Health inequalities in hospitalisation and mortality in patients diagnosed with heart failure in a universal healthcare coverage system

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Garcia ◽  
Rosa Abellana ◽  
Jordi Real ◽  
José-Luis del Val ◽  
Jose Maria Verdú-Rotellar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Universal Healthcare ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Healthcare Coverage ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Universal Healthcare Coverage

BackgroundInformation regarding the effect of social determinants of health on heart failure (HF) community-dwelling patients is scarce. We aimed to analyse the presence of socioeconomic inequalities, and their impact on hospitalisations and mortality, in patients with HF attended in a universal healthcare coverage system.MethodsA retrospective cohort study carried out in patients with HF aged >40 and attended at the 53 primary healthcare centres of the Institut Català de la Salut in Barcelona (Spain). Socioeconomic status (SES) was determined by an aggregated deprivation index (MEDEA). Cox proportional hazard models and competing-risks regression based on Fine and Gray’s proportional subhazards were performed to analyse hospitalisations due to of HF and total mortality that occurred between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012.ResultsMean age was 78.1 years (SD 10.2) and 56% were women. Among the 8235 patients included, 19.4% died during the 4 years of follow-up and 27.1% were hospitalised due to HF. A gradient in the risk of hospitalisation was observed according to SES with the highest risk in the lowest socioeconomic group (sHR 1.46, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.68). Nevertheless, overall mortality did not differ among the socioeconomic groups.ConclusionsIn spite of finding a gradient that linked socioeconomic deprivation to an increased risk of hospitalisation, there were no differences in mortality regarding SES in a universal healthcare coverage system.

scholarly journals Why does healthcare utilisation differ between socioeconomic groups in OECD countries with universal healthcare coverage? A protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e054806
Author(s):  
Iris Meulman ◽  
Ellen Uiters ◽  
Johan Polder ◽  
Niek Stadhouders
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Scientific Article ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Universal Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Coverage ◽  
Universal Healthcare Coverage

IntroductionEven in advanced economies with universal healthcare coverage (UHC), a social gradient in healthcare utilisation has been reported. Many individual, community and healthcare system factors have been considered that may be associated with the variation in healthcare utilisation between socioeconomic groups. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the complex interaction and relative contribution of these factors to socioeconomic differences in healthcare utilisation. In order to improve understanding of why utilisation patterns differ by socioeconomic status (SES), the proposed systematic review will explore the main mechanisms that have been examined in quantitative research.Methods and analysisThe systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines and will be conducted in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Econlit and PsycInfo. Articles examining factors associated with the differences in primary and specialised healthcare utilisation between socioeconomic groups in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with UHC will be included. Further restrictions concern specifications of outcome measures, factors of interest, study design, population, language and type of publication. Data will be numerically summarised, narratively synthesised and thematically discussed. The factors will be categorised according to existing frameworks for barriers to healthcare access.Ethics and disseminationNo primary data will be collected. No ethics approval is required. We intend to publish a scientific article in an international peer-reviewed journal.

scholarly journals Evidences supporting the inclusion of immigrants in the universal healthcare coverage

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-787
Author(s):  
Albert Prats-Uribe ◽  
Sílvia Brugueras ◽  
Dolors Comet ◽  
Dolores Álamo-Junquera ◽  
LLuïsa Ortega Gutiérrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Matched Sample ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Universal Healthcare ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Healthcare Coverage ◽  
Universal Healthcare Coverage

Abstract In 2012, the Spanish government enforced a healthcare exclusion policy against undocumented immigrants. The newly elected government has recently derogated this policy. To analyze how this decree could have affected population health, we looked at primary health patients who would have been excluded and compared with a matched sample of non-excluded patients. Potentially excluded patients had decreased odds of: depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidaemia, heart failure and hypertension while diabetes mellitus rates were similar to non-excluded. Infectious diseases were more frequent in potentially excluded population (HIV, tuberculosis and syphilis). The exclusion of patients impedes the control of infectious diseases at a community level.

scholarly journals Association of Mean and Variability of HbA1c with Heart Failure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1401
Author(s):  
You-Ting Lin ◽  
Wei-Lun Huang ◽  
Hung-Pin Wu ◽  
Man-Ping Chang ◽  
Ching-Chu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Hba1c Level ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Good Glycemic Control ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Hba1c Variability

Heart failure (HF) is a common presentation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Previous studies revealed that the HbA1c level is significantly associated with HF. However, little is known about the association between HbA1c variability and HF. We aimed to evaluate the association of mean and variability of HbA1c with HF in patients with T2DM. Using Diabetes Share Care Program data, patients with T2DM who had mean HbA1c (HbA1c-Mean), and HbA1c variability (tertiles of HbA1c-SD and HbA1c-adjSD) within 12–24 months during 2001–2008 were included. The cutoffs of HbA1c-Mean were set at <7%, 7–7.9%, and ≥8%. Hazard ratios (HRs) for HF during 2008–2018 were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 3824 patients were included, of whom 315 patients developed HF during the observation period of 11.72 years. The associated risk of HF increased with tertiles of HbA1c variability and cutoffs of HbA1c-Mean. In mutually adjusted models, HbA1c-Mean showed a consistent dose-response association with HF, while the association of HbA1c variability with HF disappeared. Among patients with HbA1c-Mean <7%, the associated risk of HF in patients with HbA1c variability in tertile 3 was comparable to patients with HbA1c-Mean ≥8%. In conclusion, mean HbA1c was an independent predictor of HF and not explained by HbA1c variability. In addition to absolute HbA1c level, targeting on stability of HbA1c in patients with good glycemic control was also important for the development of HF in patients with T2DM.

P1818Descending aortic thoracic diameter: a risk marker for major adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O L Rueda Ochoa ◽  
L R Bons ◽  
S Rohde ◽  
K E L Ghoud ◽  
R Budde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Mortality ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic diameters have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. However, limited evidence regarding the role of thoracic aortic diameters as risk markers for major cardiovascular outcomes among women and men exist. Purpose To evaluate the independent associations between crude and indexed ascending and descending aortic (AA and DA) diameters with major cardiovascular outcomes among women and men and to provide optimal cutoff values associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Methods and results 2178 women and men ≥55 years from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study underwent multi-detector CT scan of thorax. Crude diameters of the AA and DA were measured and indexed by height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI). Incidence of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were evaluated during 13 years of follow-up. Weight-, BSA-, or BMI-indexed AA diameters showed significant associations with total or cardiovascular mortality in both sexes and height-indexed values showed association with HF in women. Crude AA diameters were associated with stroke in men and HF in women. For DA, crude and almost all indexed diameters showed significant associations with either stroke, HF, cardiovascular or total mortality in women. Only weight-, BSA- and BMI-indexed values were associated with total mortality in men. For crude DA diameter, the risk for stroke increased significantly at the 75th percentile among men while the risks for HF and cardiovascular mortality increased at the 75th and 85th percentiles respectively in women. Conclusions Our study suggests a role for descending thoracic aortic diameter as a marker for increased cardiovascular risk, in particular for stroke, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality among women. The cut points for increased risk for several of cardiovascular outcomes were below the 95th percentile of the distribution of aortic diameters.

scholarly journals Colorectal cancer survival among Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA) population 2009–2017: retrospective study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesnad Alyabsi ◽  
Fouad Sabatin ◽  
Majed Ramadan ◽  
Abdul Rahman Jazieh
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Distant Metastasis ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
National Guard ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most diagnosed cancer among males and third among females in Saudi Arabia, with up to two-third diagnosed at advanced stage. The objective of our study was to estimate CRC survival and determine prognostic factors. Methods Ministry of National Guard- Health Affairs (MNG-HA) registry data was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with CRC between 2009 and 2017. Cases were followed until December 30th, 2017 to assess their one-, three-, and five-year CRC-specific survivals. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess survival from CRC. Results A total of 1012 CRC patients were diagnosed during 2009–2017. Nearly, one-fourth of the patients presented with rectal tumor, 42.89% with left colon and 33.41% of the cases were diagnosed at distant metastasis stage. The overall one-, three-, and five-year survival were 83, 65 and 52.0%, respectively. The five-year survival was 79.85% for localized stage, 63.25% for regional stage and 20.31% for distant metastasis. Multivariate analyses showed that age, diagnosis period, stage, nationality, basis of diagnosis, morphology and location of tumor were associated with survival. Conclusions Findings reveal poor survival compared to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) population. Diagnoses at late stage and no surgical and/or perioperative chemotherapy were associated with increased risk of death. Population-based screening in this population should be considered.

Depression and Dementia: The Role of Cortisol and Vascular Brain Lesions. AGES-Reykjavik Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lotte Gerritsen ◽  
Emma L. Twait ◽  
Palmi V. Jonsson ◽  
Vilmundur Gudnason ◽  
Lenore J. Launer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Mri ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models

Background: Late-life depression (LLD) is related to an increased risk of developing dementia; however, the biological mechanisms explaining this relationship remain unclear. Objective: To determine whether the relationship between LLD and dementia can be best explained by the glucocorticoid cascade or vascular hypothesis. Methods: Data are from 4,354 persons (mean age 76±5 years) without dementia at baseline from the AGES-Reykjavik Study. LLD was assessed with the MINI diagnostic interview (current and remitted major depressive disorder [MDD]) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Morning and evening salivary cortisol were collected (glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis). White matter hyperintensities (WMH; vascular hypothesis) volume was assessed using 1.5T brain MRI. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we estimated the associations of LLD, cortisol levels, and WMH volume with incident all-cause dementia, AD, and non-AD dementia. Results: During 8.8±3.2 years of follow-up, 843 persons developed dementia, including 397 with AD. Current MDD was associated with an increased risk of developing all-cause dementia (HR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.66–2.67), with risks similar for AD and non-AD, while remitted MDD was not (HR = 1.02; 95% CI 0.55–1.49). Depressive symptoms were also associated with increased risk of dementia, in particular non-AD dementias. Higher levels of evening cortisol increased risk of dementia, but this was independent of MDD. WMH partially explained the relation between current MDD and dementia risk but remained increased (HR = 1.71; 95% CI 1.34–2.08). Conclusion: The current study highlights the importance of LLD in developing dementia. However, neither the glucocorticoid cascade nor the vascular hypotheses fully explained the relation between depression and dementia.

Abstract 16571: The Potential Impact of Expanding Cardiac Rehabilitation Coverage in Heart Failure: Insights From Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob P Kelly ◽  
Brad G Hammill ◽  
Jacob A Doll ◽  
G. Michael Felker ◽  
Paul A Heidenreich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
P Value ◽  
Proportional Hazard ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Expanded Criteria ◽  
Get With The Guidelines

Background: In February 2014, coverage for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) was expanded by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to include patients with chronic symptomatic heart failure (HF) on optimal medical therapy with ejection fraction <35%. Thus, we sought to characterize the patient population newly eligible for CR based on the expanded criteria and their associated outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the Get With The Guidelines-HF registry linked to Medicare claims data from 2008-2012 to assess three groups of patients age 65 or older: previously eligible (due to prior MI, CABG, stable angina, heart valve surgery, or PCI in the previous 12 months), newly eligible, and ineligible for CR. Ineligible patients met neither criteria. Incidence rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association of events. Results: Among 51,665 HF patients discharged alive, 27.2% (n=14,053) were newly eligible and 14.5% were previously eligible for CR (n=7477). Newly eligible patients were more likely to be black, have atrial fibrillation and EF < 35%, while having fewer previous hospitalizations than patients previously eligible for CR. Newly eligible and ineligible patients had similar risk for 1-year mortality compared with those previously eligible (adjusted Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.88-1.02, p-value=0.13 and [HR] 1.05, 95% [CI] 0.98-1.13, p-value=0.17, respectively). However, newly eligible and ineligible patients had lower risk for 1-year readmission compared with those previously eligible (adjusted [HR] 0.89, 95% [CI] 0.85-0.93, p-value<0.001 and [HR] 0.94, 95% [CI] 0.90- 0.98, p-value<0.001). Conclusions: The extension of coverage for cardiac rehabilitation has tripled the potentially eligible HF population. As these newly eligible patients are at high risk for adverse outcomes, cardiac rehabilitation should be considered.

The impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on hospital readmission in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-129
Author(s):  
Michael Seman ◽  
Bill Karanatsios ◽  
Koen Simons ◽  
Roman Falls ◽  
Neville Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Heart Failure ◽  
Hospital Readmission ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Hospital Administrative ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Aims Health services worldwide face the challenge of providing care for increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. The aims of this study were to determine whether CALD patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (HF) are at increased risk of rehospitalization and emergency department (ED) visitation after discharge, compared to non-CALD patients, and within CALD patients to ascertain the impact of limited English proficiency (LEP) on outcomes. Methods and results A cohort of 1613 patients discharged from hospital following an episode of acute HF was derived from hospital administrative datasets. CALD status was based on both country of birth and primary spoken language. Comorbidities, HF subtype, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and hospital readmission and ED visitation incidences, were compared between groups. A Cox proportional hazard model was employed to adjust for potential confounders. The majority of patients were classified as CALD [1030 (64%)]. Of these, 488 (30%) were designated as English proficient (CALD-EP) and 542 (34%) were designated CALD-LEP. Compared to non-CALD, CALD-LEP patients exhibited a greater cumulative incidence of HF-related readmission and ED visitation, as expressed by an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [1.27 (1.02–1.57) and 1.40 (1.18–1.67), respectively]; this difference was not significant for all-cause readmission [adjusted HR 1.03 (0.88–1.20)]. CALD-EP showed a non-significant trend towards increased rehospitalization and ED visitation. Conclusion This study suggests that CALD patients with HF, in particular those designated as CALD-LEP, have an increased risk of HF rehospitalization and ED visitation. Further research to elucidate the underlying reasons for this disparity are warranted.

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