Impact of Readmissions on Long-term Mortality of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Background: Readmissions after cardiac surgery are a relevant issue for patients and the health care system in general. There are limited data about the relationship between readmissions after cardiac surgery and patient prognosis, or their impact on longterm mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and the predictive factors of 30day readmissions after cardiac surgery and their association with a longterm mortality. Methods: The Division of Cardiac Surgery computerized database was retrospectively analyzed. The analysis included all consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery, discharged during the period between June 2010 and May 2013. Patients undergoing heart transplantation were excluded from the study. Readmission was defined as unplanned hospital admission within 30 days following discharge. Cardiovascular or non cardiovascular death 30 days after discharge and until the end of follow up period was considered as long term mortality. Results: A total of 1,327 patients were included in the study and 184 (13.9%) were readmitted to hospital. Median follow up was 826 days (IQR 581 to 1,085 days). Readmitted patients presented higher rate of comorbidities, as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.5% vs. 2.1%; p=0.002) and heart failure (12% vs. 6%; p=0.0064). Also, in this group there was greater incidence of postoperative complications, as atrial fibrillation (35% vs. 19%; p<0.0001) and low cardiac output (9.2% vs. 4%; p=0.004). Infections (not mediastinitis) (25%), arrhythmias and permanent pacemaker implantation (15.2%), heart failure (13%), pleural effusion (6.5%), pericardial effusion (3.8%), fever of unknown origin (3.26%) and mediastinitis (6%), among others, were the most frequent causes of readmission. Logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with greater risk of readmission were cardiac surgery not involving coronary artery bypass grafting (OR 2.29, 95 % CI 1.553.37; p <0.0001), history of pulmonary disease (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.326.6; p=0.0084), atrial fibrillation (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.34 2.94; p=0.0005) and body mass index (OR 1.046; 95% CI 1.0081.085; p=0.017). Considering the primary endpoint, readmis sions were significantly associated with increased mortality at 1 and 3 years: 8.7% vs. 2.3%; p <0.0001 and 13.6% vs. 4.2%; p<0.0001, respectively. Conclusions: Readmission within 30 days after cardiac surgery is significantly associated with longterm mortality. The implementation of adequate care measures could reduce the probability of readmissions and, hence, improve the prognosis of this group of patients.Introducción: Las reinternaciones luego de cirugía cardíaca son un problema relevante para los pacientes y para el sistema de salud en general. Existen pocos datos respecto de la relación entre las reinternaciones después de cirugía cardíaca y el pronóstico evolutivo de los pacientes, ni su impacto en la mortalidad alejada. Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia, factores predictores de las reinternaciones a 30 días luego de cirugía cardíaca y su asociación con la mortalidad alejada. Material y Métodos: Se analizó en forma retrospectiva la base de datos informatizada del servicio de cirugía cardíaca. En el análisis se incluyeron a todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardíaca en forma consecutiva, dados de alta en el período comprendido entre junio del 2010 y mayo del 2013. Se excluyeron a los pacientes operados de trasplante cardíaco. Reinternaíaco. Reinternaaco. Reinternación se definió como el reingreso hospitalario no planificado dentro de los 30 días transcurridos desde el egreso hospitalario. Mortalidad alejada fue considerada la muerte de causa cardiovascular o no cardiovascular a partir del día 30 posterior al alta hasta finalizar el seguimiento. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1327 pacientes, de los cuales se reinternaron 184 (13,9%). La mediana de seguimiento fue de 826 días (IQ 581 a 1085 días). Los pacientes que se reinternaron presentaban mayor tasa de comorbilidades como EPOC (6,5% vs. 2,1%; p 0,002) e insuficiencia cardíaca (12% vs. 6%; p 0,0064). También, en este grupo se observó mayor incidencia de las complicaciones posoperatorias de fibrilación auricular (35% vs. 19%; p < 0,0001) y de bajo gasto cardiaco posoperatorio (9,2% vs. 4%; p 0,004). Entre las causas más frecuentes de las reinternaciones se identificaron a las infecciones (no mediastinitis) (25%), arritmias e implante de MCP (15,2%), insuficiencia cardíaca (13%), derrame pleural (6,5%), derrame pericárdico (3,8%), fiebre sin foco establecido (3,26%) y mediastinitis (6%), entre otras. Según el análisis de regresión logística los factores que se asociaban con mayor riesgo de reinternación fueron la cirugía cardíaca no CRM (IC 95% 1,55,37; p<0,0001), antecedentes de enfermedad respiratoria (IC 95% 1,326,6; p 0,0084), fibrilación auricular (OR 1,99; IC 95% 1,342,94; p 0,0005) e IMC (OR 1,046; IC 95% 1,0081,085; p 0,017). En cuanto al punto final, las reinternaciones se asociaron en forma significativa con aumento en la mortalidad a 1 y 3 años: 8,7% vs. 2,3%; p<0,0001 y 13,6% vs. 4,2%, p<0,0001, respectivamente. Conclusiónes: La reinternación a 30 días luego de cirugía cardíaca se asocia en forma significativa con mayor mortalidad alejada de los pacientes operados. La implementación de las medidas asistenciales adecuadas podría reducir la probabilidad de las reinternaciones, y por ende, mejorar el pronóstico de este grupo de paciente

Fish oil and postoperative atrial fibrillation : the Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Prevention of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation (OPERA) randomized trial

Context: Postoperative atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) is one of the most common complications of cardiac surgery and significantly increases morbidity and health care utilization. A few small trials have evaluated whether long-chain n-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce postoperative AF, with mixed results. Objective: To determine whether perioperative n-3-PUFA supplementation reduces postoperative AF. Design, Setting, and Patients: The Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation (OPERA) double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. A total of 1516 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery in 28 centers in the United States, Italy, and Argentina were enrolled between August 2010 and June 2012. Inclusion criteria were broad; the main exclusions were regular use of fish oil or absence of sinus rhythm at enrollment. Intervention: Patients were randomized to receive fish oil (1-g capsules containing 65840 mg n-3-PUFAs as ethyl esters) or placebo, with preoperative loading of 10 g over 3 to 5 days (or 8 g over 2 days) followed postoperatively by 2 g/d until hospital discharge or postoperative day 10, whichever came first. Main Outcome Measure: Occurrence of postoperative AF lasting longer than 30 seconds. Secondary end points were postoperative AF lasting longer than 1 hour, resulting in symptoms, or treated with cardioversion; postoperative AF excluding atrial flutter; time to first postoperative AF; number of AF episodes per patient; hospital utilization; and major adverse cardiovascular events, 30-day mortality, bleeding, and other adverse events. Results: At enrollment, mean age was 64 (SD, 13) years; 72.2% of patients were men, and 51.8% had planned valvular surgery. The primary end point occurred in 233 (30.7%) patients assigned to placebo and 227 (30.0%) assigned to n-3-PUFAs (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.77-1.20]; P=.74). None of the secondary end points were significantly different between the placebo and fish oil groups, including postoperative AF that was sustained, symptomatic, or treated (231 [30.5%] vs 224 [29.6%], P=.70) or number of postoperative AF episodes per patient (1 episode: 156 [20.6%] vs 157 [20.7%]; 2 episodes: 59 [7.8%] vs 49 [6.5%]; 653 episodes: 18 [2.4%] vs 21 [2.8%]) (P=.73). Supplementation with n-3-PUFAs was generally well tolerated, with no evidence for increased risk of bleeding or serious adverse events. Conclusion: In this large multinational trial among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative supplementation with n-3-PUFAs, compared with placebo, did not reduce the risk of postoperative AF. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT0097048