Position Statement on In-hospital/Clinic Point-of-care Coagulation Testing for Anticoagulation Monitoring in Saudi Arabia

Objectives

Hospital overload is a persistent occurrence in daily practice. Interventions such as point-of-care testing (POCT) are needed to alleviate the pressure faced by healthcare providers and administrators.

Methods

An invited panel of experts from Saudi Arabia was formed under the auspices of the Saudi Heart Association in order to discuss local treatment gaps in the management of patients receiving anticoagulation therapy. This was done in a series of meetings, which resulted in the development of official recommendations for the implementation of POCT for anticoagulation monitoring in the country. Recommendations were based on a comprehensive literature review and international guidelines taking into consideration local clinical practice, clinical gaps, and treatment/testing availabilities.

Results

Vitamin K antagonist (VKA)-based anticoagulation therapy requires routine monitoring. POCT is a promising model of care for the monitoring of International Normalized Ratio (INR) in patients receiving oral anticoagulation in terms efficacy, safety and convenience. The availability of POC INR testing should not replace the use of standard laboratory anticoagulation monitoring. However, there are several indications for implementing POCTINR monitoring that was agreed upon by the expert panel. POCT for anticoagulation monitoring should primarily be used in the warfarin (or other VKA) monitoring clinic in order to ensure treatment efficiency, cost-effectiveness of care, patient satisfaction, and quality of life improvement. The expert panel detailed the requirements for the establishment of a warfarin (or other VKA) monitoring clinic in terms of organization, safety, quality control, and other logistic and technical considerations. The limitations of POCT should be recognized and recommendations on best practices should be strictly followed. Core laboratory confirmation should be sought for patients with higher INR results (>4.7) on POCT. Proper training, quality control, and regulatory oversight are also critical for preserving the accuracy and reliability of POCT results.

Conclusions

POCT enables more rapid clinical decision-making in the process of diagnosis (rule-in or rule-out), treatment choice and monitoring, and prognosis, as well as operational decision-making and resource utilization. POCT thus can fulfill an important role in clinical practice, particularly for patients receiving VKAs.

2023 National Heart Center/Saudi Heart Association Focused Update of the 2019 Saudi Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure

Background

The burden of cardiovascular diseases is undeniable in local populations, who have high mortality rates and a young age of disease onset. A systematic review of emerging evidence and update of the Saudi Heart Association (SHA) 2019 heart failure (HF) guidelines was therefore undertaken.

Methodology

A panel of expert cardiologists reviewed recommendations of the 2019 guidelines following the Saudi Heart Association methodology for guideline recommendations. When needed, the panel provided updated and new recommendations endorsed by the national heart council that are appropriate for clinical practice and local resources in Saudi Arabia.

Recommendations and conclusion

The focused update describes the appropriate use of clinical assessment as well as invasive and non-invasive modalities for the classification and diagnosis of HF. The prevention of HF was emphasized by expanding on both primary and secondary prevention approaches. Pharmacological treatment of HF was supplemented with recommendations on newer therapies, such as SGLT-2 inhibitors. Recommendations were also provided on the management of patients with cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular co-morbidities, with a focus on cardio-oncology and pregnancy. Updated clinical algorithms were included in support of HF management in both the acute and chronic settings. The implementation of this focused update on HF management in clinical practice is expected to lead to improved patient outcomes by providing evidence-based comprehensive guidance for practitioners in Saudi Arabia.

Emergency department cardiovascular disease encounters and associated mortality in patients with cancer: A study of 20.6 million records from the USA

BACKGROUND

there is limited data on Emergency department (ED) cardiovascular disease (CVD) presentations and outcomes amongst cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, prevalence, and clinical outcomes of the most common cardiovascular ED admissions in patients with cancer.

METHODS

All ED encounters with a primary CVD diagnosis from the US Nationwide Emergency Department Sample between January 2016 to December 2018 were stratified by cancer type as well as metastatic status. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the adjusted odds ratios of in-hospital mortality in different groups.

RESULTS

From a total of 20,737,247 ED encounters with a primary CVD diagnosis, cancer was present in 3.4%. In patients with cancer the most common CVDs were DVT/PE (20%), hypertensive heart or kidney disease (14.7%), and AF/flutter (11.2%). The distribution of CVDs varied by cancer type, with AF/flutter most common in patients with lung cancer, AMI most common in patients with prostate cancer, heart failure most common in those with haematological malignancies, and patients with colorectal cancer having the greatest frequency of DVT/PE. Cancer status was independently associated with significantly higher risk of mortality in almost all CVD categories, consistent across all the cancer types, amongst which lung cancer patients had the highest risk of mortality across all CVD categories, except intracranial haemorrhage and hypertensive crisis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular presentations to the ED varied by cancer subtype. Across all cancer subtypes, patients presenting with cardiovascular presentations carried a significantly increased risk of mortality compared to patients with no cancer.

Cost of inpatient heart failure care and 30-day readmissions in the United States

BACKGROUND

Heart failure hospitalizations are a major financial cost to healthcare systems. This study aimed to evaluate the costs associated with inpatient hospitalization.

METHODS

Patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure during a hospital admission between 2010 and 2014 in the U.S. Nationwide Readmission Database were included. The primary outcome was total cost defined by direct cost of index admission and first readmission within 30-days.

RESULTS

A total of 2,645,336 patients with primary heart failure were included in the analysis. The mean ± SD total cost overall was $13,807 ± 24,145; with mean total costs of $15,618 ± 25,264 for patients with 30-day readmission and $11,845 ± 22,710 for patients without a readmission. The comorbidities strongly associated with increased cost were pulmonary circulatory disorder (OR 26.24 95% CI 20.06-34.33), valvular heart disease (OR 25.42 95% CI 20.65-31.28) and bleeding (OR 5.96 95% CI 5.47-6.50). Among hospitalized patients, 12.6% underwent an invasive diagnostic procedure or treatment. The mean cost for patients without invasive care was $10,995. This increased by $129,547, $119,769, $251,110 and $293,575 for receipt of circulatory support, intra-aortic balloon pump, LV assist device and heart transplant. The greatest mean additional cost annually was associated with receipt of coronary angiogram ($26,282 per person for a total of ($728.5 million) and mechanical ventilation ($54,529 per person for a total of $501.7 million).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the costs associated with inpatient heart failure care are significant, and the major contributors to inpatient costs are comorbidities, invasive procedures and readmissions.

Effect of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation on In-Hospital Outcomes of Non-ST-Elevation-Acute Coronary Syndrome-Related Hospitalizations in the United States

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study examined the rates and trends of clinical outcomes and management strategies of non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) related hospitalizations in the United States, in patients with concomitant AF compared with those in sinus rhythm (SR). We analyzed the "Nationwide Inpatient Sample" database (2004 to 2014) for patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of NSTE-ACS, and further stratified the cohort on the basis of diagnoses into SR and AF groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine the association between AF and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (composite of mortality, stroke, and cardiac complications) and its components. Of 4,668,737 NSTE-ACS hospitalizations, the proportions of SR and AF groups were 82.4% (3,848,202) and 17.6% (820,535), respectively. The incidence of AF increased significantly over time from 16.5% (2004) to 19.3% (2014). The AF group was at a greater risk of adverse outcomes with higher rates and adjusted relative risk (RR) of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (12.9% vs 5.3%; RR 1.74 [1.72, 1.75]), mortality (6.5% vs 3.3%; RR 1.12 [1.11, 1.13]), stroke (2.7% vs 1.5%; RR 1.32 [1.30, 1.34]), and bleeding (14.7% vs 8.8%; RR 1.42 [1.41, 1.43]). Furthermore, the AF group was less likely to receive coronary angiography (47.1% vs 58%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (18.7% vs 32.6%) in comparison to SR (p <0.001 for all outcomes). In conclusion, patients with concomitant AF and NSTE-ACS are less likely to be offered an invasive management strategy for their ACS and are associated with worse complications and higher mortality.

Relation Between Age and Unplanned Readmissions After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (Findings from the Nationwide Readmission Database)

It is unclear how age affects rates and causes of unplanned early readmissions after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed patients in the Nationwide Readmission Database in the United States from 2010 to 2014 and examined the impact of age on readmissions after PCI. The primary outcomes were age-specific 30-day rates and causes of unplanned readmissions. A total of 2,294,345 procedures were analyzed with a 9.6% unplanned readmission rate within 30 days. Unplanned readmissions were 8.1%, 8.1%, 9.5%, and 12.6% for age groups <55, 55.0 to 64.9, 65.0-74.9, and ≥75 years, respectively. With increasing age, there was an increase in the rate of noncardiac causes for readmissions (for ages <55, 55.0 to 64.9, and ≥75 years, the rates were 54.1%, 54.8%, 56.6%, and 57.1%, respectively; p <0.001). Older age was associated with an increased prevalence of infections (13.9% ≥75 years vs 7.7% <55 years), gastrointestinal disease (11.5% ≥75 years vs 9.5% <55 years), and bleeding (7.4% ≥75 years vs 2.9% <55 years) as causes for noncardiac readmissions and a reduced prevalence of nonspecific chest pain (9.9% ≥75 years vs 31.4% <55 years). For cardiac causes, older age was associated with increased prevalence for readmissions due to heart failure (34.6% ≥75 years vs 11.9% <55 years) but a reduced prevalence of coronary artery disease, including angina (25.7% ≥75 years vs 51.3% <55 years). In conclusion, older patients have the highest rates of unplanned 30-day readmissions after PCI, with different causes for readmission compared with younger patients. Interventions designed to reduce readmissions after PCI should be age specific.

2015 Guidelines for Osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: Recommendations from the Saudi Osteoporosis Society

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To provide guidelines for medical professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding osteoporosis.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A panel of 14 local experts in osteoporosis assembled to provide consensus based on the strength of evidence and expert opinions on osteoporosis treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Saudi Osteoporosis Society (SOS) formed a panel of experts who performed an extensive published studies search to formulate recommendations regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia. Both local and international published studies were utilized whenever available.

RESULTS

Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is still the golden standard for assessing bone mineral density (BMD). In the absence of local, country-specific fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), the SOS recommends using the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool. All women above 60 years of age should be evaluated for BMD. This is because the panel recognized that osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures occur at a younger age in Saudi Arabia. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not recommended for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. BMD evaluation should be performed 1-2 years after initiating intervention, and the assessment of bone turnover biomarkers should be performed whenever available to determine the efficacy of intervention.

CONCLUSION

All Saudi women above the age of 60 years must undergo a BMD assessment using DXA. Therapy decisions should be formulated with the use of the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool.