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Background: Limited research exists on the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on outcomes in pediatric patients with advanced heart failure receiving mechanical circulatory support., Methods: Linkage of the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) and Society of Thoracic Surgeon's Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) identified pediatric patients who underwent ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation from 2012 to 2022 with available residential zip codes. Utilizing the available zip codes, each patient was assigned a Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) score. Level of childhood opportunity, race, and insurance type were used as proxies for SDOH. Major outcomes included death, transplant, alive with device, and recovery. Secondary outcomes were adverse events. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier survival, competing risk analyses, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model., Results: Three hundred seventeen patients were included in the study. Childhood opportunity level and insurance status did not significantly impact morbidity or mortality after VAD implantation. White race was associated with reduced 1-year survival (71% in White vs. 87% in non-White patients, p = 0.05) and increased risk of pump thrombosis (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: Childhood opportunity level and insurance status were not linked to morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients after VAD implantation. Notably, White race was associated with higher mortality rates. The study underscores the importance of considering SDOH in evaluating advanced therapies for pediatric heart failure and emphasizes the need for accurate socioeconomic data collection in future studies and national registries., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The 13th annual report from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) highlights outcomes for 27,314 patients receiving continuous-flow durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) during the last decade (2012-2021). In 2021, 2464 primary LVADs were implanted, representing a 23.5% reduction in the annual volume compared with peak implantation in 2019 and an ongoing trend from the prior year. This decline is likely a reflection of the untoward effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the change in the United States heart transplant allocation system in 2018. The last several years have been characterized by a shift in device indication and type, with 81.1% of patients now implanted as destination therapy and 92.7% receiving an LVAD with full magnetic levitation in 2021. However, despite an older, more ill population being increasingly supported preimplant with temporary circulatory devices in the recent (2017-2021) vs prior (2012-2016) eras, the 1- and 5-year survival continues to improve, at 83.0% and 51.9%, respectively. The adverse events profile has also improved, with a significant reduction in stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hospital readmissions. Finally, we examined the impact of the change in the heart transplant allocation system in 2018 on LVAD candidacy, implant strategy, and outcomes. In the competing-outcomes analysis, the proportion of transplant-eligible patients receiving a transplant has declined from 56.5% to 46.0% at 3 years, whereas the proportion remaining alive with ongoing support has improved from 24.1% to 38.1% at 3 years, underscoring the durability of the currently available technology., (Copyright © 2023 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs), originally a National Institutes of Health-sponsored U.S. database, provides a platform to understand the population of children supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs) during this time of increasing numbers, new devices, expanding indications, and improved outcomes., Methods: Between September 19, 2012, and December 31, 2019, 44 hospitals implanted 1031 devices in 856 patients under 19 years of age., Results: Overall, diagnosis was cardiomyopathy in 497 (58%) patients, congenital heart disease (CHD) in 216 (25%), myocarditis in 85 (10%), and other in 58 (7%). Positive outcome (alive on device or bridge to transplantation and recovery) occurred in 82% at 6 months. The patient cohort for implantable continuous (IC) pumps (n = 365) (age 13.2 ± 3.9 years, 18% Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support [Intermacs] profile 1, 23% intubated at implantation, 16% with CHD) was significantly different from the paracorporeal continuous (PC) pump cohort (n = 212) (age 3.6 ± 4.9 years, 46% Intermacs profile 1, 81% intubated, 42% CHD) and the paracorporeal pulsatile (PP) pump cohort (n = 230) (age 2.7 ± 3.5 years, 31% Intermacs profile 1, 76% intubated, 26% CHD). Consistent with their cohort composition, positive outcomes at 6 months based on device type were the following: IC, 92%; PC, 68%; and PP, 81%. The incidence of cerebrovascular accidents in the IC, PC, and PP cohorts was 7%, 14%, and 15%, respectively., Conclusions: IC VADs, the most common VAD type placed in children, are associated with improved outcomes compared with PP and PC devices, though PP and PC devices are limited to supporting our most challenging patients. Noteworthy, the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents for pediatric VADs has significantly decreased and is now 11% overall. This report demonstrates again that although often attributed to age, size, or device type, much of the burden in mortality and adverse events is correlated to the patient's overall state at VAD implantation., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The influence of ventricular assist device (VAD) use in the care of children with end-stage heart failure is growing rapidly through increasing numbers, new devices, expanding indications, and improving outcomes. Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs), a National Institutes of Health-sponsored United States database, provides a platform to understand this emerging population., Methods: Between September 19, 2012, and December 31, 2017, 30 hospitals implanted 508 devices in 423 patients aged younger than 19 years. This past year was one of evolution for the database as its management was transitioned to The Society of Thoracic Surgery; therefore, this report does not include data from institutions not under contract by August 1, 2018., Results: Of the 423 patients, the diagnosis was cardiomyopathy in 261 (62%), myocarditis in 48 (11%), other in 28 (7%), and congenital heart disease (CHD) in 86 (20%), with 52 of these patients having single-ventricle physiology. The two most common support strategies included left VAD in 342 (81%) and biventricular assist device in 64 (15%). Positive outcome (alive on device or bridge to transplantation/recovery) was 80% at 6 months (overall mortality of 20%). The patient cohort for implantable continuous-flow (IC) pumps (n = 197; age at implant, 13.4 ± 3.8 years; 19% Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support [Intermacs] profile 1, 21% intubated at implant, and 12% with CHD) was significantly different from the paracorporeal continuous-flow (PC) pump cohort (n = 79; age, 3.9 ± 5.2 years; 49% Intermacs profile 1, 86% intubated at implant, and 38% with CHD) and the paracorporeal pulsatile (PP) pump cohort (n = 121; age, 3.3 ± 3.9 years; 41% Intermacs profile 1, 77% intubated at implant, and 21% with CHD). Consistent with their cohort composition, device type positive outcomes at 6 months were PC, 63%; PP, 77%; and IC, 92%. Parametric hazard modeling showed an early hazard for death was associated with Intermacs profile 1, biventricular assist device, percutaneous devices, PC devices, small-volume institutions, low age, and low weight, whereas a constant hazard was associated with intubation and liver dysfunction at time of implant., Conclusions: IC VADs are the most common VAD type placed in children. The positive outcomes for the IC VADs exceed 90% at 6 months, which may represent our field's maturation in both patient selection and timing of implantation. The PP/PC devices are currently limited to supporting our most challenging patients, those weighing less than 20 kg and those with CHD. The introduction of new devices and our communities' commitment to shared learning and improvement will lead to more pediatric lives saved by VAD support and will also focus on improving the quality of life of children supported with VADs., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) prevalence is increasing worldwide, with advanced heart failure (HF) as a leading cause of death. Limited data are available on durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in ACHD patients., Methods: ACHD patients from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) database were identified and propensity matched with non-ACHD patients using risk factors from the INTERMACS Seventh Annual Report. We compared these groups for the primary outcome of post-MCS mortality. We also investigated adverse event rates, functional status, and health-related quality of life., Results: ACHD (n = 128) and non-ACHD (n = 512) patients were appropriately matched by baseline characteristics. ACHD patients had a longer length of stay at MCS implant (24 vs 19 days, p = 0.006) but similar rates of post-MCS adverse events and hospitalization. There were similar improvements in functional status and health related quality of life post-MCS in both groups. ACHD patients had significantly higher mortality post-MCS exclusively during the first 5 months after implant (p = 0.003) and a lower probability of receiving a transplant (p = 0.003). Risk factors for early mortality were biventricular or total artificial heart device implant and age > 50 years., Conclusions: ACHD patients experience a higher early mortality after MCS but have similar adverse event rates and similar improvements in functional capacity and quality of life compared with non-ACHD patients. These data support expansion of MCS use in selected ACHD patients., (Copyright © 2017 International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Heart failure (HF) progression results in worsening functional capacity and end-organ compromise. HF may occur acutely or be associated with a chronic presentation. We hypothesized that the duration of HF affects outcomes after mechanical circulatory support., Methods and Results: A total of 10 730 patients registered in Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) who received primary implant of a mechanical circulatory support device were stratified according to the duration of HF symptoms: acute HF (AHF; ≤1 month), sub-AHF (1-12 months), and chronic HF (Cr-HF; ≥ 12 months). AHF patients were younger with a higher proportion of women and white and with a lower prevalence of peripheral vascular disease and history of prior cardiac surgeries. Sixty percent of AHF patients were INTERMACS profile 1 at the time of implantation versus 24% and 13.2% in the sub-AHF and Cr-HF groups, respectively (P=0.0001). Patients with AHF had the highest utilization of biventricular support (14.4%). The estimated survival at 4 years was 58%, 51%, and 45% for the AHF, sub-AHF, and Cr-HF patients (P=0.006). The proportion of patients with AHF who received heart transplantation at 1 year was 29% compared with 22.6% in the patients with Cr-HF. After adjustment for known risk factors of adverse outcome, patients with AHF have a better late phase prognosis compared with patients with Cr-HF (hazard ratio, 0.34; P=0.0003)., Conclusions: The duration of HF before durable mechanical circulatory support implant is an important variable influencing outcome. Patients with AHF had improved survival at 4 years and higher rates of transplantation at 1 year despite higher acuity of presentation., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Background: We describe the characteristics and outcomes of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCMP) patients who received durable mechanical circulatory support and compared it with other etiologies of advanced heart failure., Methods and Results: We analyzed 1258 women who were registered in Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support between June 2006 and March 2012. Baseline characteristics, implant strategies, hemodynamics, echocardiographic data, and outcomes were compared. Ninety-nine women had PPCMP and 1159 had non-PPCMP as primary diagnosis. PPCMP women were younger (P<0.001), more likely to be blacks, and had less comorbidities than non-PPCMP patients. PPCMP women had better survival than non-PPCMP women (P=0.01) with a 2-year survival of 83%. Multivariable risk factor adjustment analysis showed that the improved survival was likely because of younger age and fewer comorbidities. At 36 months, a proportion of 48% PPCMP received heart transplantation. Recovery occurred at a frequency of 6% and 2% in the PPCMP and non-PPCMP groups (P=0.1). Adverse event rates were similar in PPCMP and non-PPCMP patients except for higher cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory failure in the non-PPCMP in the first 3 months post implant., Conclusions: PPCMP women who receive durable mechanical circulatory support have a better survival than women with non-PPCPM. The improved survival observed in PPCMP is likely related to their fewer comorbidities and younger age. Myocardial recovery was uncommon and less than half of women with end-stage PPCPM received heart transplantation after 3 years of mechanical support.

The CDC released revised HIV testing guidelines in 2006 recommending routine, opt-out HIV testing in acute care settings including emergency departments (ED). Patient attitudes have been cited as a barrier to implementation of routine HIV testing in the ED. We assessed patients' perceptions of HIV testing in the ED through a contextual qualitative approach. The study was conducted during a 72-h period. All adults presenting to the ED without life-threatening trauma or psychiatric crisis completed a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire explored HIV testing history, knowledge of testing resources, and qualitative items addressing participant perceptions about advantages and disadvantages to ED testing. After completion of the interview, participants were offered a free, confidential, rapid HIV test. Among 329 eligible individuals approached, 288 (87.5%) completed the initial interview. Participants overwhelmingly (n=247, 85.8%) reported support for testing and identified increased knowledge (41%), prevention (12.5%), convenience (11.8%), and treatment (4.9%) among the advantages. Fear and denial about one's HIV status, reported by <5% of patients, were identified as the most significant barriers to ED testing. Bivariate analysis determined race and ethnicity differences between individuals completing the interview and those who refused (p<0.05). Among individuals consenting for testing (n=186, 64.6%), no positives were detected. Most patients support HIV testing in the ED, noting knowledge of status, prevention, convenience, and linkage to early treatment as distinct advantages. These data are of particular benefit to decision makers considering the addition of routine HIV testing in EDs.

The U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change was a federally coordinated nationwide effort that involved thousands of experts and stakeholders. To draw lessons from this effort, the 10 authors of this paper, half of whom were not involved in the Assessment, developed and administered an extensive survey, prepared a series of working papers, and conducted an invitational workshop in Washington, DC, on April 29, 2004. Considering all these sources, the authors conclude that the Assessment was largely successful in implementing its basic design of distributed stakeholder involvement and in achieving its basic objectives. Future assessments could be significantly improved if greater attention were devoted to developing a collective understanding of objectives, preparing guidance materials and providing training for assessment participants, developing a budgeting mechanism which would allow greater freedom in allocating resources across various assessment activities, and creating an environment in which assessments were part of an ongoing process.

This study estimated the impact of the Citibank Health Management Program on changes in health risks among Citibank employees. McNemar chi-squared tests compared the probability of being at high risk for poor health when the first and last health-risk appraisal surveys were taken. Logistic regression controlled for baseline differences in subsequent analyses when those who participated in more intensive program features were compared with those who participated in less intensive features. Declines in risk were noted for 8 of 10 risk categories. Most changes were small, except those related to exercise habits, seatbelt use, and stress levels. For nine health risk categories, those who participated in more intensive program services were significantly more likely than others to reduce their health risks. Thus, the Citibank Health Management Program was associated with significant reductions in health risk.