Caregiver Health-Related Quality of Life, Burden, and Patient Outcomes in Ambulatory Advanced Heart Failure: A Report From REVIVAL

Background Heart failure (HF) imposes significant burden on patients and caregivers. Longitudinal data on caregiver health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and burden in ambulatory advanced HF are limited. Methods and Results Ambulatory patients with advanced HF (n=400) and their participating caregivers (n=95) enrolled in REVIVAL (Registry Evaluation of Vital Information for VADs [Ventricular Assist Devices] in Ambulatory Life) were followed up for 24 months, or until patient death, left ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, or loss to follow-up. Caregiver HRQOL (EuroQol Visual Analog Scale) and burden (Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale) did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up. At time of caregiver enrollment, better patient HRQOL by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire was associated with better caregiver HRQOL (P=0.007) and less burden by both time spent (P<0.0001) and difficulty (P=0.0007) of caregiving tasks. On longitudinal analyses adjusted for baseline values, better patient HRQOL (P=0.034) and being a married caregiver (P=0.016) were independently associated with better caregiver HRQOL. Patients with participating caregivers (versus without) were more likely to prefer left ventricular assist device therapy over time (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03-1.99; P=0.034). Among patients with participating caregivers, those with nonmarried (versus married) caregivers were at higher composite risk of HF hospitalization, death, heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation (hazard ratio, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.29-6.96; P=0.011). Conclusions Patient and caregiver characteristics may impact their HRQOL and other health outcomes over time. Understanding the patient-caregiver relationship may better inform medical decision making and outcomes in ambulatory advanced HF.

Quality of life and treatment preference for ventricular assist device therapy in ambulatory advanced heart failure: A report from the REVIVAL study

BACKGROUND

The Registry Evaluation of Vital Information for Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) in Ambulatory Life study is a prospective multicenter cohort of 400 ambulatory patients with advanced chronic systolic heart failure (HF). The aim of the study is to better understand disease trajectory and optimal timing of advanced HF therapies. We examined patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) data collected at enrollment and their association with patient treatment preferences for VAD placement.

METHODS

Baseline assessment of HRQOL included the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), along with patient self-assessment of remaining life (PSARL). Descriptive statistics were used to present baseline HRQOL data and Spearman correlation tests to assess the association between KCCQ, VAS, and VAD treatment preference with patient clinical characteristics of interest.

RESULTS

The median age was 60 years, 75% were male, and the median left ventricular ejection fraction was 20%. The median (25th percentile, 75th percentile), baseline KCCQ summary score was 64 (48, 78), VAS score 65 (50, 75), and PSARL 7 years (5, 10). There were statistically significant associations of baseline KCCQ and VAS with New York Heart Association class and Interagency Registry of Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profile (p < 0.005 for all comparisons). Baseline KCCQ and VAS revealed a modest association with PSARL (correlation = 0.45 and 0.35, respectively; p < 0.001), and many patients were overly optimistic about their expected survival. VAD treatment preference was associated with KCCQ scores (p < 0.031), but the absolute differences were small. VAD treatment preference was independent of other key clinical characteristics such as subject age, VAS, and PSARL.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a lack of strong association between HRQOL and patient preference for VAD therapy. Better understanding of patients' perceptions of their illness and how this relates to HRQOL outcomes, clinician risk assessment, and patient decision-making is needed. This may in turn allow better guidance toward available HF therapies in this vulnerable population.

Abstract 40: Mortality Due to Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Following Left Ventricular Assist Device

Introduction: The time course and risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement is not well described.

Hypothesis: Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are major causes of mortality following LVAD placement.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of Heartmate II (N=335) and Heartware (N=70) LVAD patients from a single center were reviewed from 10/21/2004-5/19/2015. Patients were followed until transplant or death. Predictors of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (ICH, SAH, SDH) occurring during hospitalization for LVAD placement (early stroke) or in follow-up (late stroke) were assessed using Chi-squared or Mann-Whitney U tests. The association of stroke and mortality was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: Of 405 patients, stroke occurred in 69 (17%). Early ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke occurred in 18 (4.4%) and 11 (2.7%) patients, respectively. Late ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke occurred in 25 (6.2%) and 29 (7.2%) patients, respectively and 11 (3%) had more than one stroke. ICH was the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke (N=23). History of implanted cardioverter defibrillator, tobacco use, poor NYHA class and hypertension post-LVAD significantly predicted ischemic stroke, while history of hypertension and arrhythmia predicted hemorrhagic stroke (all P<0.05). Stroke was the leading primary cause of death in 17% of LVAD patients (second only to multi-system organ failure [21%]). Most deaths were related to late ischemic stroke (N=9/150, 6%), or late hemorrhagic stroke (N=15/150, 10%), while only 2 (1%) died from early stroke. After adjusting for age, NYHA class, and LVAD type, late ischemic stroke (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 8.8, 95% CI 3.3-23.5, P<0.0001) and late hemorrhagic stroke (aOR 9.7, 95% CI 4.0-23.4, P<0.0001) predicted death, while early ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke did not.

Conclusions: Stroke is a leading cause of death in LVAD patients. Late ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke have a greater impact on mortality than early stroke. Management of risk factors, such as hypertension post LVAD, may reduce stroke and mortality rates.

Replacement of the aortic valve with a bioprosthesis at the time of continuous flow ventricular assist device implantation for preexisting aortic valve dysfunction

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has become a mainstay of therapy for advanced heart failure patients who are either ineligible for, or awaiting, cardiac transplantation. Controversy remains over the optimal therapeutic strategy for preexisting aortic valvular dysfunction in these patients at the time of LVAD implant. In patients with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, surgical approaches are center specific and range from variable leaflet closure techniques to concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a bioprosthesis. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed our outcomes in patients who underwent simultaneous AVR and LVAD implantation secondary to antecedent aortic valve pathology. Between January 2004 and June 2010, 144 patients underwent LVAD implantation at a single institution. Of these, 7 patients (4.8%) required concomitant AVR. Five of the 7 patients (71%) survived to hospital discharge and suffered no adverse events in the perioperative period. One-year survival for the discharged patients was 80%, and no prosthetic valve-related adverse events were observed in long-term follow-up. Given our experience, we conclude that bioprosthetic AVR is a plausible alternative for end-stage heart failure patients at the time of LVAD implantation.

S100A1 in human heart failure: lack of recovery following left ventricular assist device support

BACKGROUND

We hypothesized that S100A1 is regulated during human hypertrophy and heart failure and that it may be implicated in remodeling after left ventricular assist device. S100A1 is decreased in animal and human heart failure, and restoration produces functional recovery in animal models and in failing human myocytes. With the potential for gene therapy, it is important to carefully explore human cardiac S100A1 regulation and its role in remodeling.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We measured S100A1, the sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase, phospholamban, and ryanodine receptor proteins, as well as β-adrenergic receptor density in nonfailing, hypertrophied (left ventricular hypertrophy), failing, and failing left ventricular assist device-supported hearts. We determined functional consequences of protein alterations in isolated contracting muscles from the same hearts. S100A1, sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase and phospholamban were normal in left ventricular hypertrophy, but decreased in failing hearts, while ryanodine receptor was unchanged in either group. Baseline muscle contraction was not altered in left ventricular hypertrophy or failing hearts. β-Adrenergic receptor and inotropic response were decreased in failing hearts. In failing left ventricular assist device-supported hearts, S100A1 and sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase showed no recovery, while phospholamban, β-adrenergic receptor, and the inotropic response fully recovered.

CONCLUSIONS

S100A1 and sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase, both key Ca(2+)-regulatory proteins, are decreased in human heart failure, and these changes are not reversed after left ventricular assist device. The clinical significance of these findings for cardiac recovery remains to be addressed.

Mechanical circulatory support after heart transplantation

OBJECTIVE

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be used for severe graft failure after heart transplantation, but the degree to which it is lifesaving is uncertain.

METHODS

Between June 1990 and December 2009, 53 patients after 1417 heart transplants (3.7%) required post-transplant MCS for acute rejection (n=17), biventricular failure (n=16), right ventricular failure (n=16), left ventricular failure (n=1), or respiratory failure (n=3). Although support was occasionally instituted remotely post-transplant (5>1 year), in 39 (73%) instances it was required within 1 week. Initial mode of support was extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 43 patients (81%), biventricular assist device in 4 (7.5%), and right ventricular assist device in 6 (11%).

RESULTS

Risk of requiring respiratory support was highest in those with restrictive cardiomyopathy as indication for transplant, women, and those with elevated pulmonary pressure or renal failure. Complications of support, which increased progressively with its duration, included stroke in two patients (3.8%), infection in two (3.8%), and reoperation for bleeding (seven instances) in four (7.0%). Nineteen patients (36%) recovered and were removed from support, five (9.4%) underwent retransplantation (four after biventricular failure and one after acute rejection), and 29 died while on support (55%). Overall survival after initiating support was 94%, 83%, 66%, and 43% at 1, 3, 7, and 30 days, respectively. Patients requiring support for biventricular failure had better survival than those having acute rejection or other indications (P=0.03). Survival after retransplantation or removal from support following recovery was 88% at 1 year and 61% at 10 years.

CONCLUSION

Severe refractory heart failure after transplantation is a rare catastrophic event for which MCS offers the possibility of recovery or bridge to retransplantation, particularly for patients with biventricular failure in the absence of rejection. Early retransplantation should be considered in patients who show no evidence of graft recovery on MCS.

Acute myocardial infarction in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and normal coronary arteries

Although cardiac manifestations such as pericardial, myocardial, and valvular involvement are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), coronary artery involvement is less frequent. Clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease in SLE can result from accelerated atherosclerosis, arteritis, abnormal coronary flow reserve, spasm, and thrombosis. In SLE, the classic valvular abnormality consists of noninfective, verrucous vegetation. Thickening of the leaflets due to inflammation followed by fibrosis is common, occurring in about 50% of patients, whereas vegetations are present in about 40%. Mitral valve involvement is most common, with valvular regurgitation more frequent than valvular stenosis. The tricuspid valve and the aortic valve may also be affected. Its frequency varies widely: 13% to 74% in the general population. We report a case of a woman with acute myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries, who was subsequently diagnosed with Libman-Sacks endocarditis and SLE.