The Interplay of Comorbidities in Chronic Heart Failure: Challenges and Solutions

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (HF) is frequently associated with various comorbidities. These comorbid conditions, such as anemia, diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, and sleep apnea, can significantly impact the prognosis of patients with HF.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, impact, and management of comorbidities in patients with chronic HF.

METHODS

A comprehensive review was conducted, with a rigorous selection process. Out of an initial pool of 59,030 articles identified across various research modalities, 134 articles were chosen for inclusion. The selection spanned various research methods, from randomized controlled trials to observational studies.

RESULTS

Comorbidities are highly prevalent in patients with HF and contribute to increased hospitalization rates and mortality. Despite advances in therapies for HF with reduced ejection fraction, options for treating HF with preserved ejection fraction remain sparse. Existing treatment protocols often lack standardization, reflecting a limited understanding of the intricate relationships between HF and associated comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

There is a pressing need for a multidisciplinary, tailored approach to manage HF and its intricate comorbidities. This review underscores the importance of ongoing research efforts to devise targeted treatment strategies for HF patients with various comorbid conditions.

Diabetes care management patterns before and after a cancer diagnosis: A SEER-Medicare matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Diabetes places patients with cancer at an increased risk of infections, hospitalizations, and mortality. The objective of the current study was to characterize diabetes care management patterns among patients with cancer in the year before and, separately, after cancer diagnosis. The authors hypothesized that diabetes care declines after a diagnosis of cancer.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry linked to Medicare claims data was used. The authors included diabetic beneficiaries aged ≥65 years who were diagnosed with incident, nonmetastatic breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer between 2008 and 2013. Controls were diabetic Medicare beneficiaries in SEER regions who did not have cancer. Cases were matched to controls based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and diabetes severity. Primary outcomes were diabetes care received over 12 months: 1) hemoglobin A1c testing; 2) eye examination; and 3) low-density lipoprotein testing. Using a difference-in-difference (DID) approach, the authors examined use differences 12 months before to after diagnosis for patients with cancer and controls. To avoid capturing testing related to diagnosis and not diabetes management, the authors implemented a 90-day washout period (45 days before and/or after diagnosis).

RESULTS

A total of 32,728 diabetic patients with cancer and 32,728 matched noncancer controls were included. After diagnosis, patients with cancer were found to have modest, but significantly lower, rates of diabetes care use compared with controls. Patients with cancer had greater declines in hemoglobin A1c testing (DID, 2.4%; 95% CI, 1.7%-3.0%), low-density lipoprotein testing (DID, 4.3%; 95% CI, 3.6%-5.0%), and receipt of all diabetes indicators (DID, 2.7%; 95% CI, 1.8%-3.5%) 12 months before to after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with controls, less diabetes care use was observed among patients with cancer in the year after diagnosis. Understanding and addressing the reasons for this may improve outcomes in this population.