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Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can be an effective option for high-risk Aortic Regurgitation (AR) patients. Although international experiences of TAVR for AR are published, U.S. data are limited. This study sought to report the short-term outcomes of TAVR in AR in the U.S., Methods: Study cohorts were derived from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) 2016-17. TAVR and AR were identified using ICD-10-CM-codes. The key outcomes were all-cause mortality, disabling stroke, valvular complications, complete heart block (CHB)/permanent pacemaker placement (PPM), open-heart surgery, acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis, and vascular complications. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders., Results: 915 patients from the NIS (male-71%, age ≥65-84.2%) and 822 patients from the NRD (male-69.3%, age ≥65-80.5%) underwent TAVR for AR. The median length of stay (LOS) was 4 days for both cohorts. In-hospital mortality was 2.7%, and 30-day mortality was 3.3%. Disabling strokes were noted in 0.6% peri-procedurally and 1.8% at 30-days. Valve-related complications were 18-19% with paravalvular leak (4-7%) being the most common. Approximately 11% of patients developed CHB and/or needed PPM in both cohorts. In NRD, 2.2% of patients required dialysis for AKI, 1.5% developed vascular complications, and 0.6% required open-heart surgery within 30-days post-procedure. Anemia was predictive of increased overall complications and valvular complications, whereas peripheral vascular disease was a predictor of increased valvular complications and CHB/PPM., Conclusion: TAVR is a promising option in AR. Further studies are necessary for the expansion of TAVR as the standard treatment in AR., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Due to limited real-world data, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF). This retrospective cohort study identified 119,694 patients with AF and HF from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2016 to 2017. Propensity-matching was generated using demographics, comorbidities, hospital and other characteristics through multivariate logistic regression. Greedy's propensity score match (1:15) algorithm was used to create matched data. The primary end point was a composite of HF readmission and mortality at 1 year. Secondary outcomes include HF readmission, mortality, AF readmission, and any-cause readmission at 1 year. Of the 119,694 patients, 63,299 had HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and 56,395 had HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the overall HFrEF cohort, the primary outcome was similar (HR, 95% confidence interval, p-value) (1.01, 0.91 to 1.13, 0.811). AF readmission (0.41, 0.33 to 0.49, <0.001) and any readmission (0.87, 0.82 to 0.93, <0.001) were reduced with CA. In the propensity-matched HFrEF cohort, results were unchanged (primary outcome: 1.10, 0.95 to 1.27, 0.189; AF readmission: 0.46, 0.36 to 0.59, <0.001; any readmission: 0.89, 0.82 to 0.98, 0.015). In the overall HFpEF cohort, the primary outcome was similar (0.90, 0.78 to 1.04, 0.154). AF readmission was reduced with CA (0.54, 0.44 to 0.65, <0.001). In the propensity-matched HFpEF cohort, results were unchanged (primary outcome 1.10, 0.92 to 1.31, 0.289; AF readmission 0.44, 0.33 to 0.57, <0.001). CA did not reduce mortality and HF readmission at one year irrespective of the type of HF, but significantly reduce readmission due to AF., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: No studies assessed impact of atrial flutter (AFL) ablation on outcomes in patients with AFL and concurrent heart failure (HF)., Objectives: To assess the effect of AFL ablation on mortality and HF readmissions in patients with AFL and HF., Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified 15,952 patients with AFL and HF from the 2016-17 Nationwide Readmissions Database. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality and/or HF readmission at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included HF readmission, all-cause mortality, and atrial fibrillation (AF) readmission at 1 year. Propensity score match (1:2) algorithm was used to adjust for confounders. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to generate hazard ratios., Results: Of the 15,952 patients, 9889 had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 6063 had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the matched HFrEF cohort (n = 5421), the primary outcome was significantly lower in patients undergoing ablation (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.61-0.85, P < .001). HF readmission (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61-0.89, P = .001), all-cause mortality (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.85, P = .003), and AF readmission (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.82, P = .001) were also significantly reduced. In the matched HFpEF cohort (n = 2439), the primary outcome was lower in the group receiving ablation but was not statistically significant (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.63-1.01, P = .065)., Conclusion: In patients with AFL and HFrEF, AFL ablation was associated with lower mortality and HF readmissions at 1 year. Patients with AFL and HFpEF did not show a similar significant reduction in the primary outcome., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Heart Rhythm Society.)

Background: Utilization of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) has steadily increased in recent years. Exploring short-term outcomes is vital in health care planning and resource allocation., Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014 was queried using the ICD-9 codes for VT (427.1) and catheter ablation (37.34) to identify study population. Incidence, causes of 30-day readmission, in-hospital complications as well as predictors of 30-day readmissions, complications, and cost of care were analyzed., Results: Among 11 725 patients who survived to discharge after index admission for VT ablation, 1911 (16.3%) were readmitted within 30 days. Paroxysmal VT was the most common cause of 30-day readmission (39.51%). Dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous CABG, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic pulmonary disease, and anemia predicted increased risk of 30-day readmissions. The overall in-hospital complication rate was 8.2% with vascular and cardiac complications being the most common. Co-existing CKD and CHF and the need for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) predicted higher complication rates. Similarly increasing age, CKD, CHF, anemia, in-hospital use of MCS or left heart catheterization, teaching hospital, and disposition to nursing facilities predicted higher cost., Conclusion: Approximately one in six patients was readmitted after VT ablation, with paroxysmal VT being the most common cause of the readmission. A complication rate of 8.2% was noted. We also identified a predictive model for increased risk of readmission, complication, and factors influencing the cost of care that can be utilized to improve the outcomes related to VT ablation., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) accounts for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Arrhythmias are considered the main cause of mortality, however, there is paucity of data relating to trends of arrhythmia and associated outcomes in HCM patients., Methods: Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2003 to 2014 was analyzed. HCM related hospitalizations were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD9-CM) code 425.1 and 425.11 in all diagnosis fields., Results: Overall, there was an increase in number of hospitalizations related to arrhythmias among HCM patients from 7784 in 2003 to 8380 in 2014 (relative increase 10.5%, P  < 0.001). The increase was most significant in patients ≥ 80 years and those with higher comorbidity burden. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most frequently occurring arrhythmia however atrial flutter (AFL) witnessed the highest rise during the study period. In general, there was a down trend in mortality with the greatest reduction occurring in patients with ventricular fibrillation/flutter (VF/VFL). The mean length of stay was higher if patients had arrhythmia, which led to increased cost of care from $16105 in 2003 to $19310 in 2014 (relative increase 22.9%, P  < 0.001)., Conclusion: There is overall decline in HCM related hospitalizations but rise in hospitalization among HCM patients with arrhythmias. HCM with arrhythmia accounts for significant inpatient mortality coupled with prolonged hospital stay and increased cost of care. However, there is an encouraging downtrend in the mortality most likely because of improved clinical practice, cardiac screening and primary and secondary prevention strategies., Competing Interests: Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.

Background: Heart Failure (HF) is a major driver of the readmissions/penalties in the US. Although extensive literature on rehospitalization attributed to HF, studies to compare outcomes for same-hospital vs. different-hospital readmissions are sparse., Methods: Nationwide Readmission Database from 2010 to 14 utilized for HF-related hospitalization using appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes. 30-day readmissions were classified into two groups: same-hospital and different-hospital. A comparative analysis was conducted focusing on: in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost. Hierarchical two-level modeling and propensity score matching utilized to adjust confounders., Results: 715,993 HF readmissions were identified, of which 21.3% were readmitted to different-hospital. Elderly, females, patients with higher co-morbidities and higher median household income were less likely to be readmitted to different-hospital. Index hospitalizations in a teaching hospital and/or larger hospital were associated with reduced different-hospital readmissions. Readmissions to the different hospital were associated with higher in-hospital mortality (7.7% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.001), higher resource utilization (LOS:7.5 days vs. 6.1 days, p < 0.001 and Cost: $22,602 vs. $13,740, p < 0.001) after adjusting for propensity score match. Similar results were observed with propensity score matching of multiple high-risk subgroups., Conclusion: Resources should be directed towards minimizing different-hospital HF readmissions to improve patient outcomes by identifying the vulnerable subgroup and further tailoring in-hospital and post-discharge care., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Postcardiac surgery cardiogenic shock (PCCS) is seen in 2% to 6% of patients who undergo cardiac surgery. There are limited large-scale data on the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in these patients. This study sought to evaluate the in-hospital mortality, trends, and resource utilization for PCCS admissions with and without MCS. A retrospective cohort of PCCS between 2005 and 2014 with and without the use of temporary MCS was identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Admissions for permanent MCS and heart transplant were excluded. Propensity-matching for baseline characteristics was performed. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes included trends in use, hospital costs and lengths of stay. In the period between 2005 and 2014, there were 132,485 admissions with PCCS, with 51.3% requiring MCS. The intra-aortic balloon pump was the predominant device used with a steady increase in other devices. MCS use for more frequent in younger patients, males and those with higher co-morbidity. There was a decrease in MCS use across all demographic categories and hospital characteristics over time. Older age, female sex, previous cardiovascular morbidity and MCS use were independently predictive of higher in-hospital mortality. In 6,830 propensity-matched pairs, PCCS admissions that required MCS use, had higher in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.4; p<0.001), higher hospital costs ($98,759 ± 907 vs $81,099 ± 698; p<0.001) but not a longer length of stay compared with those without MCS use. In conclusion, in patients with PCCS, this study noted a steady decrease in MCS use. Use of MCS identified PCCS patients at higher risk for in-hospital mortality and greater resource utilization., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background There are limited data on the role of temporary mechanical circulatory support ( MCS ) devices for cardiogenic shock before left ventricular assist device ( LVAD ) surgery. This study sought to evaluate the trends of use and outcomes of MCS in cardiogenic shock before LVAD surgery. Methods and Results This was a retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample (20% stratified sample of US hospitals). This study identified admissions undergoing LVAD surgery with preoperative cardiogenic shock. Admissions for other cardiac surgery and heart transplant were excluded. Temporary MCS was identified using administrative codes. The primary outcome was hospital mortality and secondary outcomes were hospital costs and lengths of stay in admissions with and without MCS use. In this 10-year period, 9753 admissions were identified with 40.6% requiring pre- LVAD MCS . There was a temporal increase in the frequency of cardiogenic shock associated with an increase in non-intra-aortic balloon pump MCS devices. The cohort receiving MCS had greater in-hospital myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, and use of coronary angiography. On multivariable analysis, older age, myocardial infarction, and need for MCS devices were independently predictive of higher in-hospital mortality. In 696 propensity-matched pairs, use of MCS was predictive of higher in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.4 [95% confidence interval 1.1-1.6]; P=0.02) and higher hospital costs, but similar lengths of stay. Conclusions In patients with cardiogenic shock bridged to LVAD therapy, there was a steady increase in preoperative MCS use. Use of MCS identified patients at higher risk for in-hospital mortality and greater resource utilization.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as an attractive option in patients with advance heart failure. Nationwide readmission database 2013 to 2014 was utilized to identify LVAD recipients using ICD-9 procedure code 37.66. The primary outcome was 90-day readmission. Readmission causes were identified using ICD-9 codes in primary diagnosis field. The secondary outcomes were LVAD associated with hospital complications. Hierarchic 2-level logistic models were used to evaluate study outcomes. We identified 4,693 LVAD recipients (mean age 57 years, 76.2% males). Of which 53.9% were readmitted in first 90 days of discharge. Cardiac causes (33.3%), bleeding (21.3%), and infections (12.4%) were leading etiologies of 90-day readmissions. Significant predictors (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p value) of readmission were disposition to nursing facilities (1.33, 1.09 to 1.63, p = 0.01) and longer length of stay (1.01, 1.00 to 1.01, p <0.01). Although private insurance (0.75, 0.66 to 0.86, p <0.01), and self-pay (0.58, 0.42 to 0.81, p <0.01) predicted lower readmissions. Cardiac complications (36.3%), major bleeding (29.8%), and postoperative infections (10.4%) were most common LVAD-related complications. In conclusion, high early readmission rate was observed among LVAD recipients with Cardiac complications, bleeding complications, and infections were driving force for major complications and most of readmissions., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Reducing readmission after catheter ablation (CA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is important., Methods and Results: We utilized National Readmission Data (NRD) 2010-2014. AF was identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic code 427.31 in the primary field, while first CA of AF was identified via ICD-9 -procedure code 37.34. Any admission within 30 or 90 days of index admission was considered a readmission. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to adjust for confounders. The primary outcomes were 30- and 90-day readmissions and the secondary outcome was AF recurrence. In total, 1 128 372 patients with AF were identified from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2014. Of which 37 360 (3.3%) underwent CA. Patients aged ≥65 years and female sex were less likely to receive CA for AF. Overall, 10.9% and 16.5% of CA patients were readmitted within 30 and 90 days post-CA, respectively. Most common causes of readmissions were arrhythmia (AF, atrial flutter), heart failure, pulmonary causes (pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and bleeding complications (gastrointestinal bleed, intracranial hemorrhage). Patients with diabetes mellitus, heart failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic pulmonary and kidney disease, prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), female sex, length of stay ≥2 and disposition to the facility were prone to higher 30- and 90-day readmissions post-CA. Predictors of increase in AF recurrence post-CA were female sex, diabetes mellitus, chronic pulmonary disease, and length of stay ≥2. Trends of 90-day readmission and AF recurrence were found to improve over the study period., Conclusions: We identified several demographic and clinical factors associated with the use of CA in AF, and short-term outcomes of the same, which could potentially help in the patient selection and improve outcomes., (© 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)

Background: Catheter ablation is widely accepted intervention for atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs, but limited data are available regarding contemporary trends in major complications and in-hospital mortality due to the procedure. This study was aimed at exploring the temporal trends of in-hospital mortality, major complications, and impact of hospital volume on frequency of AF ablation-related outcomes., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was utilized to identify the AF patients treated with catheter ablation. In-hospital death and common complications including vascular access complications, cardiac perforation and/or tamponade, pneumothorax, stroke, and transient ischemic attack, were identified using International Classification of Disease (ICD-9-CM) codes., Result: In-hospital mortality rate of 0.15% and overall complication rate of 5.46% were noted among AF ablation recipients (n = 50,969). Significant increase in complications during study period (relative increase 56.37%, P-trend < 0.001) was observed. Cardiac (2.65%), vascular (1.33%), and neurological (1.05%) complications were most common. On multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]; P value), significant predictors of complications were female sex (OR = 1.40; CI = 1.17-1.68; P value < 0.001), high burden of comorbidity as indicated by Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2 (OR = 2.84; CI = 2.29-3.52; P value < 0.001), and low hospital volume (< 50 procedures)., Conclusion: Our study noted a decline in AF ablation-related hospitalizations and complications associated with the procedure. These findings largely reflect shifting trends of outpatient performance of the procedure and increasing safety profile due to improved institutional expertise and catheter techniques., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: In-hospital care may be constrained during the weekend due to lesser resources. Impact on outcomes of weekend versus weekday care in congestive heart failure (HF) needs further study., Methods: Admissions with a primary diagnosis of HF using ICD-9CM codes were studied. 22,287 HF-admissions from Einstein Medical Center (2003-2013) and 2,248,482 HF-admissions from the 2002-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) were analyzed separately. Primary outcomes were 30-day HF-readmission and in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate outcomes., Results: Weekends experienced lower rates of admission and discharge. Mondays experienced the highest admission rate and Fridays experienced the highest discharge rate. Friday was independently associated with highest 30-day HF-readmission rates (Adjusted OR 1.12, CI 1.01-1.23; p=0.02) in addition to risk factors such as African-American race, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease. Within the NIS sample, 85,479 in-hospital deaths (3.8%) were recorded. Compared to weekdays, patients admitted over the weekend had greater comorbidities, higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (15.8% vs. 16.8%; p<0.01), higher Charlson-comorbidity index and underwent less procedures such as echocardiography, right heart catheterization, coronary angiography, coronary revascularization or mechanical circulatory support. Weekend HF admission predicted higher in-hospital mortality (aOR 1.07, 95%CI 1.05-1.08; p<0.01) on multivariate analysis. This relationship was applicable for teaching and non-teaching hospitals., Conclusion: Friday was associated with the highest discharge and 30-day HF-readmission rate. Weekend HF admissions experienced more AMI, had greater comorbidities, received less cardiac procedures and predicted higher in-hospital mortality. Higher weekend mortality may be related to the greater degree of severity of illness among admitted patients., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There are sparse comparative data on in-hospital outcomes and readmission rates in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) who receive systemic thrombolytics versus catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). The study cohort was derived from the National Readmission Database 2013 to 2014, subset of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Systemic and CDT were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The co-primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmissions and secondary outcome was combined in-hospital mortality + gastrointestinal bleed + intracranial hemorrhage. We used propensity score match analysis without replacement using Greedy's algorithm to adjust for possible confounders. We identified a total of 4,426 patients (3,107: systemic thrombolysis and 1,319: CDT) with acute PE who were treated with thrombolysis. In our 2:1 propensity score algorithm, in-hospital mortality was lower in the CDT group (6.12%) versus systemic thrombolytics (14.94%) (odds ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.49, p <0.001). There was also a lower composite secondary outcome (in-hospital mortality + gastrointestinal bleed + intracranial hemorrhage) in patients who received CDT (8.42%) versus those who received systemic thrombolytics (18.13%) (odds ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.53, p <0.001). Thirty-day readmission was lower in patients with CDT group (7.65%) compared with systemic thrombolytics (10.58%, p = 0.009). In conclusion, in-hospital mortality, as well as bleeding during primary admission was significantly lower with CDT compared with systemic thrombolytics for patients with acute PE. There was also significant decrease in rate of readmissions among patients receiving CDT compared with systemic thrombolytics., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Understanding the factors associated with early readmissions following atrial flutter (AFL) ablation is critical to reduce the cost and improving the quality of life in AFL patients., Method: The study cohort was derived from the national readmission database 2013-2014. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis code 427.32 and procedure code 37.34 were used to identify AFL and catheter ablation, respectively. The primary and secondary outcomes were 90-day readmission and complications including in-hospital mortality. Cox proportional regression and hierarchical logistic regression were used to generate the predictors of primary and secondary outcomes respectively. Readmission causes were identified by ICD-9-CM code in primary diagnosis field of readmissions., Result: Readmission rate of 18.19% (n = 1,010 with 1,396 readmissions) was noted among AFL patients (n = 5552). Common etiologies for readmission were heart failure (12.23%), atrial fibrillation (11.13%), atrial flutter (8.93%), respiratory complications (9.42%), infections (7.4%), bleeding (7.39%, including GI bleed-4.09% and intracranial bleed-0.79%) and stroke/TIA (1.89%). Multivariate predictors of 90-day readmission (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval, P value) were preexisting heart failure (1.30, 1.13-1.49, P < 0.001), chronic pulmonary disease (1.37, 1.18-1.58, P < 0.001), anemia (1.23, 1.02-1.49, P = 0.035), malignancy (1.87, 1.40-2.49, P < 0.001), weekend admission compared to weekday admission (1.23, 1.02-1.47, P = 0.029), and length of stay (LOS) ≥5 days (1.39, 1.16-1.65, P < 0.001). Note that 50% of readmissions happened within 30 days of discharge., Conclusion: Cardiac etiologies remain the most common reason for the readmission after AFL ablation. Identifying high risk patients, careful discharge planning, and close follow-up postdischarge can potentially reduce readmission rates in AFL ablation patients., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores are widely used for thromboembolic risk assessment in Atrial Fibrillation(AF) cohort, however further utilization to predict outcomes is understudied., Method: HCUP's National Readmission Data(NRD) 2013 was queried for AF admissions using ICD-9-CM code 427.31 in principal diagnosis field. Patients with mitral valve disease or repair/or replacement were excluded to estimate population with non-valvular AF only. CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc were calculated for each patient. Hierarchical two-level logistic and linear models were used to evaluate study outcomes in terms of mortality, 30 or 90-day readmissions, length of stay(LOS) and cost., Result: Of 116,450 principal non-valvular AF admissions(50.2% female and 43.1% age≥75years) 29,179 patients were readmitted, with total 40,959 readmissions. Higher CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score were associated with increased mortality from 0.4% for CHADS 2 of 0 to 3.2% for score of 6 and from 0.2% for CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc of 0 to 3.2% for score≥8. LOS increased from 2.20days for CHADS 2 of 0 to 5.08days for score of 6, while cost increased from $7888 to $11,151. 30-day readmission rate increased from 8.9% for CHADS 2 of 0 to 26.0% for score of 6, and 90-day readmission rate increased from 15.2% to 39%. CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scoring similarly demonstrated a trend towards increasing readmission rate, LOS and cost for higher scores. Also, similar results were seen in hierarchical modeling with increment of CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores., Conclusion: CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores can be used as quick surrogate markers for predicting outcomes beyond thromboembolic risk. Physician familiarity with these systems makes them easy to use bedside clinical tools to improve outcomes and resource allocation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An estimated half of all heart failure (HF) populations has been categorized to have diastolic HF (DHF), but sparse data are available describing etiologies and predictors of 30-day readmission in DHF population. The study cohort was derived from the National Readmission Database 2013 to 2014, a subset of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. DHF was identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code 428.3x in primary diagnosis field. Readmission etiologies were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code in primary diagnosis field. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. In total, 192,394 patients with DHF were included, of which 40,927 (21.27%) patients were readmitted with total readmissions of 47,056 within 30 days. Predictors of increased readmissions were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.002, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001 to 1.0003, p <0.001), diabetes (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.11, p <0.001), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.21, p <0.001), renal failure (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.25, p <0.001), peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.09, p = 0.002), anemia (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.15, p <0.001), transfusion during index admission (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.23, p <0.001), discharge to the facility (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.16, p <0.001), length of stay >2 days, and Charlson comorbidity index ≥3, whereas obesity (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.85, p <0.001), elective admissions (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.94, p <0.001), and non-Medicare/Medicaid primary payer were predictors of lower readmission rate. Most common etiologies of readmission were acute HF (28.01%), infections (9.54%), acute kidney injury (5.35%), acute respiratory failure (4.86%), and pneumonia (3.92%). In conclusion, DHF population with higher comorbidity burden, longer length of stay, and discharge to facility were prone to increased readmissions, with most common etiologies of readmission being HF, infections, and acute kidney injury., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Heart failure (HF) is the most common discharge diagnosis across the United States, and these patients are particularly vulnerable to readmissions, increasing attention to potential ways to address the problem. The study cohort was derived from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Readmission Data 2013, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. HF was identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Readmission was defined as a subsequent hospital admission within 30 days after discharge day of index admission. Readmission causes were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes in primary diagnosis filed. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission. Hierarchical 2-level logistic models were used to evaluate study outcomes. From a total 301,892 principal admissions (73.4% age ≥65 years and 50.6% men), 55,857 (18.5%) patients were readmitted with a total of 64,264 readmissions during the study year. Among the etiologies of readmission, cardiac causes (49.8%) were most common (HF being most common followed by coronary artery disease and arrhythmias), whereas pulmonary causes were responsible for 13.1% and renal causes for 8.9% of the readmissions. Significant predictors of increased 30-day readmission included diabetes (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p value: 1.06, 1.03 to 1.08, p <0.001), chronic lung disease (1.13, 1.11 to 1.16, p <0.001), renal failure/electrolyte imbalance (1.12, 1.10 to 1.15, p <0.001), discharge to facilities (1.07, 1.04 to 1.09, p <0.001), lengthier hospital stay, and transfusion during index admission. In conclusion, readmission after a hospitalization for HF is common. Although it may be necessary to readmit some patients, the striking rate of readmission demands efforts to further clarify the determinants of readmission and develop strategies in terms of quality of care and care transitions to prevent this adverse outcome., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There are sparse data on the etiologies and predictors of readmission after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study cohort was derived from the National Readmission Data 2013, a subset of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. TAVI was identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The coprimary outcomes were 30-day readmissions and in-hospital mortality during primary admission and readmission. Hierarchical 2-level logistic models were used to evaluate study outcomes. Our analysis included 5,702 (weighted n = 12,703) TAVI procedures. About 1,215 patients were readmitted (weighted n = 2,757) within 30 days during the study year. Significant predictors of readmission included transapical access (OR, 95% CI, p value) (1.23, 1.10 to 1.38, <0.01), diabetes (1.18, 1.06 to 1.32, p 0.004), chronic lung disease (1.32, 1.18 to 1.47, <0.01), renal failure (1.43, 1.24 to 1.65, <0.01), patients discharged to facilities (1.28, 1.14 to 1.43, <0.01), and those who had lengthier hospital stays during primary admission (length of stay >10 days: 3.06, 2.22 to 4.22, <0.01). Female gender (1.39, 1.16 to 1.68, <0.01), blood transfusion (1.88, 1.55 to 2.29, <0.01), use of vasopressors (3.63, 2.50 to 5.28, <0.01), hemodynamic support (6.39, 5.20 to 7.85, <0.01) and percutaneous coronary intervention (1.89, 1.30 to 2.74, 0.01) during primary admission were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Age and transapical access were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality during readmission. In conclusion, heart failure, pneumonia, and bleeding complications are among important etiologies of readmission in patients after TAVI. Patients who underwent transapical TAVI and those with slower in-hospital recovery and co-morbidities such as chronic lung disease and renal failure are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of our study was to study the impact of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) on in-hospital outcomes., Background: There is paucity of data regarding the impact of GPI on the outcomes following peripheral endovascular interventions., Methods: The study cohort was derived from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between the years 2006 and 2011. Peripheral endovascular interventions and GPI utilization were identified using appropriate ICD-9 Diagnostic and procedural codes. Two-level hierarchical multivariate mixed models were created. The study outcomes were: primary (in-hospital mortality and amputation studied separately) and secondary (composite of in-hospital mortality and postprocedural complications). Hospitalization costs were also assessed., Results: GPI utilization (OR, 95% CI, P-value) was independently predictive of lower amputation rates (0.36, 0.27-0.49, <0.001). There was no significant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality (0.59, 0.31-1.14, P 0.117), although GPI use predicted worse secondary outcomes (1.23, 1.03-1.47, 0.023). Following propensity matching, the amputation rate was lower (3.2% vs. 8%, P < 0.001), while hospitalization costs were higher in the cohort that received GPI ($21,091 ± 404 vs. 19,407 ± 133, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Multivariate analysis revealed GPI use in peripheral endovascular interventions to be suggestive of an increase in composite end-point of in-hospital mortality and postprocedural complications, no impact on in-hospital mortality alone, significantly lower rate of amputation, and increase in hospitalization costs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Multivessel coronary artery disease carries significant mortality risk. Comprehensive data on inhospital outcomes following multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) are sparse., Methods: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) between 2006 and 2011 using different International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes. The primary outcome was inhospital all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was a composite of inhospital mortality and periprocedural complications., Results: The overall mortality was low at 0.73% following MVPCI. Multivariate analysis revealed that (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, P value) age (1.63, 1.48-1.79; <.001), female sex (1.19, 1.00-1.42; P = .05), acute myocardial infarction (AMI; 2.97, 2.35-3.74; <.001), shock (17.24, 13.61-21.85; <.001), a higher burden of comorbidities (2.09, 1.32-3.29; .002), and emergent/urgent procedure status (1.67, 1.30-2.16; <.001) are important predictors of primary and secondary outcomes. MVPCI was associated with higher mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost of care as compared to single vessel single stent PCI., Conclusion: MVPCI is associated with higher inhospital mortality, LOS, and hospitalization costs compared to single vessel, single stent PCI. Higher volume hospitals had lower overall postprocedural mortality rate along with shorter LOS and lower hospitalization costs following MVPCI., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Contemporary real-world data on clinical outcomes after utilization of coronary atherectomy are sparse. The study cohort was derived from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from year 2012. Percutaneous coronary interventions including atherectomy were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision diagnostic and procedural codes. Two-level hierarchical multivariate mixed models were created. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality and periprocedural complications; the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Hospitalization costs were also assessed. A total of 107,131 procedures were identified in 2012. Multivariate analysis revealed that atherectomy utilization was independently predictive of greater primary composite outcome of in-hospital mortality and complications (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.22 to 1.47, p <0.001) but was not associated with any significant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality alone (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.99 to 1.52, p 0.063). In the propensity-matched cohort, atherectomy utilization was again associated with a higher rate of complications (12.88% vs 10.99%, p = 0.001), in-hospital mortality +a ny complication (13.69% vs 11.91%, p = 0.003) with a nonsignificant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality alone (3.45% vs 2.88%, p = 0.063) and higher hospitalization costs ($25,341 ± 353 vs $21,984 ± 87, p <0.001). Atherectomy utilization during percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with a higher rate of postprocedural complications without any significant impact on in-hospital mortality., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Contemporary data on clinical outcomes after utilization of atherectomy in lower extremity endovascular revascularization are sparse. The study cohort was derived from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project nationwide inpatient sample database from the year 2012. Peripheral endovascular interventions including atherectomy were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic and procedural codes. The subjects were divided and compared in 2 groups: atherectomy versus no atherectomy. Two-level hierarchical multivariate mixed models were created. The coprimary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and amputation; secondary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality and periprocedural complications. Hospitalization costs were also assessed. Atherectomy utilization (odds ratio, 95% CI, p value) was independently predictive of lower in-hospital mortality (0.46, 0.28 to 0.75, 0.002) and lower amputation rates (0.83, 0.71 to 0.97, 0.020). Atherectomy use was also predictive of significantly lower secondary composite outcome of in-hospital mortality and complications (0.79, 0.69 to 0.90, 0.001). In the propensity-matched cohort, atherectomy utilization was again associated with a lower rate of amputation (11.18% vs 12.92%, p = 0.029), in-hospital mortality (0.71% vs 1.53%, p 0.001), and any complication (13.24% vs 16.09%, p 0.001). However, atherectomy use was also associated with higher costs ($24,790 ± 397 vs $22635 ± 251, p <0.001). Atherectomy use in conjunction with angioplasty (with or without stenting) was associated with improved in-hospital outcomes in terms of lower amputation rates, mortality, and postprocedural complications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the commonest arrhythmias in clinical practice and has major healthcare and economic implications. It is a growing epidemic with prevalence all set to double to 12 million by 2050. After adjusting for other associated conditions, hypertension confers a 1.5- and 1.4-fold risk of developing AF, for men and women respectively. Furthermore, in patients with AF, the presence of hypertension has a cumulative effect on the risk of stroke. Growing evidence suggests reversal or attenuation of various structural and functional changes predisposing to AF with the use of antihypertensive medications. Randomized trials have shown major reduction in the risk of stroke and heart failure with blood pressure reduction. However, such trials are lacking in AF patients specifically. The Joint National Committee-8 guidelines have not addressed the threshold or goal BP for patients with known AF. Furthermore, "J-shaped" or "U-shaped" curves have been noted during hypertension management in patients with AF with published data demonstrating worse outcomes in patients with strict BP control to <110/60 mmhg similar to coronary artery disease. In this review, we outline the available literature on management of hypertension in patients with AF as well as the role of individual anti-hypertensive medications in reducing the incidence of AF Fig. 1., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

Objectives: We studied the trends and predictors of drug eluting stent (DES) utilization from 2006 to 2011 to further expound the inter-hospital variability in their utilization., Background: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2006 and 2011 using ICD-9-CM procedure code, 36.06 (bare metal stent) or 36.07 (drug eluting stents) for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Annual hospital volume was calculated using unique identification numbers and divided into quartiles for analysis., Methods and Results: We built a hierarchical two level model adjusted for multiple confounding factors, with hospital ID incorporated as random effects in the model. About 665,804 procedures (weighted n = 3,277,884) were analyzed. Safety concerns arising in 2006 reduced utilization DES from 90% of all PCIs performed in 2006 to a nadir of 69% in 2008 followed by increase (76% of all stents in 2009) and plateau (75% in 2011). Significant between-hospital variation was noted in DES utilization irrespective of patient or hospital characteristics. Independent patient level predictors of DES were (OR, 95% CI, P-value) age (0.99, 0.98-0.99, <0.001), female(1.12, 1.09-1.15, <0.001), acute myocardial infarction(0.75, 0.71-0.79, <0.001), shock (0.53, 0.49-0.58, <0.001), Charlson Co-morbidity index (0.81,0.77-0.86, <0.001), private insurance/HMO (1.27, 1.20-1.34, <0.001), and elective admission (1.16, 1.05-1.29, <0.001). Highest quartile hospital (1.64, 1.25-2.16, <0.001) volume was associated with higher DES placement., Conclusion: There is significant between-hospital variation in DES utilization and a higher annual hospital volume is associated with higher utilization rate of DES. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Our primary objective was to study postprocedural outcomes and hospitalization costs after peripheral endovascular interventions and the multivariate predictors affecting the outcomes with emphasis on hospital volume. The study cohort was derived from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2006 to 2011). Peripheral endovascular interventions were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic and procedural codes. Annual institutional volumes were calculated using unique identification numbers and then divided into quartiles. Two-level hierarchical multivariate mixed models were created. The primary outcome was inhospital mortality; secondary outcome was a composite of inhospital mortality and postprocedural complications. Amputation rates and hospitalization costs were also assessed. Multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p value) revealed age (1.46, 1.37 to 1.55, p <0.001), female gender (1.28, 1.12 to 1.46, p <0.001), baseline co-morbidity status as depicted by a greater Charlson co-morbidity index score (≥2: 4.32, 3.45 to 5.40, p <0.001), emergent or urgent admissions(2.48, 2.14 to 2.88, p <0.001), and weekend admissions (1.53, 1.26 to 1.86, p <0.001) to be significant predictors of primary outcome. An increasing hospital volume quartile was independently predictive of improved primary (0.65, 0.52 to 0.82, p <0.001 for the fourth quartile) and secondary (0.85, 0.73 to 0.97, 0.02 for the fourth quartile) outcomes and lower amputation rates (0.52, 0.45 to 0.61, p <0.001). A significant reduction hospitalization costs ($-3,889, -5,318 to -2,459, p <0.001) was also seen in high volume centers. In conclusion, a greater hospital procedural volume is associated with superior outcomes after peripheral endovascular interventions in terms of inhospital mortality, complications, and hospitalization costs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The comparative data for angioplasty and stenting for treatment of peripheral arterial disease are largely limited to technical factors such as patency rates with sparse data on clinical outcomes like mortality, postprocedural complications, and amputation. The study cohort was derived from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2006 to 2011. Peripheral endovascular interventions were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) Diagnostic and procedural codes. Two-level hierarchical multivariate mixed models were created. The primary outcome includes inhospital mortality, and secondary outcome was a composite of inhospital mortality and postprocedural complications. Amputation was a separate outcome. Hospitalization costs were also assessed. Endovascular stenting (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p value) was independently predictive of lower composite end point of inhospital mortality and postprocedural complications compared with angioplasty alone (0.96, 0.91 to 0.99, 0.025) and lower amputation rates (0.56, 0.53 to 0.60, <0.001) with no significant difference in terms of inhospital mortality alone. Multivariate analysis also revealed stenting to be predictive of higher hospitalization costs ($1,516, 95% confidence interval 1,082 to 1,950, p <0.001) compared with angioplasty. In conclusion, endovascular stenting is associated with a lower rate of postprocedural complications, lower amputation rates, and only minimal increase in hospitalization costs compared with angioplasty alone., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease and, in particular, aortic stenosis. This has been driven in part by the development of innovative therapeutic options and by an aging patient population. We hypothesized an increase in the number of hospitalizations and the economic burden associated with aortic valve disease (AVD). Using Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2012, AVD-related hospitalizations were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, code 424.1, as the principal discharge diagnosis. Overall AVD hospitalizations increased by 59% from 2000 to 2012. This increase was most significant in patients >80 years and those with higher burden of co-morbidities. The most frequent coexisting conditions were hypertension, heart failure, renal failure, anemia, and diabetes. Overall inhospital mortality of patients hospitalized for AVD was 3.8%, which significantly decreased from 4.5% in 2000 to 3.5% in 2012 (p <0.001). The largest decrease in mortality was seen in the subgroup of patients who had heart failure (62% reduction), higher burden of co-morbidities (58% reduction), and who were >80 years (53% reduction). There was a substantial increase in the cost of hospitalization in the last decade from $31,909 to $38,172 (p <0.001). The total annual cost for AVD hospitalization in the United States increased from $1.3 billion in 2001 to $2.1 billion in 2011 and is expected to increase to nearly 3 billion by 2020. The last decade has witnessed a significant increase in hospitalizations for AVD in the United States. The associated decrease in inhospital mortality and increase in the cost of hospitalization have considerably increased the economic burden on the public health system., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Despite the valuable role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), its impact on clinical outcomes remains debatable. The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of PCIs guided by IVUS versus angiography in the contemporary era on inhospital outcomes in an unrestricted large, nationwide patient population. Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2011. Hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression models were used for categorical dependent variables like inhospital mortality, and hierarchical mixed-effects linear regression models were used for continuous dependent variables like length of hospital stay and cost of hospitalization. A total of 401,571 PCIs were identified, of which 377,096 were angiography guided and 24,475 (weighted n = 119,102) used IVUS. In a multivariate model, significant predictors of higher mortality were increasing age, female gender, higher baseline co-morbidity burden, presence of acute myocardial infarction, shock, weekend and emergent admission, or occurrence of any complication during hospitalization. Significant predictors of reduced mortality were the use of IVUS guidance (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.83; p <0.001) for PCI and higher hospital volumes (third and fourth quartiles). The use of IVUS was also associated with reduced inhospital mortality in subgroup of patients with acute myocardial infarction and/or shock and those with a higher co-morbidity burden (Charlson's co-morbidity index ≥2). In one of the largest studies on IVUS-guided PCIs in the drug-eluting stent era, we demonstrate that IVUS guidance is associated with reduced inhospital mortality, similar length of hospital stay, and increased cost of care and vascular complications compared with conventional angiography-guided PCIs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Patients admitted to today's cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) have increasingly complex medical conditions; consequently, palliative care is becoming an integral component of their care. Although there is a robust body of literature emanating from other intensive care unit settings, there has been less discussion about the role of palliative care in the CICU. This study examined all admissions to the Mount Sinai Hospital CICU from January 1 through December 31, 2012. Of the 1,368 patients admitted, there were 117 CICU patient deaths. End-of-life discussions were carried out in 85 patients (72.6%) who died during that hospital admission; the primary CICU team led these discussions and helped with decision making in >1/2 of them. For the 85 patients who had goals of care (GOC) discussions, there was a higher rate of redirected GOC toward comfort care or no escalation of care (38.8% vs 3.1%, p <0.001) and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, such as mechanical ventilation and vasopressors (23.5% vs 6.3%, p = 0.02) compared with patients for whom no GOC discussions were held. Among patients who had GOC discussions, there was no statistically significant difference for patients who had their mechanical circulatory support, defibrillator, or pacing therapies turned off compared with patients who were not involved in GOC discussions. With the exception of discontinuation of mechanical circulatory support which took place for 6 of the 7 patients in the CICU, end-of-life interventions were split evenly between the palliative care unit and the CICU. There was no difference in CICU length of stay or days to mortality from the time of CICU admission between the 2 groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the effect of palliative care and end-of-life decision making in the CICU. As such, we advocate for increased palliative care education and training among clinicians who are involved in cardiac critical care., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the last decade, the proportion of people with asthma in the USA grew by nearly 15%, with 479,300 hospitalizations and 1.9 million emergency department visits in 2009 alone. The primary objective of our study was to evaluate in-hospital outcomes in patients admitted with asthma exacerbation in terms of mortality, length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization costs., Methods: We queried the HCUP's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2001 and 2010 using the ICD9-CM diagnosis code 493 for asthma (n = 760,418 patients). The NIS represents 20% of all hospitals in the USA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of in-hospital mortality. LOS and hospitalization costs were also analyzed., Results: The overall LOS was 3.9 days and as high as 8.3 days in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. LOS has decreased in recent years, though it continues to be higher than in 2001. The hospitalization cost increased steadily over the study period. The overall in-hospital mortality was 1% and as high as 9.8% in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Multivariate predictors of longer LOS, higher hospitalization costs and in-hospital mortality included increasing age and hospitalizations during the winter months. Private insurance was predictive of lower hospitalization costs and LOS as well as lower in-hospital mortality., Conclusion: Asthma continues to account for significant in-hospital mortality and resource utilization, especially in mechanically ventilated patients. Age, admissions during winter months and the type of insurance are independent predictors of in-hospital outcomes., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Contemporary large-scale data, regarding in-hospital outcomes depending on the types of stent used for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is lacking. We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2006 to 2011 using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure code 36.06 (bare-metal coronary artery stent, BMS) or 36.07 (drug-eluting coronary artery stent, DES) for PCI. All analyses were performed using the designated weighting specified to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to minimize bias. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Wald's chi-square test was used for categorical variables. We built a hierarchical 2 level model adjusted for multiple confounding factors, with hospital identification incorporated as random effects in the model and propensity match analyses were used to adjust confounding variables. A total of 665,804 procedures were analyzed, which were representative of 3,277,884 procedures in the United States. Use of bare-metal stents (BMS) was associated with greater occurrence of in-hospital mortality compared with that of drug-eluting stents (DES; 1.4% vs 0.5%, p <0.001). The association stayed significant after adjustment of various possible confounding factors (odds ratio for DES versus BMS 0.59 [0.54 to 0.64, p <0.001]) and also in propensity matched cohorts (1.2% vs 0.7%, p <0.001). The results continued to be similar in the following high-risk subgroups: diabetes (0.57 [0.50 to 0.64, <0.001]), acute myocardial infarction and/or shock (0.53 [0.49 to 0.57, <0.001]), age >80 (0.66 [0.58 to 0.74, <0.001]), and multivessel PCI (0.55 [0.46 to 0.66, <0.001]). In conclusion, DES use was associated with lesser in-hospital mortality compared with BMS. This outcome benefit was seen across subgroups in various subgroups including elderly, diabetics, and acute myocardial infarction as well as multivessel interventions., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)