Incident AF in HF is linked to a ~4.8-fold increase in 30-day inpatient contacts.
Why the study?
Atrial fibrillation imposes a major burden on healthcare services, but the impact of incident AF on hospital utilization in patients with heart failure remained unclear.
Does incident atrial fibrillation increase hospital utilization in patients with heart failure?
Population
4463 HF patients with incident AF and 17 802 matched referents without AF in Denmark
Comparison
Incident AF vs matched referents without AF
Design
Nationwide matched-cohort study
Follow-up
1 year
Key result
Incident atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients was associated with a 4.8-fold increase in the cumulative incidence of inpatient contacts within 30 days (95% CI 4.1-5.6).
Authors
Discussion
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Overview
Incident AF in HF signals need for heightened short-term monitoring to anticipate contacts; leaves open whether prevention alters utilization.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=22,265)
Multicenter
Yes
Structured PICO
Does incident atrial fibrillation increase hospital utilization in patients with heart failure?
P
Population
22,265 heart failure patients from the Danish Heart Failure Registry (4,463 with incident atrial fibrillation diagnosed between 2008 and 2018, and 17,802 matched referents without atrial fibrillation)
I
Intervention
Incident atrial fibrillation
C
Comparator
Matched referents without atrial fibrillation
O
Outcome
Hospital utilization (cumulative incidence of inpatient and outpatient contacts, total numbers of contacts, and proportion of bed-day use) at 30 days and 1 yearhard clinical
Main Result
Effect estimate: Incidence ratio 4.8 (95% CI 4.1-5.6)
Incident atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients is associated with significantly increased hospital utilization, including earlier and more frequent hospital contacts and bed-days.
Cite This Study
Vinter et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=22,265). Incident atrial fibrillation vs. Matched referents without atrial fibrillation was evaluated on Cumulative incidence of inpatient contacts within 30 days (Incidence ratio 4.8, 95% CI 4.1-5.6). Incident atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients was associated with a 4.8-fold increase in the cumulative incidence of inpatient contacts within 30 days (95% CI 4.1-5.6).