15 Dec Heart Failure Readmission Risk Related To Patient and Disease Characteristics

Dr. Javed Butler

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Javed Butler MD MPH
Chief, Division of Cardiology
Stony Brook University
Health Sciences Center
SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Butler: There is a lot of emphasis on reducing the risk of readmission after heart failure hospitalization. The main focus is on early readmissions as the risk for readmission is highest earlier post discharge. In this study, we described the fact that certainly there is some increased risk post discharge, the majority of the risk is actually dependent on the patient and disease characteristics at the time of discharge as opposed to true reduction in risk over time, which is partially related to differential attrition of high risk patients earlier post discharge.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Butler: Both patient/disease related as well as time related risk is important. Focus not only on time but also on patients’ individual risk profile.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Butler: This study needs to be validated in other cohorts and if similar results are seen, then future quality improvement and research efforts can be targeted to specific populations at discharge instead of trying to do everything for everybody.

Citation:

Temporal Changes in Post-Discharge Mortality Risk Following Hospita lization for Heart Failure (from the EVEREST Trial) 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2015.11.050
Cook, Thomas D. et al.
American Journal of Cardiology , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,

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Javed Butler MD MPH (2015). Heart Failure Readmission Risk Related To Patient and Disease Characteristics 

Last Updated on December 15, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD