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Background With emerging evidence on the efficacy of adding dapagliflozin to standard care for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), this study assessed the cost-effectiveness of add-on dapagliflozin to standard care versus standard care alone for HFrEF from the perspective of healthcare systems in the Asia–Pacific region. Methods A Markov model was applied to project the outcomes of treatment in terms of lifetime medical cost and quality-adjusted life-years. The transition probabilities between health states in the model were obtained from the Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction trial. Country-specific costs and utilities were extracted for modeling. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio against a country-specific willingness-to-pay threshold was applied to determine the cost-effectiveness of treatment. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the robustness of the study results. Costs are presented in 2020 United States dollars. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for add-on dapagliflozin versus standard care alone were $5277, $9980, $12,305, $16,705, and $23,227 per quality-adjusted life-year gained in Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, respectively. When using add-on dapagliflozin to standard care versus standard care alone, ~ 100% of simulations were cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of one gross domestic product per capita of the given Asia–Pacific country; however, the probability of being cost-effective for using add-on dapagliflozin decreased when the time horizon for simulation was restricted to 18 months and when the cardiovascular mortality for the two treatments (43.8% and 33.0%, respectively) was assumed to be the same. The cost-effectiveness results were most sensitive to cardiovascular mortality of treatment. Conclusions Adding dapagliflozin to standard care is cost-effective for HFrEF in healthcare systems in the Asia–Pacific region, which supports the rational use of dapagliflozin for HFrEF in this region.

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) has become a healthcare challenge worldwide. Recently, certain trials on sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor showed benefits for patients with HF. This study aimed to systematically review the literature and investigate the clinical efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiovascular events among patients with and without HF. Methods We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Cochrane databases, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov registry form inception to October 2020. Dichotomous variables were pooled using a random-effects model and presented with a risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup meta-analyses were carried out by high/low SGLT2/SGLT1 selectivity and individual SGLT2 inhibitor.ResultsA total of 10 RCTs comprised of 52,607 patients were eligible for the analyses. SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of total cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF (RR 0.79, [95% CI: 0.74 to 0.84]; p < 0.01, I2 = 31%). Apart from stroke, SGLT2 inhibitors contributed to a risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, RR 0.93, [95% CI: 0.88 to 0.99]; p = 0.03, I2 = 0), all-cause mortality (RR 0.92, [95% CI: 0.85 to 0.99]; p = 0.03, I2 = 0), cardiovascular death (RR 0.91, [95% CI: 0.83 to 0.99]; p = 0.03, I2 = 0), hospitalization for HF (RR 0.72, [95% CI: 0.66 to 0.79]; p < 0.01, I2 = 0), and myocardial infarction (RR 0.89, [95% CI: 0.80 to 0.99]; p = 0.03, I2 = 0). For HF patients, SGLT2 inhibitors had more clinical benefits in terms of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death, while advantages were observed in MACE and myocardial infarction for non-HF patients. Furthermore, SGLT2 inhibitors with low SGLT2/SGLT1 selectivity have better efficacy for hospitalization of HF, compared with high-selectivity inhibitors (RR 0.51 [95% CI: 0.35-0.75] versus 0.73 [95% CI: 0.66-0.81] for HF patients). ConclusionsSGLT2 inhibitors significantly mitigate hospitalization for HF. Between HF and non-HF populations, this regimen reduce mortality for HF patients and improve MACE and myocardial infarction for non-HF patients. The SGLT2 inhibitor, mixed with the effect of SGLT1 inhibitors, may lead to a lower risk of hospitalization for HF.

Older ICU survivors are often challenged with clusters of geriatric syndromes and functional decline. The purpose of this study was (a) to assess patterns of geriatric syndromes and functional status from admission to 6 months post discharge and (b) to examine the predictors of longitudinal functional status. This is a prospective cohort study. Demographic information, clinical variables, geriatric syndromes, and functional status were collected longitudinally. A total of 192 medical ICU older adult survivors were included in the analysis. Factors associated with reductions in functional status over 6 months were (a) institutionalized prior to hospitalization, (b) pressure sore before admission, (c) existing delirium, (d) impaired mobility at baseline, (e) increased APACHE II score upon ICU admission, and (f) use of mechanical ventilation during the ICU stay. Importantly, overweight was the only factor that was associated with increased functional level over 6 months.

Nearly 90% of the older adult patients discharged from hospital with a cluster of geriatric syndromes. The patterns of geriatric syndromes in older adult ICU survivors are to be further explored. The aim of this study was to examine the risk factors and patterns of geriatric syndromes among older adult patients before admitting to ICU and throughout their hospitalization. A total of 137 older adult patients (age 76.9 ± 6.6; 52.6% male) participated in the study. The results showed significant increase in the occurrence of geriatric syndromes from T0 (upon ICU admission) to T1 (transition to inpatient care unit), with improvement at T2 (hospital discharge), but did not return to the baseline. The three most prevalent geriatric syndromes were: functional decline, urination incontinence, and defecation incontinence. Polypharmacy was associated with functioning decline. Patients with delirium were six times more likely to be re-admitted to ICU.

Studies have shown that cardiovascular rehabilitation exercise improves quality of life in post-coronary-bypass-surgery patients. However, the rate of participation in this exercise by this patient group in Taiwan has increased only 8.2% during the past 13 years (from 61.9% in 1996 to 70.1% in 2009). Little is known about the factors that influence patient motivation to participate in cardiovascular rehabilitation exercise.This study explores the factors that influence patient participation in rehabilitation exercise following coronary bypass surgery.This cross-sectional, correlational study recruited a convenience sample of 253 patients who had undergone coronary bypass surgery at a medical center in southern Taiwan. Structured questionnaires, including a patient rehabilitation exercise experience questionnaire, Short Form-36 Health Survey-Taiwan Form, and cardiac rehabilitation exercise design factors questionnaire were used for data collection. SPSS19.0 was used to analyze data.The variables "healthcare provider recommendation of rehabilitation exercise", "exercise program accessibility", "physical health status", and "patient post-surgical exercise patterns" each had a significant influence on participant participation in post-surgical rehabilitation exercise. Binary logistic regression analyses identified "receiving information on rehabilitation exercise", "level of patient-perceived importance of rehabilitation exercise", and "having post-surgical exercise patterns" as important predictors of participation in a rehabilitation exercise program, with OR ratios of 112, 7.86, and 3.23 times respectively. These 3 factors accounted for 90.1% of the total variance.Patient education on coronary bypass post-surgical rehabilitation exercise programs should be emphasized during pre-surgical consultation and care in order to facilitate the recovery of normal life functions following coronary bypass surgery.影響冠狀動脈繞道術後病患參與復健運動之因素探討心臟復健運動可改善冠狀動脈繞道術後病人生活品質。台灣復健參與率於13年間（1996年61.9%至2009年70.1%）卻僅上升8.2%；相關的影響因素缺乏本土實證資料，對有效提升參與率形成限制，因此，亟需深入探討。探討影響冠狀動脈繞道術後個案參與復健運動之相關因素。本研究為橫斷性、相關性研究，選取南部某醫學中心接受冠狀動脈繞道手術之253位個案為研究對象，主要研究工具為「個案復健運動經驗問卷」、「台灣版SF-36健康評估量表」與「影響參與復健運動方案因素調查表」，並以SPSS 19.0 for Windows進行統計分析。病患參與術後復健運動與否，和醫護人員提供復健運動相關資訊、就醫方便性、生理健康狀態、術後有無復健運動習慣等呈顯著性差異。再以二元邏輯迴歸分析發現有接受復健運動相關訊息、覺得復健運動是重要的、術後有運動習慣和是否參與復健運動等因素，於參與術後復健運動可能性分別是沒有參與者的112倍、7.86倍及3.23倍，且整體正確預測率為90.1%。應強化醫護人員對術後復健運動訊息提供之重視，於病人術前早期介入，以有效協助個案早日回復術後的生活功能。