resources needed to optimize patient care, developed an inpatient admission order set (so-called “power plan”), and implemented a multidisciplinary clinical care pathway. The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle addressed the implementation obstacles. Interdisciplinary rounds guided day-to-day management and addressed barriers. Our team developed a sustainable care pathway, and measured the utilization of pharmacy, nutrition, physical therapy, case management, and social work resources; outpatient appointments were made prior to discharge. We used the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) 2.0 guidelines to guide our planning and evaluation of this quality improvement initiative.

Results

Our intervention markedly increased the number of heart failure hospitalizations that were identified on admission, and the use of pharmacy/nutrition services was greater after the intervention. The utilization of our “power plan” promoted adherence to a series of evidence-based best practices, but these measures had no significant impact on readmissions as a whole. The involvement of the case management support team increased outpatient appointments made for patients prior to discharge and aided in the transition of care from inpatient to outpatient management.

Conclusion

The management of heart failure patients starts in the hospital and continues in the community. Patients who are treated in a standardized dedicated care pathway have reduced morbidity and better outcomes. Identifying these patients early, involving a comprehensive team, and transitioning their care to the outpatient setting improves the quality of care in these patients.

Cognitive Impairment in Acute Heart Failure: Narrative Review

Cognitive impairment (CI) represents a common but often veiled comorbidity in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) that deserves more clinical attention. In the AHF setting, it manifests as varying degrees of deficits in one or more cognitive domains across a wide spectrum ranging from mild CI to severe global neurocognitive disorder. On the basis of the significant negative implications of CI on quality of life and its overwhelming association with poor outcomes, there is a compelling need for establishment of detailed consensus guidelines on cognitive screening methods to be systematically implemented in the population of patients with heart failure (HF). Since limited attention has been drawn exclusively on the field of CI in AHF thus far, the present narrative review aims to shed further light on the topic. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of CI in AHF remain poorly understood and seem to be multifactorial. Different pathophysiological pathways may come into play, depending on the clinical phenotype of AHF. There is some evidence that cognitive decline closely follows the perturbations incurred across the long-term disease trajectory of HF, both along the time course of stable chronic HF as well as during episodes of HF exacerbation. CI in AHF remains a rather under recognized scientific field that poses many challenges, since there are still many unresolved issues regarding cognitive changes in patients hospitalized with AHF that need to be thoroughly addressed.

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive Intervention to Improve Memory in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

The objective of this 3-arm randomized controlled trial was to evaluate efficacy of computerized cognitive training (CCT) to improve primary outcomes of delayed recall memory and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and secondary outcomes of working memory, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among patients with heart failure (HF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients (N = 256) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of CCT using BrainHQ, computerized crossword puzzles active control intervention, and usual care. All patients received weekly nurse enhancement interventions. Data were collected at enrollment and baseline visits and at 10 weeks and 4 and 8 months. In mixed effects models, there were no statistically significant group or group by time differences in outcomes. There were statistically significant differences over time in all outcomes in all groups. Patients improved over time on measures of delayed recall memory, working memory, IADL, and HRQL and had decreased serum BDNF.

CONCLUSIONS

CCT did not improve outcomes compared with the active control intervention and usual care. Nurse enhancement interventions may have led to improved outcomes over time. Future studies are needed to test nurse enhancement interventions in combination with other cognitive interventions to improve memory in HF.

LAYSUMMARY

In 256 patients with heart failure, 8 weeks of computerized cognitive training, computerized crossword puzzles, or usual care were studied for effects on (1st) recall memory and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and (2nd) working memory, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Measurements were at baseline, 10 weeks, 4- and 8-months. Nurse enhancement interventions (e.g., support, assessment) were provided. Recall memory, working memory, IADL, and HRQL improved over time. There were no statistically significant differences among treatment groups over time. BDNF unexpectedly decreased. Nurse enhancement interventions may explain improved outcomes. Future studies are needed.

Cerebrovascular insufficiency and amyloidogenic signaling in Ossabaw swine with cardiometabolic heart failure

Individuals with heart failure (HF) frequently present with comorbidities, including obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Many patients with HF experience cardiogenic dementia, yet the pathophysiology of this disease remains poorly understood. Using a swine model of cardiometabolic HF (Western diet+aortic banding; WD-AB), we tested the hypothesis that WD-AB would promote a multidementia phenotype involving cerebrovascular dysfunction alongside evidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. The results provide evidence of cerebrovascular insufficiency coupled with neuroinflammation and amyloidosis in swine with experimental cardiometabolic HF. Although cardiac ejection fraction was normal, indices of arterial compliance and cerebral blood flow were reduced, and cerebrovascular regulation was impaired in the WD-AB group. Cerebrovascular dysfunction occurred concomitantly with increased MAPK signaling and amyloidogenic processing (i.e., increased APP, BACE1, CTF, and Aβ40 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus) in the WD-AB group. Transcriptomic profiles of the stellate ganglia revealed the WD-AB group displayed an enrichment of gene networks associated with MAPK/ERK signaling, AD, frontotemporal dementia, and a number of behavioral phenotypes implicated in cognitive impairment. These provide potentially novel evidence from a swine model that cerebrovascular and neuronal pathologies likely both contribute to the dementia profile in a setting of cardiometabolic HF.

Cognitive impairment in heart failure: clinical implications, tools of assessment, and therapeutic considerations

Cognitive impairment (CI) is an important comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). Its prevalence parallels the severity of heart failure, while it is an independent prognostic marker of adverse events. Various factors contribute to cognitive decline in HF, influencing self-care. There are no standardized screening methods for the diagnosis and management of these patients. The aim of the present manuscript is to provide an overview of the impact of cognitive impairment in HF, describe the utility of assessment tools and imaging methods for the evaluation of CI, and propose a comprehensive diagnostic and management approach.

Multidomain Frailty in Heart Failure: Current Status and Future Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

With a worldwide aging population, frailty and heart failure (HF) have become issues that need to be addressed urgently in cardiovascular clinical practice. In this review, we outline the clinical implications of frailty in HF patients and the potential therapeutic strategies to improve the clinical outcomes of frail patients with HF.

RECENT FINDINGS

Frailty has physical, psychological, and social domains, each of which is a prognostic determinant for patients with HF, and each domain overlaps with the other, although there are no standardized criteria for diagnosing frailty. Frailty can be targeted for treatment with various interventions, and recent studies have suggested that multidisciplinary intervention could be a promising option for frail patients with HF. However, currently, there is limited data, and further research is needed before its clinical implementation. Frailty and HF share a common background and are strongly associated with each other. More comprehensive assessment and therapeutic interventions for frailty need to be developed to further improve the prognosis and quality of life of frail patients with HF.

2021 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on caregivers and society. The Special Report discusses the challenges of providing equitable health care for people with dementia in the United States. An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, the latest year for which data are available, making Alzheimer's the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 15.3 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2020. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $256.7 billion in 2020. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes - costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are more than three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 23 times as great. Total payments in 2021 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $355 billion. Despite years of efforts to make health care more equitable in the United States, racial and ethnic disparities remain - both in terms of health disparities, which involve differences in the burden of illness, and health care disparities, which involve differences in the ability to use health care services. Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans continue to have a higher burden of illness and lower access to health care compared with Whites. Such disparities, which have become more apparent during COVID-19, extend to dementia care. Surveys commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association recently shed new light on the role of discrimination in dementia care, the varying levels of trust between racial and ethnic groups in medical research, and the differences between groups in their levels of concern about and awareness of Alzheimer's disease. These findings emphasize the need to increase racial and ethnic diversity in both the dementia care workforce and in Alzheimer's clinical trials.

How Well Does the Brief Interview for Mental Status Identify Risk for Cognition Mediated Functional Impairment in a Community Sample?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the adequacy of the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) compared with other screening tools in identifying individuals with limitations in functional cognition and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING

Midsized midwestern city.

PARTICIPANTS

We assessed a convenience sample of community dwelling individuals (N=197) aged 55 years and older who were living independently.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participant scores on the BIMS, Mini-Cog, Menu Task, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were compared with the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills Checkbook Balancing and Shopping tasks (PCST), which are known to predict impairment in complex IADLs associated with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for participant demographics, as well as sensitivity and specificity, were computed for each screening measure using the PCST as the criterion measure.

RESULTS

The Mini-Cog, Menu Task, and MoCA identified 25.89%, 32.49%, and 47.21% more individuals, respectively, as impaired than the BIMS. In multiple logistical regression analyses, the BIMS correctly identified 58% of those impaired on the PCST. However, each of the alternate screening measures correctly identified at least 70% of individuals as impaired on the PCST.

CONCLUSIONS

In this community sample, the BIMS was insensitive to subtle impairments with the potential to compromise community living, suggesting that the BIMS may be inappropriate for use outside nursing home settings.

Impact of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Limitations on Hospital Readmission: an Observational Study Using Machine Learning

BACKGROUND

Limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) hinder a person's ability to live independently in the community and self-manage their conditions, but its impact on hospital readmission has not been firmly established.

OBJECTIVE

To test the importance of IADL dependency as a predictor of 30-day readmissions and quantify its impact relative to other morbidities.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study of the population-based Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare claims data. Random forest was used to rank each predictor variable in terms of its ability to predict readmission. Classification and regression tree (CART) was used to identify complex multimorbidity combinations associated with high or low risk of readmission. Generalized linear regression was used to estimate the adjusted relative risk of readmission for IADL limitations.

SUBJECTS

Hospitalizations of adults age 65 and older (n = 20,007), from 6617 unique subjects.

MAIN MEASURES

The main outcome was 30-day all-cause unplanned readmission. The main predictor of interest was self-reported IADL limitation. Other key predictors were self-reported complex multimorbidity including chronic diseases, geriatric syndromes, and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, along with demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors.

KEY RESULTS

The overall 30-day readmission rate in the study was 16.4%. Random forest analysis ranked ADLs and IADL limitations as the two most important predictors of 30-day readmission. CART identified hospitalizations of patients with IADL limitations and diabetes as a subgroup at the highest risk of readmission (26% readmitted). Multivariable regression analyses showed that ADL limitations were associated with 1.17 (1.06-1.29) times higher risk of readmission even after adjusting for other patient covariates. Risk prediction was modest though for even the best model (AUC = 0.612).

CONCLUSIONS

IADL limitations are key predictors of 30-day readmission as demonstrated using several machine learning methods. Routine assessment of functional abilities in hospital settings could help identify those most at risk.

An iPad-based Measure of Processing Speed in Older Adults Hospitalized for Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

In older adults hospitalized with heart failure (HF), cognitive impairment is associated with increased hospital readmission and mortality risk. There is no consensus on an objective, scalable method of cognitive screening in this population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this project was to determine the feasibility, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the Processing Speed Test (PST), a test of information processing, attention, and working memory administered on an iPad in older adults hospitalized with HF.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized with HF (n = 30) and age-, sex-, and education-matched controls (n = 30) participated in the study. To determine test-retest reliability, the PST was administered on an iPad on 2 occasions, separated by 12 to 48 hours. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test was administered at the first testing time point to determine convergent validity.

RESULTS

Test-retest reliability of the PST was 0.80 and 0.92 in individuals with HF and controls, respectively. Convergent validity was 0.72 and 0.90 for individuals with HF and controls, respectively. Time to complete the PST was similar for both individuals with HF and controls (<5 minutes).

CONCLUSION

The iPad-based deployment of the PST was a feasible, reliable, and valid cognitive screen for older adults hospitalized with HF. Using a tablet-based self-administered cognitive screen in older adults with HF provides a method of cognitive assessment that is amenable to widespread clinical utilization.

Prevalence and prognostic impact of the coexistence of multiple frailty domains in elderly patients with heart failure: the FRAGILE-HF cohort study

AIMS

To describe the prevalence, overlap, and prognostic implications of physical and social frailties and cognitive dysfunction in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The FRAGILE-HF study was a prospective multicentre cohort study enrolling consecutive hospitalized patients with heart failure aged ≥65 years. The study objectives were to examine the prevalence, overlap, and prognostic implications of the coexistence of multiple frailty domains. Physical frailty, social frailty, and cognitive dysfunction were evaluated by the Fried phenotype model, Makizako's 5 items, and Mini-Cog, respectively. The primary study outcome was the combined endpoint of heart failure rehospitalization and all-cause death within 1 year. Among 1180 enrolled hospitalized patients (median age, 81 years; 57.4% male), physical frailty, social frailty, and cognitive dysfunction were identified in 56.1%, 66.4%, and 37.1% of the patients, respectively. The number of identified frailty domains was 0, 1, 2, and 3 in 13.5%, 31.4%, 36.9%, and 18.2% of the patients, respectively. During follow-up, the combined endpoint occurred in 383 patients. Adjusted hazard ratios for 1, 2, and 3 domains, with 0 domains as the reference, were 1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-2.13; P = 0.15], 1.60 (95% CI 1.04-2.46; P = 0.034), and 2.04 (95% CI 1.28-3.24; P = 0.003), respectively. Incorporating the number of frailty domains into the pre-existing risk model yielded a 22.0% (95% CI 0.087-0.352; P = 0.001) net reclassification improvement for the primary outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The coexistence of multiple frailty domains is prevalent in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure. Holistic assessment of multi-domain frailty provides additive value to known prognostic factors.

Thirty-Day Readmission Risk Model for Older Adults Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Early readmissions among older adults hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are costly and difficult to predict. Aging-related functional impairments may inform risk prediction but are unavailable in most studies. Our objective was to, therefore, develop and validate an AMI readmission risk model for older patients who considered functional impairments and was suitable for use before hospital discharge.

METHODS AND RESULTS

SILVER-AMI (Comprehensive Evaluation of Risk in Older Adults with AMI) is a prospective cohort study of 3006 patients of age ≥75 years hospitalized with AMI at 94 US hospitals. Participants underwent in-hospital assessment of functional impairments including cognition, vision, hearing, and mobility. Other variables plausibly associated with readmissions were also collected. The outcome was all-cause readmission at 30 days. We used backward selection and Bayesian model averaging to derive (N=2004) a risk model that was subsequently validated (N=1002). Mean age was 81.5 years, 44.4% were women, and 10.5% were nonwhite. Within 30 days, 547 participants (18.2%) were readmitted. Readmitted participants were older, had more comorbidities, and had a higher prevalence of functional impairments, including activities of daily living disability (17.0% versus 13.0%; P=0.013) and impaired functional mobility (72.5% versus 53.6%; P<0.001). The final risk model included 8 variables: functional mobility, ejection fraction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arrhythmia, acute kidney injury, first diastolic blood pressure, P2Y12 inhibitor use, and general health status. Functional mobility was the only functional impairment variable retained but was the strongest predictor. The model was well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow P value >0.05) with moderate discrimination (C statistics: 0.65 derivation cohort and 0.63 validation cohort). Functional mobility significantly improved performance of the risk model (net reclassification improvement index =20%; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our final risk model, functional mobility, previously not included in readmission risk models, was the strongest predictor of 30-day readmission among older adults after AMI. The modest discrimination indicates that much of the variability in readmission risk among this population remains unexplained by patient-level factors.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01755052.

2020 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on caregivers and society. The Special Report discusses the future challenges of meeting care demands for the growing number of people living with Alzheimer's dementia in the United States with a particular emphasis on primary care. By mid-century, the number of Americans age 65 and older with Alzheimer's dementia may grow to 13.8 million. This represents a steep increase from the estimated 5.8 million Americans age 65 and older who have Alzheimer's dementia today. Official death certificates recorded 122,019 deaths from AD in 2018, the latest year for which data are available, making Alzheimer's the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2018, deaths resulting from stroke, HIV and heart disease decreased, whereas reported deaths from Alzheimer's increased 146.2%. In 2019, more than 16 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. This care is valued at nearly $244 billion, but its costs extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are more than three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 23 times as great. Total payments in 2020 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $305 billion. As the population of Americans living with Alzheimer's dementia increases, the burden of caring for that population also increases. These challenges are exacerbated by a shortage of dementia care specialists, which places an increasing burden on primary care physicians (PCPs) to provide care for people living with dementia. Many PCPs feel underprepared and inadequately trained to handle dementia care responsibilities effectively. This report includes recommendations for maximizing quality care in the face of the shortage of specialists and training challenges in primary care.

Can Brief Cognitive or Medication Management Tasks Identify the Potential for Dependence in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living?

Background and Objectives: The identification of functional performance deficits is critical to the community independence of older adults. We examined whether a combined cognitive and performance-based medication management measure would be able to better classify an individual’s functional cognitive status and potential for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment than either measure alone.

Research Design and Methods: Community-dwelling adults age 55 and older (n = 185) were administered the Mini-Cog, the Medication Transfer Screen-Revised (MTS-R), a combination measure the Medi-Cog-Revised (Medi-Cog-R), the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS) Checkbook Balancing and Shopping tasks (PCST), additional cognitive screening measures, and a self-report daily living scale. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were computed for the Mini-Cog, MTS-R and the Medi-Cog-R using the PCST performance as the criterion measure. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were computed for each measure.

Results: The Medi-Cog-R most accurately identified individuals as impaired on the PCST. An AUC statistic of 0.82 for the Medi-Cog-R was greater than either the Mini-Cog (0.75) or the MTS-R (0.73). The Medi-Cog-R demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.71 and a specificity of 0.78 in classifying individuals with impaired IADL as measured by the PCST.

Discussion and Implications: The Mini-Cog, the MTS-R, and the Medi-Cog-R all show discriminant validity, but the combined measure demonstrates greater sensitivity and specificity than either component measure alone in identifying IADL impairment. The Medi-Cog-R appears to be a useful screening measure for functional cognition and can be used to prompt further assessment and intervention to promote community independence.