Association between serum potassium levels and short-term mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter co-treated with diuretics and rate- or rhythm-controlling drugs

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Hagengaard ◽  
Peter Søgaard ◽  
Marie Espersen ◽  
Maurizio Sessa ◽  
Peter Enemark Lund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Beta Blocker ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Short Term ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Short Term Mortality ◽  
First Time

Abstract Aims We investigated the association between potassium levels and 90-day all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) patients co-treated with diuretics and rate- or rhythm-controlling drugs. Methods and results During 2000–12, first-time AF patients treated with beta-blockers, amiodarone, sotalol, verapamil, or digoxin combined with any diuretic within 90 days post-AF discharge were included. Following co-treatment, a potassium measurement within 90 days after initiating diuretic treatment was required. Mortality risk associated with potassium <3.5, 3.5–3.7, 3.8–4.0, 4.5–4.7, 4.8–5.0, and >5.0 mmol/L (reference: 4.1–4.4 mmol/L) was assessed using multivariable Cox regression. In total, 14 425 AF patients were included (median age: 78 years; women: 52%). Patients most often received beta-blocker monotherapy (29%), beta-blockers and digoxin combined (25%), digoxin monotherapy (24%), amiodarone monotherapy (3%), and verapamil monotherapy (3%). Increased 90-day mortality risk was associated with <3.5 mmol/L [hazard ratio (HR) 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68–2.50], 3.5–3.7 mmol/L (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05–1.57), 4.5–4.7 mmol/L (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.41), 4.8–5.0 mmol/L (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.14–1.66), and >5.0 mmol/L: (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.53–2.21). Compared with beta-blocker monotherapy, rate- or rhythm-controlling drugs did not modify the association between potassium groups and mortality risk. Conclusion In addition to hypo- and hyperkalaemia, low and high normal range potassium levels were associated with increased 90-day mortality risk in AF patients co-treated with diuretics and rate- or rhythm-controlling drugs. These associations were independent of rate- or rhythm-controlling drugs.

Beta-blocker use and acute exacerbations of COPD following myocardial infarction: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 928-933
Author(s):  
Daniel B Rasmussen ◽  
Uffe Bodtger ◽  
Morten Lamberts ◽  
Christian Torp-Pedersen ◽  
Gunnar Gislason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Beta Blocker ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Acute Exacerbations ◽  
First Time

IntroductionPatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are undertreated with beta-blockers following myocardial infarction (MI), possibly due to fear for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). Is beta-blocker use associated with increased risk of AECOPD in patients following first-time MI?MethodsDanish nationwide study of patients with COPD following hospitalisation for MI from 2003 to 2015. Multivariable, time-dependent Cox regression accounting for varying beta-blocker use based on claimed prescriptions during up to 13 years of follow-up.ResultsA total of 10 884 patients with COPD were discharged after first-time MI. The 1-year rate of AECOPD was 35%, and 65% used beta-blockers at 1 year. Beta-blocker use was associated with a lower risk of AECOPD (multivariable-adjusted HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.74–0.83). This association was independent of the type of MI (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59–0.83 in ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.84 in non-STEMI), presence or absence of heart failure (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.90 and HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.72–0.82, respectively), beta-blocker dosage and type, as well as exacerbation severity. Results were similar in 1118 patients with full data on COPD severity and symptom burden (median forced expiratory volume in 1 s as percentage of predicted was 46 and majority had moderate dyspnoea), and in 1358 patients with severe COPD and frequent AECOPD with a high 1-year rate of AECOPD of 70%.DiscussionBeta-blocker use was not associated with increased risk of AECOPD following MI. This finding was independent of COPD severity, symptom burden and exacerbation history, and supports the safety of beta-blockers in patients with COPD, including high-risk patients with severe disease.

scholarly journals Readmissions, Death and Its Associated Predictors in Heart Failure With Preserved Versus Reduced Ejection Fraction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Ting Tay ◽  
Tiew‐Hwa Katherine Teng ◽  
Oliver Simon ◽  
Wouter Ouwerkerk ◽  
Jasper Tromp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Recurrent Events ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Unique Identifier ◽  
Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽  
Asian Patients ◽  
All Cause Mortality

Background Data on rehospitalizations for heart failure (HF) in Asia are scarce. We sought to determine the burden and predictors of HF (first and recurrent) rehospitalizations and all‐cause mortality in patients with HF and preserved versus reduced ejection fraction (preserved EF, ≥50%; reduced EF, <40%), in the multinational ASIAN‐HF (Asian Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure) registry. Methods and Results Patients with symptomatic (stage C) chronic HF were followed up for death and recurrent HF hospitalizations for 1 year. Predictors of HF hospitalizations or all‐cause mortality were examined with Cox regression for time to first event and other methods for recurrent events analyses. Among 1666 patients with HF with preserved EF (mean age, 68±12 years; 50% women), and 4479 with HF with reduced EF (mean age, 61±13 years; 22% women), there were 642 and 2302 readmissions, with 28% and 45% attributed to HF, respectively. The 1‐year composite event rate for first HF hospitalization or all‐cause death was 11% and 21%, and for total HF hospitalization and all‐cause death was 17.7 and 38.7 per 100 patient‐years in HF with preserved EF and HF with reduced EF, respectively. In HF with preserved EF, consistent independent predictors of these clinical end points included enrollment as an inpatient, Southeast Asian location, and comorbid chronic kidney disease or atrial fibrillation. The same variables were predictive of outcomes in HF with reduced EF except atrial fibrillation, and also included Northeast Asian location, older age, elevated heart rate, decreased systolic blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and non‐usage of beta blockers. Conclusions One‐year HF rehospitalization and mortality rates were high among Asian patients with HF. Predictors of outcomes identified in this study could aid in risk stratification and timely interventions. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01633398.

scholarly journals The Non-linear Relationship Between Normal Range Systolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular or All-Cause Mortality Among Elderly Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Sun ◽  
Xiao-cong Liu ◽  
Guo-dong He ◽  
Kenneth Lo ◽  
Ying-qing Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Cardiovascular Death ◽  
Nutrition Examination Survey ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Cardiovascular Mortality Risk

Purpose: The aim was to explore the association of normal range SBP with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in older adults without hypertension.Methods: Participants aged ≥ 65 years without hypertension and those had an SBP level between 90 and 129 mmHg were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2014). SBP was categorized into: 90–99, 100–109, 110–119, and 120–129 mmHg. Multivariate Cox regression was performed with hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: Of the 1,074 participants, 584 were men (54.38%). Compared with participants with SBP level ranged 110 to 119 mmHg, the HRs for all-cause mortality risk was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.04, 3.23) for SBP level ranged 90 to 99 mm Hg, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.41) for SBP level ranged 100 to 109 mmHg, and 1.30 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.75) for SBP level ranged 120 to 129 mmHg (P for trend = 0.448), and the HR for cardiovascular mortality risk was 3.30 (95% CI: 0.87, 12.54) for SBP level ranged 90 to 99 mmHg, 0.35(95% CI: 0.08, 1.56) for SBP level ranged 100 to 109 mmHg, and 1.75 (95% CI: 0.78, 3.94) for SBP level ranged 120 to 129 mm Hg (P for trend = 0.349) after confounders were adjusted.Conclusion: These were a nonlinear association of normal range SBP level with all-cause and cardiovascular death in older adults.

scholarly journals Trajectories of mortality risk among patients with cancer and associated end-of-life utilization

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi B. Parikh ◽  
Manqing Liu ◽  
Eric Li ◽  
Runze Li ◽  
Jinbo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Short Term Mortality ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
To Receive

AbstractMachine learning algorithms may address prognostic inaccuracy among clinicians by identifying patients at risk of short-term mortality and facilitating earlier discussions about hospice enrollment, discontinuation of therapy, or other management decisions. In the present study, we used prospective predictions from a real-time machine learning prognostic algorithm to identify two trajectories of all-cause mortality risk for decedents with cancer. We show that patients with an unpredictable trajectory, where mortality risk rises only close to death, are significantly less likely to receive guideline-based end-of-life care and may not benefit from the integration of prognostic algorithms in practice.

Abstract 3242: Transient Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation is Associated with an Increased Rate of All-Cause Mortality

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C Becker ◽  
John M Galla ◽  
Ryan P Daly ◽  
Femi Philip ◽  
Stephen O Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Cleveland Clinic ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
First Time

Background : Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia observed following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While the majority of affected patients are discharged in sinus rhythm, little is known about their ultimate outcome. We evaluated the effect of transient post-operative AF (TPAF) on long-term outcome in this population. Methods : The Cleveland Clinic Cardiothoracic Database was used to identify 5,205 consecutive patients who underwent first time, isolated CABG from January 1993 to December 2005. Patients diagnosed with post-operative AF (n=1560, 30%) were separated into two groups: transient AF (confirmed AF with discharge rhythm of sinus; n=1490, 28.6%) and persistent AF (confirmed AF with discharge rhythm of AF; n=70, 1.3%). These groups were compared to those patients that did not develop post-operative AF (n=3645). Endpoints of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke were evaluated using the Chi squared and Fischer Exact tests. Long-term survival was evaluated with multivariate Cox proportional hazards methods to account for baseline differences. Results : Overall rates of 1 year mortality, MI and stroke were 12.5, 2.2, and 3.3 % respectively. TPAF was associated with an increased risk of death at 1 year as compared to patients with persistent AF (6.4 vs 2.9%; p<0.001) or without post-operative AF (6.4 vs 2.7%; p<0.001) but was not associated with increased risk of stroke or MI. Multivariate analysis identified TPAF as an independent predictor of both death (HR 1.93 95% CI [1.45, 2.56]; p<0.001) and the combination of death, MI, or stroke (1.8 [1.37, 2.36]; p<0.001). Use of beta-blockers (0.52 [0.34, 0.80]; p<0.003) and statins (0.26 [0.11, 0.64]; p<0.003), but not antiplatlet agents or warfarin, were associated with a reduced risk of death. Conclusion : In those undergoing first-time, isolated CABG, the presence of TPAF identifies patients at increased risk for all-cause mortality. In addition, the use of post-operative statins and beta-blockers appear to reduce this risk. These data suggest that morbidity unrelated to stroke or MI are responsible for the poor outcome in this population and warrant prospective investigation.

scholarly journals Mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation with or without heart failure following hospital discharge

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Kartas ◽  
A Samaras ◽  
D Vasdeki ◽  
G Dividis ◽  
G Fotos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tertiary Center ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Endpoint Event ◽  
Secondary Endpoints ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Abstract Background The association of heart failure (HF) with the prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To assess all-cause mortality in patients following hospitalization with comorbid AF in relation to the presence of HF. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 977 patients discharged from the cardiology ward of a single tertiary center between 2015 and 2018 and followed for a median of 2 years. The association between HF and the primary endpoint of death from any cause was assessed using multivariable Cox regression. Results HF was documented in 505 (51.7%) of AF cases at discharge, including HFrEF (17.9%), HFmrEF (16.5%) and HFpEF (25.2%). A primary endpoint event occurred in 212 patients (42%) in the AF-HF group and in 86 patients (18.2%) in the AF-no HF group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65 to 3.13; P&lt;0.001). HF was associated with a higher risk of the composite secondary endpoint of death from any cause, AF or HF-specific hospitalization (aHR 1.69; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.16 p&lt;0.001). The associations of HF with the primary and secondary endpoints were significant and similar for AF-HFrEF, AF-HFmrEF, AF-HFpEF. Conclusions HF was present in half of the patients discharged from the hospital with comorbid AF. The presence of HF on top of AF was independently associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality than did absence of HF, irrespective of HF subtype. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals POS0141 ACTIVE SCREENING FOR GOUT IDENTIFIES A LARGER CARDIOVASCULAR POPULATION AT HIGH MORTALITY RISK

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 282.2-282
Author(s):  
S. Ruiz-Simón ◽  
I. Calabuig ◽  
M. Gomez-Garberi ◽  
M. Andrés
Keyword(s):  
High Mortality ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
High Mortality Risk ◽  
Active Screening ◽  
Tertiary Centre ◽  
All Cause Mortality

Background:We have recently revealed by active screening that about a third of gout cases in the cardiovascular population is not registered in records [1], highlighting the value of field studies.Objectives:To assess whether gout screening in patients hospitalized for cardiovascular events may also help identify patients at higher risk of mortality after discharge.Methods:A retrospective cohort field study, carried out in 266 patients admitted for cardiovascular events in the Cardiology, Neurology and Vascular Surgery units of a tertiary centre in Spain. The presence of gout was established by records review and face-to-face interview, according to the 2015 ACR/EULAR criteria. The occurrence of mortality during follow-up and its causes were obtained from electronic medical records. The association between gout and subsequent mortality was tested using Cox regression models. Whether covariates affect the gout-associated mortality was also studied.Results:Of 266 patients recruited at baseline, 17 were excluded due to loss to follow-up (>6mo), leaving a final sample of 249 patients (93.6%). Thirty-six cases (14.5% of the sample) were classified as having gout: twenty-three (63.9%) had a previously registered diagnosis, while 13 (36.1%) had not and was established by the interview.After discharge, the mean follow-up was 19.9 months (SD ±8.6), with a mortality incidence of 21.6 deaths per 100 patient-years, 34.2% by cardiovascular causes.Gout significantly increased the risk of subsequent all-cause mortality, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.01 (95%CI 1.13 to 3.58). When the analysis was restricted to gout patients with registered diagnosis, the association remained significant (HR 2.89; 95%CI 1.54 to 5.41).The adjusted HR for all-cause mortality associated with gout was 1.86 (95% CI 1.01-3.40). Regarding the causes of death, both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular were numerically increased.Secondary variables rising the mortality risk in those with gout were age (HR 1.07; 1.01 to 1.13) and coexistent renal disease (HR 4.70; 1.31 to 16.84), while gender, gout characteristics and traditional risk factors showed no impact.Conclusion:Gout was confirmed an independent predictor of subsequent all-cause mortality in patients admitted for cardiovascular events. Active screening for gout allowed identifying a larger population at high mortality risk, which may help tailor optimal management to minimize the cardiovascular impact.References:[1]Calabuig I, et al. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020 Sep 29;7:560.Disclosure of Interests:Silvia Ruiz-Simón: None declared, Irene Calabuig: None declared, Miguel Gomez-Garberi: None declared, Mariano Andrés Speakers bureau: Grunenthal, Menarini, Consultant of: Grunenthal, Grant/research support from: Grunenthal

scholarly journals Cardiovascular risk after hospitalisation for unexplained syncope and orthostatic hypotension

Heart ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekrem Yasa ◽  
Fabrizio Ricci ◽  
Martin Magnusson ◽  
Richard Sutton ◽  
Sabina Gallina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Orthostatic Hypotension ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Unexplained Syncope ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship of hospital admissions due to unexplained syncope and orthostatic hypotension (OH) with subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality.MethodsWe analysed a population-based prospective cohort of 30 528 middle-aged individuals (age 58±8 years; males, 40%). Adjusted Cox regression models were applied to assess the impact of unexplained syncope/OH hospitalisations on cardiovascular events and mortality, excluding subjects with prevalent cardiovascular disease.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 15±4 years, 524 (1.7%) and 504 (1.7%) participants were hospitalised for syncope or OH, respectively, yielding 1.2 hospital admissions per 1000 person-years for each diagnosis. Syncope hospitalisations increased with age (HR, per 1 year: 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.09), higher systolic blood pressure (HR, per 10 mm Hg: 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12), antihypertensive treatment (HR: 1.26, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.59), use of diuretics (HR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.38) and prevalent cardiovascular disease (HR: 1.59, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.23), whereas OH hospitalisations increased with age (HR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.12) and prevalent diabetes (HR: 1.82, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.70). After exclusion of 1399 patients with prevalent cardiovascular disease, a total of 473/464 patients were hospitalised for unexplained syncope/OH before any cardiovascular event. Hospitalisation for unexplained syncope predicted coronary events (HR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.30), heart failure (HR: 2.24, 95% CI 1.65 to 3.04), atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.26), aortic valve stenosis (HR: 2.06, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.32), all-cause mortality (HR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.37) and cardiovascular death (HR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.42). OH-hospitalisation predicted stroke (HR: 1.66, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.23), heart failure (HR: 1.78, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.62), atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.89, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.41) and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.30).ConclusionsPatients discharged with the diagnosis of unexplained syncope or OH show higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality with only partial overlap between these two conditions.

scholarly journals A machine learning approach to predicting short-term mortality risk in patients starting chemotherapy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymen A. Elfiky ◽  
Maximilian J. Pany ◽  
Ravi B. Parikh ◽  
Ziad Obermeyer
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Palliative Chemotherapy ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Machine Learning Model ◽  
Machine Learning Approach ◽  
Short Term Mortality ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTBackgroundCancer patients who die soon after starting chemotherapy incur costs of treatment without benefits. Accurately predicting mortality risk from chemotherapy is important, but few patient data-driven tools exist. We sought to create and validate a machine learning model predicting mortality for patients starting new chemotherapy.MethodsWe obtained electronic health records for patients treated at a large cancer center (26,946 patients; 51,774 new regimens) over 2004-14, linked to Social Security data for date of death. The model was derived using 2004-11 data, and performance measured on non-overlapping 2012-14 data.Findings30-day mortality from chemotherapy start was 2.1%. Common cancers included breast (21.1%), colorectal (19.3%), and lung (18.0%). Model predictions were accurate for all patients (AUC 0.94). Predictions for patients starting palliative chemotherapy (46.6% of regimens), for whom prognosis is particularly important, remained highly accurate (AUC 0.92). To illustrate model discrimination, we ranked patients initiating palliative chemotherapy by model-predicted mortality risk, and calculated observed mortality by risk decile. 30-day mortality in the highest-risk decile was 22.6%; in the lowest-risk decile, no patients died. Predictions remained accurate across all primary cancers, stages, and chemotherapies—even for clinical trial regimens that first appeared in years after the model was trained (AUC 0.94). The model also performed well for prediction of 180-day mortality (AUC 0.87; mortality 74.8% in the highest risk decile vs. 0.2% in the lowest). Predictions were more accurate than data from randomized trials of individual chemotherapies, or SEER estimates.InterpretationA machine learning algorithm accurately predicted short-term mortality in patients starting chemotherapy using EHR data. Further research is necessary to determine generalizability and the feasibility of applying this algorithm in clinical settings.

scholarly journals Health Impact Assessment of PM2.5 attributable mortality from the September 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yisi Liu ◽  
Elena Austin ◽  
Jianbang Xiang ◽  
Tim Gould ◽  
Tim Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Health Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Attributable Mortality ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Wildfire Smoke ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Short Term Mortality

AbstractMajor wildfires that started in the summer of 2020 along the west coast of the U.S. have made PM2.5 concentrations in cities in this region rank among the highest in the world. Regions of Washington were impacted by active wildfires in the state, and by aged wood smoke transported from fires in Oregon and California. This study aims to assess the population health impact of increased PM2.5 concentrations attributable to the wildfire. Average daily PM2.5 concentrations for each county before and during the 2020 Washington wildfire episode were obtained from the Washington Department of Ecology. Utilizing previously established associations of short-term mortality for PM2.5, we estimated excess mortality for Washington attributable to the increased PM2.5 levels. On average, PM2.5 concentrations increased 91.7 μg/m3 during the wildfire episode. Each week of wildfire smoke exposures was estimated to result in 87.6 (95% CI: 70.9, 103.1) cases of increased all-cause mortality, 19.1 (95% CI: 10.0, 28.2) increased cardiovascular disease deaths, and 9.4 (95% CI: 5.1, 13.5) increased respiratory disease deaths. Because wildfire smoke episodes are likely to continue impacting the Pacific Northwest in future years, continued preparedness and mitigations to reduce exposures to wildfire smoke are necessary to avoid this excess health burden.

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