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Background This observational cohort study compared the likelihood of maintained (stabilized/up-titrated) renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) therapy at 6 months following hyperkalaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or heart failure (HF) from the USA, Japan and Spain who received sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) for at least 120 days, relative to those with no prescription for a potassium (K+) binder. Methods Using health registers and hospital medical records, patients with CKD and/or HF receiving RAASi therapy who experienced a hyperkalaemia episode were identified. Propensity score (PS) matching (1:4) was applied to balance the SZC cohort to the no K+ binder cohort on baseline characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the odds of maintained RAASi therapy at 6 months in the SZC versus no K+ binder cohorts. Results The PS-matched SZC cohort included 565 (USA), 776 (Japan) and 56 (Spain) patients; the no K+ binder cohort included 2068, 2629 and 203 patients, respectively. At 6 months, 68.9% (USA), 79.9% (Japan) and 69.6% (Spain) in the SZC cohorts versus 53.1% (USA), 56.0% (Japan) and 48.3% (Spain) in the no K+ binder cohorts had maintained RAASi therapy. Meta-analysed across countries, the odds ratio of maintained RAASi therapy in the SZC cohort versus no K+ binder cohort was 2.56 (95% confidence interval 1.92–3.41; P  < .0001). Conclusions In routine clinical practice across three countries, patients treated with SZC were substantially more likely to maintain guideline-concordant RAASi therapy at 6 months following hyperkalaemia relative to patients with no K+ binder treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of patients with heart failure with preserved (HFpEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Spain.  METHODS: Adults with ≥ 1 HF diagnosis and ≥ 1 year of continuous enrolment before the corresponding index date (1/January/2016) were identified through the BIG-PAC database. Rate per 100 person-years of all-cause and HF-related HCRU during the year after the index date were estimated using bootstrapping with replacement.Results: Twenty-one thousand two hundred ninety-seven patients were included, of whom 48.5% had HFrEF, 38.6% HFpEF and 4.2% HFmrEF, with the rest being of unknown EF. Mean age was 78.8 ± 11.8 years, 53.0% were men and 83.0% were in NYHA functional class II/III. At index, 67.3% of patients were taking renin angiotensin system inhibitors, 61.2% beta blockers, 23.4% aldosterone antagonists and 5.2% SGLT2 inhibitors. Rates of HF-related outpatient visits and hospitalization were 968.8 and 51.6 per 100 person-years, respectively. Overall, 31.23% of patients were hospitalized, mainly because of HF (87.88% of total hospitalizations); HF hospitalization length 21.06 ± 17.49 days (median 16; 25th, 75th percentile 9-27). HF hospitalizations were the main cost component: inpatient 73.64%, pharmacy 9.67%, outpatient 9.43%, and indirect cost 7.25%. Rates of all-cause and HF-related HCRU and healthcare cost were substantial across all HF subgroups, being higher among HFrEF compared to HFmrEF and HFpEF patients.Conclusions: HCRU and cost associated with HF are high in Spain, HF hospitalizations being the main determinant. Medication cost represented only a small proportion of total costs, suggesting that an optimization of HF therapy may reduce HF burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, incidence, and describe the characteristics and management of patients with heart failure with preserved (HFpEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Spain. Methods: Adults with ≥1 inpatient or outpatient HF diagnosis between 1 January 2013 and 30 September 2019 were identified through the BIG-PAC database. Annual incidence and prevalence by EF phenotype were estimated. Characteristics by EF phenotype were described in the 2016 and 2019 HF prevalent cohorts and outcomes in the 2016 HF prevalent cohort. Results: Overall, HF incidence and prevalence were 0.32/100 person-years and 2.34%, respectively, but increased every year. In 2019, 49.3% had HFrEF, 38.1% had HFpEF, and 4.3% had HFmrEF (in 8.3%, EF was not available). Compared with HFrEF, patients with HFpEF were largely female, older, and had more atrial fibrillation but less atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Among patients with HFrEF, 76.3% were taking renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, 69.5% beta-blockers, 36.8% aldosterone antagonists, 12.5% sacubitril/valsartan and 6.7% SGLT2 inhibitors. Patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF took fewer HF drugs compared to HFrEF. Overall, the event rates of HF hospitalization were 231.6/1000 person-years, which is more common in HFrEF patients. No clinically relevant differences were found in patients with HFpEF, regardless EF (50- < 60% vs. ≥60%). Conclusions: >2% of patients have HF, of which around 50% have HFrEF and 40% have HFpEF. The prevalence of HF is increasing over time. Clinical characteristics by EF phenotype are consistent with previous studies. The risk of outcomes, particularly HF hospitalization, remains high, likely related to insufficient HF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hyperkalaemia (HK) is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or treated with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis). The aim of this study is to determine the severity, current management and cost of chronic HK. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic HK and CKD, heart failure or diabetes mellitus between 2011 and 2018. The study follow-up was 36 months. Results A total of 1499 patients with chronic HK were analysed: 66.2% presented with mild HK, 23.4% with moderate HK and 10.4% with severe HK. The severity was associated with CKD stage. Most patients (70.4%) were on RAASi therapies, which were frequently discontinued (discontinuation rate was 39.8, 49.8 and 51.8% in mild, moderate and severe HK, respectively). This RAASi discontinuation was similar with or without resin prescription. Overall, ion-exchange resins were prescribed to 42.5% of patients with HK and prescriptions were related to the severity of HK, being 90% for severe HK. Adherence to resin treatment was very low (36.8% in the first year and 17.5% in the third year) and potassium remained elevated in most patients with severe HK. The annual healthcare cost per patient with HK was €5929, reaching €12 705 in severe HK. Costs related to HK represent 31.9% of the annual cost per HK patient and 58.8% of the specialized care cost. Conclusions HK was usually managed by RAASi discontinuation and ion-exchange resin treatment. Most patients with HK were non-adherent to resins and those with severe HK remained with high potassium levels, despite bearing elevated healthcare expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]