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Background: Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for VTE, but unlike other inflammatory diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, data on the risk of VTE in patients with sarcoidosis are sparse., Research Question: Do patients with sarcoidosis have a higher long-term risk of VTE (pulmonary embolism or DVT, and each of these individually) compared with the background population?, Study Design and Methods: Using Danish nationwide registries, patients aged ≥ 18 years with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis (two or more inpatient/outpatient visits, 1996-2020) without prior VTE were matched 1:4 by age, sex, and comorbidities with individuals from the background population. The primary outcome was VTE., Results: We included 14,742 patients with sarcoidosis and 58,968 matched individuals (median age, 44.7 years; 57.2% male). The median follow-up was 8.8 years. Absolute 10-year risks of outcomes for patients with sarcoidosis vs the background population were the following: VTE, 2.9% vs 1.6% (P < .0001), pulmonary embolism, 1.5% vs 0.7% (P < .0001), and DVT, 1.6% vs 1.0% (P < .0001), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, sarcoidosis was associated with an increased rate of all outcomes in the first year after diagnosis (VTE: hazard ratio [HR], 4.94; 95% CI, 3.61-6.75) and after the first year (VTE: HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.45-1.87) compared with the background population. These associations persisted when excluding patients with a history of cancer and censoring patients with incident cancer during follow-up. Three-month mortality was not significantly different between patients with VTE with and without sarcoidosis (adjusted HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.61-1.15)., Interpretation: In this nationwide cohort study, sarcoidosis was associated with a higher long-term risk of VTE compared with a matched background population., Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures The authors have reported to CHEST the following: A. Y. reports a grant from the Foundation of Rigshospitalet. E. L. F. reports independent and unrelated research funding from the Danish Heart Association and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. F. G. reports being an advisor for Abbott, Fineheart, AdjuCor, Bayer, Ionis, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer; and a speaker for Novartis, all outside the submitted work. S. L. K. reports being on the advisory board for Bayer, outside the submitted work. M. S. reports lecture fees from Novo Nordisk, Bohringer, Astra Zeneca, and Novartis, outside the submitted work. K. R. reports being an advisory board member for Abbott, Novo Nordisk, and Boehringer-Ingelheim; and speaking fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Abbott, and MSD, all outside the submitted work. L. K. reports compensation from Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and AstraZeneca for other services, outside the submitted work. J. H. B. reports advisory board honoraria from AstraZeneca and Bayer, consultant honoraria from Novartis and AstraZeneca, and travel grants from AstraZeneca, all outside the submitted work. None declared (S. B. K., J. K. P., G. S., S. N. D.)., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To examine the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF)., Background: The potential association of HRQoL and mortality in patients with HF is unclear. We investigated this association in The Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) in Patients with Non-ischemic Systolic Heart Failure on Mortality (DANISH)., Methods: In DANISH, a total of 1116 patients with non-ischemic systolic HF on guideline-recommended therapy were randomized to ICD therapy or usual clinical care. HRQoL was assessed at randomization using the disease-specific Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ, 0-105, high score indicating worse HRQoL). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality according to MLHFQ above or below 45, as recommended by a recent meta-analysis, to identify patients with poor HRQoL., Results: HRQoL was completed by 935 (84%) patients at baseline with a median follow-up of 67 months (IQR 47-83). Patients with poor HRQoL (MLHFQ score > 45, median 60 (IQR 53-71),n = 350) had a higher incidence of all-cause mortality than patients with moderate/good HRQoL (MLHFQ ≤45, median 23 (IQR 13-33), n = 585), respectively 26% vs. 18% with an unadjusted HR of 1.57 (95% CI 1.19-2.08, p = .002), and an adjusted HR of 1.39 (95% CI 1.01-1.91, p = .04)., Conclusion: Poor HRQoL was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality after adjustment for traditional risk factors., Clinical Trial Registration: https: //clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00542945(DANISH)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Køber reports receiving lecture fees from Novartis. Dr. Thune reports receiving lecture fees from Novartis. Dr. Nielsen reports receiving support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF16OC0018658 and NNF17OC0029148)., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and causes of hospitalization in the year preceding death of patients with heart failure (HF)., Background: Hospitalizations in HF are common, especially in the last period of the lives of patients with HF, but little is known about hospitalization burden and causes during this phase of the disease., Methods: From Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients who died in the period 2001-2016 after having experienced HF for at least 1 year, and examined hospitalizations during the last year of life in age- and sex-stratified analyses., Results: We included 32,157 patients. Median age at time of death was 81 years; 39% were women. A total of 26,561 (84%) patients were hospitalized at least once during the last year of life. The patients experienced a median of 2 (1 to 3) hospitalizations and spent 14 (3 to 31) days in the hospital. Of all hospitalizations (n = 80,362), 9,644 (12%) were due to HF, 14,738 (18%) due to other cardiovascular (CV) causes, and 51,696 (64%) due to non-CV causes (p < 0.001). The frequency of hospitalizations increased toward death, but the domination of non-CV causes remained consistent throughout the year, regardless of age and sex. If we included diagnoses covering renal insufficiency in the definition of HF hospitalizations, non-CV hospitalizations remained dominant (58%)., Conclusions: During the last year alive, patients with HF were more often hospitalized due to non-CV causes rather than HF. These findings warrant more focus on a multidisciplinary approach toward end-of-life care in patients with HF., (Copyright © 2019 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study sought to assess safety and effectiveness of low-dose aspirin in heart failure (HF) not complicated by atrial fibrillation., Background: Despite lack of evidence, low-dose aspirin is widely used in patients with HF and sinus rhythm with and without prior ischemic heart disease., Methods: The study included 12,277 patients with new-onset HF during 2007 to 2012 who had no history of atrial fibrillation. Of 5,450 patients using low-dose aspirin at baseline, 3,840 were propensity matched to non-aspirin users in a 1:1 ratio. Propensity-matched Cox models were calculated with respect to the primary composite outcome of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke and the secondary outcomes of bleeding and HF readmission., Results: The composite outcome occurred in 1,554 (40.5%) patients in the aspirin group and 1,604 (41.8%) patients in the non-aspirin group. Aspirin use was not associated with an altered risk of composite outcome (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91 to 1.05), but it was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.67), whereas no differences were observed in all-cause mortality and stroke. An increased risk of HF readmission was observed in the aspirin group (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.33). No difference in bleeding was observed. In subgroup analyses on the basis of a history of ischemic heart disease, the results were similar to the main result., Conclusions: No association was detected between low-dose aspirin use and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, admission for myocardial infarction, and admission for stroke in patients with HF with no history of atrial fibrillation. Aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of readmission for HF., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Returning to the workforce after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) holds important socioeconomic consequences not only for patients, but the society as well. Yet data on this issue are limited. We examined return to the workforce and associated factors in patients of working age undergoing CABG., Methods and Results: Using Danish nationwide administrative registries, we identified 6031 patients of working age (18-60years) undergoing isolated CABG (1998-2011) who were part of the workforce 30days prior to admission and alive at discharge. One year after discharge for CABG, 4827 (80.0%) patients had returned to the workforce, 614 (10.2%) were on paid sick leave, 267 (4.4%) received disability pension, 250 (4.1%) were on early retirement, 57 (0.9%) had died, and 16 (0.3%) had emigrated. Factors associated with return to the workforce were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Younger age (18-45 versus 56-60years; odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-2.42), male sex (1.51, 1.24-1.84), and higher level of education (higher educational level versus basic school; 1.53, 1.05-2.23) and income (highest quartile versus lowest; 3.01, 2.42-3.75) were associated with return to the workforce. Urgency of surgery (emergency versus elective; 0.65, 0.49-0.88), cardiovascular comorbidity, a history of chronic kidney disease (0.49, 0.29-0.84) and liver disease (0.47, 0.28-0.80), as well as additional hospital admissions within the first year post-discharge (>2 versus none; 0.25, 0.19-0.32) were associated with a lower likelihood of returning to the workforce., Conclusion: One year after discharge for CABG, four out of five patients were part of the workforce and mortality was low. Younger age, male sex, higher socioeconomic status, and absence of major comorbidities were associated with return to the workforce., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study investigated the association between the use of evidence-based medicine (EBM) for heart failure (HF) and risk of workforce detachment., Background: The ability to work can be a marker of functional capacity and quality of life., Methods: We examined a nationwide cohort of patients in the workforce 1 year after first hospitalization for HF. EBM was defined as treatment with β-blockers and renin angiotensin system inhibitors. The fraction of target dose (0 TO 1) for each drug was calculated. The sum of the fractions gave each patient a score between 0 and 2. Patients were stratified into 4 groups according to this score: group 4 score = 2 (target dose of both drugs); group 3 score <2 to >1; group 2 score ≤1 to >0.5; and group 1 score ≤0.5. The risk of subsequent workforce detachment was estimated in cause specific Cox regression models., Results: One year after first HF hospitalization, 10,185 patients were part of the workforce, and 7,561 (74%) were in treatment with at least 1 of the components of EBM. During a median follow-up of 727 days, 2,698 individuals (36%) became detached from the workforce. Patients receiving more EBM had a significantly lower risk of workforce detachment compared with those receiving less EBM (group 4 hazard ratio [HR]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77 to 0.98; group 3 HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77 to 0.94; and group 2 HR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.02), all compared to group 1., Conclusions: Patients in the workforce 1 year after first HF hospitalization and treated with target or near-target doses of EBM were associated with a significantly lower risk of subsequent workforce detachment., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Data on young patients with heart failure (HF) are sparse. We examined the characteristics, health care use, and survival of younger vs older patients with HF., Methods: We performed an analysis of linked administrative databases in Alberta, Canada. We identified 34,548 patients who had a first hospitalization for HF as the principal diagnosis from 2002-2014. Patients were stratified into 4 age groups: 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, and ≥ 65 years., Results: Of the 34,548 patients, 496 (1.4%), 1319 (3.8%), 3359 (9.7%), and 29,374 (85%) were aged 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, and ≥ 65 years, respectively. The incidence of HF hospitalization decreased over time among patients ≥ 65 years and increased among men aged 20-64 years. In the year after the index HF hospitalization, compared with older patients, younger patients were less likely to present to the emergency department (ED) (eg, 67.2% of those aged 20-44 years vs 74.8% of those aged ≥ 65 years) or to be hospitalized for any reason (48.5% vs 61.2%), cardiovascular causes (28.6% vs 34.4%), or HF (14.8% vs 23.6%). Mortality rates were lower in younger patients aged 20-44 years but were still substantial: 3.9%, 12.4%, and 27.7% at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years, respectively., Conclusions: Although young patients, especially those < 45 years of age, accounted for a small proportion of the total population, adverse events were frequent, with half of the younger patients being readmitted, two-thirds presenting to an ED, and > 10% dying within a year., (Copyright © 2017 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and recent heart failure (HF) hospitalization as predictors of future events in heart failure - preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF)., Background: Recently, doubt has been expressed about the value of a history of HF hospitalization as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF and HF-PEF., Methods: We estimated rates and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization, according to history of recent HF hospitalization and baseline NT-proBNP level in the I-PRESERVE (Irbesartan in Heart Failure with Preserved systolic function) trial., Results: Rates of composite endpoints in patients with (n = 804) and without (n = 1,963) a recent HF hospitalization were 12.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.47 to 14.24) and 4.49 (95% CI: 4.04 to 4.99) per 100 person-years, respectively (HR: 2.71; 95% CI: 2.33 to 3.16). For patients with NT-proBNP concentrations >360 pg/ml (n = 1,299), the event rate was 11.51 (95% CI: 10.54 to 12.58) compared to 3.04 (95% CI: 2.63 to 3.52) per 100 person-years in those with a lower level of NT-proBNP (n = 1468) (HR: 3.19; 95% CI: 2.68 to 3.80). In patients with no recent HF hospitalization and NT-proBNP ≤360 pg/ml (n = 1,187), the event rate was 2.43 (95% CI: 2.03 to 2.90) compared with 17.79 (95% CI: 15.77 to 20.07) per 100 person-years when both risk predictors were present (n = 523; HR: 6.18; 95% CI: 4.96 to 7.69)., Conclusions: Recent hospitalization for HF or an elevated level of NT-proBNP identified patients at higher risk for cardiovascular events, and this risk was increased further when both factors were present., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines published in 2001, estimation of cardiovascular risk was recommended based on the Framingham score for 10-year risk of myocardial infarction and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society currently recommends the Framingham total cardiovascular risk score. During development of joint guidelines released in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA), the decision was taken to develop a new risk score. This resulted in the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations Risk Calculator. This risk calculator, based on major National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded cohort studies, is designed to predict 10-year risk of 'hard' atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events, namely, nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, nonfatal, or fatal stroke. Considerable strengths are its inclusion of stroke as an end point and race as a characteristic, which allows better risk prediction especially in African-American individuals, plus provision of lifetime ASCVD risk estimates for adults aged 20-59 years. Notable omissions from the risk factors include chronic kidney disease and any measure of social deprivation. An early criticism of the Pooled Cohort Equations Risk Calculator has been its alleged overestimation of ASCVD risk which, if confirmed in the general population, is likely to result in statin therapy being prescribed to many individuals at lower risk than the intended 7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk threshold for treatment in the joint ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines. In this review we discuss the development of the new risk calculator, its strengths and weaknesses, and potential implications for its routine use., (Copyright © 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ongoing NSAID treatment at time of admission for myocardial infarction (MI) on prognosis., Methods: All patients admitted with first-time MI in 1997-2006 were included by use of individual-level linkage of nationwide registries. By claimed prescription of NSAIDs, availability of tablets was estimated within 14 days prior to inclusion and defined ongoing use. Risk of death within 30 days and risk of death or MI within 1 year was analyzed by logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazard models, respectively., Results: A total of 97,458 patients were included (mean age 69.9 [SD 13.2] years and 62% males); the 30 day and 1 year mortality rates were 18.1% and 27.7%, respectively. Ongoing NSAID treatment was identified in 12,156 (12.5%) patients and 30-day mortality was significantly increased in patients receiving rofecoxib (odds ratio [OR] 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.68) and celecoxib (OR 1.23; CI 1.03-1.47) relative to no use of NSAIDs. Correspondingly, the 1-year rate of death or recurrent MI was significantly increased in patients receiving rofecoxib (hazard ratio [HR] 1.15; CI 1.04-1.27), celecoxib (HR 1.13; CI 1.01-1.26), diclofenac (HR 1.12; CI 1.04-1.20) or any NSAID use (HR 1.05; CI 1.02-1.09). No association was found for naproxen or ibuprofen., Conclusion: Ongoing treatment with NSAIDs and in particular the cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors rofecoxib, celecoxib, and diclofenac is associated with worsened prognosis in patients admitted with first-time MI., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)