Catheter ablation of postinfarction ventricular tachycardia: ten-year trends in utilization, in-hospital complications, and in-hospital mortality in the United States.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding the complications and in-hospital mortality after catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the temporal trends in utilization, in-hospital mortality, and complications of catheter ablation of postinfarction VT in the United States.

Methods: We used the 2002-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to identify all patients ≥18 years of age with a primary diagnosis of VT (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 427.

Temporal trends in incidence and outcomes of peripartum cardiomyopathy in the United States: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: The reported incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) in the United States varies widely. Furthermore, limited information is available on the temporal trends in incidence and outcomes of PPCM.

Methods And Results: We queried the 2004-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all women aged 15 to 54 years with the diagnosis of PPCM.

Heart failure with systolic dysfunction complicating acute myocardial infarction - differential outcomes but similar eplerenone efficacy by ST-segment or non-ST-segment elevation: A post hoc substudy of the EPHESUS trial.

Background: Differential outcomes in patients with acute systolic heart failure (HF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists according to non-ST-segment and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, STEMI) status has not been specifically investigated.

Methods: In the EPHESUS study, 6632 patients with acute HF and left ventricular ejection fraction<40% were randomized 3-14 days post-AMI (median 7.3 ± 3.

Disease-specific depression and outcomes in chronic heart failure: a propensity score analysis.

Depression is common in heart failure and is associated with increased mortality. Yet, it is often underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Lack of disease-specific and easy-to-administer screening tools is one of the reasons for underdiagnosis of depression in heart failure.

A propensity-matched study of the effect of diabetes on the natural history of heart failure: variations by sex and age.

Background: Poor prognosis in heart failure (HF) patients with diabetes is often attributed to increased co-morbidity and advanced disease. Further, this effect may be worse in women.

Objective: To determine whether the effect of diabetes on outcomes and the sex-related variation persisted in a propensity score-matched HF population, and whether the sex-related variation was a function of age.

Outcomes in ambulatory chronic systolic and diastolic heart failure: a propensity score analysis.

Background: Prior studies demonstrating significant difference in outcomes in systolic and diastolic heart failure (HF) are often limited to hospitalized acute HF patients, and may be confounded by residual bias. In this analysis, we examined long-term mortality and hospitalization in a propensity score matched cohort of ambulatory chronic systolic and diastolic HF patients.

Methods: Of the 7788 patients in the Digitalis Investigation Group trial, 6800 had systolic HF (ejection fraction >45%) and 988 had diastolic HF (ejection fraction >45%).

Heart failure, chronic diuretic use, and increase in mortality and hospitalization: an observational study using propensity score methods.

Aims: Non-potassium-sparing diuretics are commonly used in heart failure (HF). They activate the neurohormonal system, and are potentially harmful. Yet, the long-term effects of chronic diuretic use in HF are largely unknown.