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Background: Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality among women. Systematic evaluation of the quality of care and outcomes in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), an acute manifestation of coronary heart disease, remains lacking in China. Methods: The CCC-ACS project (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China–Acute Coronary Syndrome) is an ongoing nationwide registry of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. Using data from the CCC-ACS project, we evaluated sex differences in acute management, medical therapies for secondary prevention, and in-hospital mortality in 82 196 patients admitted for ACS at 192 hospitals in China from 2014 to 2018. Results: Women with ACS were older than men (69.0 versus 61.1 years, P P P =0.057) and non-ST–segment elevation ACS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.06; P =0.147) after adjustment for clinical characteristics and acute treatments. Conclusions: Women hospitalized for ACS in China received acute treatments and strategies for secondary prevention less frequently than men. The observed sex differences in in-hospital mortality were mainly attributable to worse clinical profiles and fewer evidence-based acute treatments provided to women with ACS. Specially targeted quality improvement programs may be warranted to narrow sex-related disparities in quality of care and outcomes in patients with ACS. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Background Post-procedural anticoagulation (PPAC) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may prevent recurrent ischemic events but may increase the risk of bleeding. No consensus has been reached on PPAC use. Methods Using data from the CCC-ACS registry, conducted between 2014 and 2019, we stratified all STEMI patients who underwent pPCI according to the use of PPAC or not. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox proportional hazards model with hospital as random effect were used to analyze differences in in-hospital clinical outcomes: the primary efficacy endpoint was mortality, and the primary safety endpoint was major bleeding. Results Of 34,826 evaluable patients 26,272 (75.4%) were treated with PPAC, and were on average younger, more stable at admission with lower bleeding risk score, more likely to have comorbidities and multivessel disease, and more often treated within 12 hours of symptom onset than those without PPAC. After IPTW adjustment for baseline differences, PPAC was associated with significantly reduced risk of in-hospital mortality (0.9% vs. 1.8%; hazard ratio (HR): 0.62 [95% confidence interval 0.43, 0.89]; p Conclusions PPAC in STEMI patients after pPCI was associated with reduced mortality without increasing major bleeding complications. Dedicated randomized trials with contemporary STEMI management are needed to confirm these findings. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China – Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project is a collaborative study of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC). The AHA has been funded by Pfizer and AstraZeneca for quality improvement initiatives through an independent grant. In-hospital clinical outcomes

Introduction A significant number of acute ischemic strokes occur while patients are hospitalized for other reasons. No national data have been reported on endovascular therapy (EVT) for in-hospital onset stroke. Here we compare the patient characteristics, process measures of quality, and outcomes for in-hospital onset vs. community-onset of strokes in a large US national registry. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GTWG-Stroke) from January 2008 to June 2018 from 2,333 participating sites that included 2,428,178 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Among 67,493 in-hospital onset strokes, 2494 (3.7%) underwent EVT. We examined the association between key patient characteristics (in-hospital onset, demographics, comorbidities, treatment with EVT) and functional outcomes using multivariable logistic regression models. Results The rate of EVT increased from 2.5% in 2008 to 6.4% in 2018 (p Conclusions Though use of EVT in GWTG-Stroke for in-hospital stroke remains low, it more than doubled in the past decade. Compared with community onset stroke, these patients have longer intervals to CT and arterial puncture, with associated worse functional outcomes. While there may be important differences in baseline patient characteristics between the groups, efforts must still be made to shorten time to reperfusion for in-hospital strokes. Disclosures F. Akbik: None. H. Xu: None. Y. Xian: None. S. Shah: None. E. Smith: None. D. Bhatt: None. R. Matsouaka: None. G. Fonarow: None. L. Schwamm: None.

Introduction: A significant proportion of acute ischemic strokes occur while patients are hospitalized for other reasons. Limited data exist on the utilization of intravenous alteplase (IV tPA) for in-hospital stroke, particularly in the endovascular era. We compared temporal trends of IV tPA use, patient characteristics, process measures of quality, and outcomes for in-hospital versus community onset strokes in a national registry. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GTWG-Stroke) from January 2008 to June 2018 from 2,333 participating sites that included 2,428,178 patients with acute ischemic stroke. In-hospital onset was reported in 67,493 patients. We examined the association between stroke onset location, patient characteristics, comorbidities, treatment with IV tPA and unadjusted and adjusted functional outcomes (Table, standardized differences >10% for significance). Results: Of 67,493 patients with in-hospital onset stroke, 11,123 received IV tPA. The rate of IV tPA administration steadily increased, from 9.5% in 2008 to 20.7% in 2017 (p Conclusions: In this national cohort, in-hospital onset strokes are increasingly treated with intravenous tPA in a period that spans the endovascular era. Compared with community-onset stroke, patients with in-hospital onset stroke had longer intervals to thrombolysis and worse outcomes. These data highlight opportunities to improve inpatient systems of stroke care further.

Introduction: A significant number of acute ischemic strokes occur while patients are hospitalized for other reasons. No national data have been reported on endovascular therapy (EVT) for in-hospital onset stroke. Here we compare the patient characteristics, process measures of quality, and outcomes for in-hospital onset vs. community-onset of strokes in a large US national registry. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GTWG-Stroke) from January 2008 to June 2018 from 2,333 participating sites that included 2,428,178 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Among 67,493 in-hospital onset strokes, 2494 (3.7%) underwent EVT. We examined the association between key patient characteristics (in-hospital onset, demographics, comorbidities, treatment with EVT) and functional outcomes using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The rate of EVT increased from 2.5% in 2008 to 6.4% in 2018 (p Conclusions: Though use of EVT in GWTG-Stroke for in-hospital stroke remains low, it more than doubled in the past decade. Compared with community onset stroke, these patients have longer intervals to CT and arterial puncture, with associated worse functional outcomes. While there may be important differences in baseline patient characteristics between the groups, efforts must still be made to shorten time to reperfusion for in-hospital strokes.

Background— Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at the highest stroke risk derive the largest benefit from oral anticoagulation (OAC). Those with the highest stroke risk have been paradoxically less likely to receive OAC. This study assessed the association between stroke and bleeding risk on rates of OAC. Methods and Results— We analyzed OAC use among 10 098 patients with AF from 174 community-based outpatient practices enrolled in 2010–2011 in the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF). OAC was defined as warfarin or dabigatran use at study enrollment. Stroke and bleeding risk were calculated using congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke (CHADS 2 ), and anticoagulation and risk factors in AF (ATRIA) scores, respectively. The mean subject age was 73 years; 58% were men. Overall, 76% of patients received OAC (71% warfarin and 5% dabigatran). The use of OAC increased among those with higher CHADS 2 scores, from 53% for CHADS 2 =0 to 80% for CHADS 2 ≥2 ( P P 2 scores ( P =0.021). Among those with low bleeding risk, use of OAC increased significantly with increasing stroke risk. Among those with high bleeding risk, CHADS 2 stroke risk had a smaller impact on use of OAC. Conclusions— In community-based outpatients with AF, use of OAC was high and driven by not only predominantly stroke but also bleeding risk. Stroke risk significantly affects OAC use among those with low bleeding risk, whereas those with high bleeding risk demonstrate consistently lower use of OAC regardless of stroke risk.

This paper details the substance and recommendations arising from a meeting convened by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in August 2009, to assess the challenges and opportunities of emergency department management of acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS). The assembled faculty represented a large cross section of medical professionals spanning the medical management continuum of patients presenting with acute heart failure and included heart failure cardiologists, emergency physicians, laboratory medicine specialists, nurses, and bench scientists. Their recommendations include proposals regarding the design and conduct of emergency department-based clinical trials, suggestions regarding the development of improved methods for early detection and monitoring of AHFS, and potential needs for expanding translational and applied AHFS focused research and biotechnology. We anticipate that this review will serve as a starting point for future investigations across the spectrum of funding sources.

Background: In February 2014, coverage for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) was expanded by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to include patients with chronic symptomatic heart failure (HF) on optimal medical therapy with ejection fraction Methods: We analyzed the Get With The Guidelines-HF registry linked to Medicare claims data from 2008-2012 to assess three groups of patients age 65 or older: previously eligible (due to prior MI, CABG, stable angina, heart valve surgery, or PCI in the previous 12 months), newly eligible, and ineligible for CR. Ineligible patients met neither criteria. Incidence rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association of events. Results: Among 51,665 HF patients discharged alive, 27.2% (n=14,053) were newly eligible and 14.5% were previously eligible for CR (n=7477). Newly eligible patients were more likely to be black, have atrial fibrillation and EF < 35%, while having fewer previous hospitalizations than patients previously eligible for CR. Newly eligible and ineligible patients had similar risk for 1-year mortality compared with those previously eligible (adjusted Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.88-1.02, p-value=0.13 and [HR] 1.05, 95% [CI] 0.98-1.13, p-value=0.17, respectively). However, newly eligible and ineligible patients had lower risk for 1-year readmission compared with those previously eligible (adjusted [HR] 0.89, 95% [CI] 0.85-0.93, p-value Conclusions: The extension of coverage for cardiac rehabilitation has tripled the potentially eligible HF population. As these newly eligible patients are at high risk for adverse outcomes, cardiac rehabilitation should be considered.

Beta blockers have a proven benefit in the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and for secondary prevention of coronary events. Current guidelines list such reactive airway diseases (RADs) such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as relative contraindications to beta-blocker use. However, the co-morbid burden of RAD and coronary heart disease is substantial, and data suggest that the treatment benefit of beta blockers is shared by patients with RAD. The Get with the Guidelines (GWTG) database was used to evaluate use of beta blockers within 24 hours of admission and at discharge in patients with ACS with (n = 12,967) and without (n = 81,140) a history of RAD. Data were collected in 435 hospitals between January 2000 and September 2006. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of beta-blocker treatment. In patients with no RAD history, beta-blocker prescription rates were 78.3% at admission and 88.7% at discharge; in patients with a RAD history, rates were 65.6% at admission and 77.2% at discharge. Compared with patients with no history of RAD, patients with a history of RAD were 42% less likely (odds ratio 0.58, confidence interval 0.54 to 0.62, p0.0001) to receive a beta blocker upon admission and 55% less likely (odds ratio 0.45, confidence interval 0.41 to 0.48, p0.0001) to receive a beta blocker at discharge in multivariable analysis. Among all other clinical factors, RAD history was the most significant predictor of likelihood of not receiving a beta blocker at admission or discharge. Receipt of beta blockers within 24 hours after admission was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate for patients with RAD (odds ratio = 0.52, p0.001) and for patients without RAD (odds ratio = 0.38, p0.001). Careful assessment of beta-blocker safety and RAD severity by physicians is needed to improve beta-blocker prescription rates in this large group of patients with ACS.

70% male) were enrolled at ICD or CRT-D implant. Inclusion criteria included baseline: BNP O 80pg/ml; QRSO130ms; LVEF!35%; and 6-MHW!450 m. Daily weights were recorded in a diary, while daily Z was stored by the device for 1 year of follow up. We compared daily weights and daily Z as patients progressed towards an OptiVol fluid index crossing (FIX), which is proven to predict future HF events. Patients with less than 75% of weight data within 30 days before a FIX were excluded from analysis. Results: The graph below represents trends in daily weight and Z thirty days before a FIX (n 5 18). As expected, approximately 18 days before a FIX the Z begins to decrease. In contrast, weight begins to change about 11 days before a FIX. Compared to 30 days before, on the day of FIX patient weight increased 3.2 6 2.2 lbs, while Z had dropped 5.6 6 0.6 ohms. Importantly, the second graph details that only 70% of patients had greater than 50% compliance with daily weight data. Conclusion: Intrathoracic impedance and daily weight exhibit similar trends during volume accumulation. However, Z begins to change approximately 7 days before weight. It may be that combining weight and Z may increase the specificity of either measure. However, daily weights are impeded by patient compliance. Device diagnostics, including intrathoracic impedance, may improve remote management of heart failure patients, irrespective of patient compliance.

Introduction The role race and ethnicity play in the management and clinical outcomes of heart failure (HF) is complex and not well defined. The goal of this study is to evaluate similarities and differences among ethnic groups in the treatment and outcomes of HF. Methods In a study of 1,600 patients diagnosed with HF referred to the UCLA Heart Failure Center, we evaluated baseline characteristics, and survival at 1 and 2 years by race/ethnicity. Race/ethnicity data were obtained from the medical records and administrative sources. Patients were divided into 5 subcategories based on race and ethnicity: Asian, Black, White, Hispanic, and Other/Unknown. Results Patients were mean age 52.62, female 23.8%, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) etiology 48.2%. There were significant differences in gender across ethnicities in the diagnosis of HF (p=0.0001), with 40.2% female in Black cohort compared to 16.5% in White cohort. ACEI, beta-blocker, and aldosterone antagonist treatment was similar in race/ethnic groups. However, there was a significant difference (p=0.022) in the prescription of statins between ethnic groups, with over 30% treated in Whites, Hispanics, and Other/Unknown compared to 20% in Asians and Blacks. Unadjusted and adjusted survival was similar among all subgroups. Conclusion There are significant differences by race/ethnicity in the prevalence of co-morbidities and the management of HF. This is possibly related to differing insurance coverages, physician bias or uncertainty, and genetic heterogeneity. However, these differences did not result in different risk of mortality. Further research in this area is necessary.