Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes After Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to October 2020.

Objective: To compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and 30-day all-cause readmission and mortality between patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted at 16 hospitals across 3 geographically dispersed US states. The study included 6769 adults (mean age, 74 years; 56% [5033 of 8989] men) with cumulative 8989 HF hospitalizations: 2341 hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1 through October 30, 2020) and 6648 in the pre-COVID-19 (October 1, 2018, through February 28, 2020) comparator group.

Initial and subsequent 3-year cost after hospitalization for first acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Aims: To examine 1) the major drivers of index hospitalization and 3-year post-acute follow-up care, 2) cost for rehabilitation and homecare, and 3) indirect cost from lost productivity after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: Retrospective study of adults hospitalized with AIS (n = 811) and ICH (N = 145) between 2003 and 2014. Direct costs standardized to Medicare reimbursement rates were captured for hospitalization and 3-year follow-up or death.

Five-Year Mortality After Transient Ischemic Attack: Focus on Cardiometabolic Comorbidity and Hospital Readmission.

Background And Purpose: We aimed at providing estimates of mortality associated with cardiometabolic comorbidity and incident readmission from cardiometabolic as compared with noncardiometabolic conditions after a first transient ischemic attack.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2015, patients hospitalized for a first transient ischemic attack were examined for cardiometabolic comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation), 5-year incident hospitalization, and time to death.

Results: Of 251 patients with transient ischemic attack, 134 (53%) had at least 1 and 55 (22%) had at least 2 cardiometabolic conditions.

Effect of early hospital readmission and comorbid conditions on subsequent long-term mortality after transient ischemic attack.

Background: The implications of early readmission on long-term mortality after transient ischemic attack (TIA) are not known. We aimed at examining the effect of 180-day readmission on subsequent long-term mortality after index hospitalization for TIA.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients hospitalized for first-ever TIA at Mayo Clinic from 2000 through 2017.

Transpulmonary hypothermia: a novel method of rapid brain cooling through augmented heat extraction from the lungs.

Aim: Delay in instituting neuroprotective measures after cardiac arrest increases death and decreases neuronal recovery. Current hypothermia methods are slow, ineffective, unreliable, or highly invasive. We report the feasibility of rapid hypothermia induction in swine through augmented heat extraction from the lungs.

An approach to the stepwise management of severe mitral regurgitation with optimal cardiac pacemaker function.

Right ventricular apical pacing may cause or worsen mitral regurgitation (MR). Potential mechanisms for this adverse sequelae include intraventricular dyssynchrony, altered papillary muscle function, pacing-induced cardiomyopathy with left ventricular dilation, and annular dilation. In contrast, biventricular (BiV) pacing may improve MR presumably by opposing the negative effects.

Minimum flows and levels method of the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, USA.

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) has developed a minimum flows and levels (MFLs) method that has been applied to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and springs. The method is primarily focused on ecological protection to ensure systems meet or exceed minimum eco-hydrologic requirements.