In Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients, Too Little CAD Testing

Only a minority of patients hospitalized with heart failure were assessed for ischemic coronary artery disease within 90 days.

The estimated prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with heart failure (HF) is estimated at >50%; its identification may represent an opportunity for beneficial treatments including aspirin, statins, and, when appropriate, revascularization. In an analysis of a large commercial administrative claims database, investigators assessed the frequency of testing for CAD among 67,161 patients admitted with a new diagnosis of HF from 2011 through 2013 (mean age, 74; women, 48%).

Patients' comorbidities included hypertension (83%), hyperlipidemia (47%), diabetes (47%), and baseline CAD (54%). Invasive or noninvasive assessment for ischemia was performed in 17.5% of patients during the index hospitalization and in 27.4% within 90 day…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)