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Biomedical subjects

Frederick A Spencer

Publications and source records attributed to Frederick A Spencer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Use of nonpharmacologic treatment approaches in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Patient education has been shown to beneficially impact the utilization of medical resources and certain outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). Little data are, however, available about the implementation of patient education and counseling of patients with HF in the community setting. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the extent of health care provider recommendations for the monitoring or modification of lifestyle approaches or dietary factors in patients with new onset HF discharged from all greater Worcester (MA) hospitals in 2000. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 2411 metropolitan Worcester residents hospitalized at all 11 area medical centers with acute HF. Based on the review of medical records, we examined provider recommendations for the monitoring or modification of 5 lifestyle factors including salt restriction, dietary changes, increased physical activity, limitation of fluids, and daily monitoring of weight in hospital survivors of HF. RESULTS: Among all patients, approximately 22% were recommended to change either no or 1 lifestyle related factor, 2 in every 5 patients received recommendations to alter any 2 lifestyle characteristics, while 1 in 6 were counseled about the importance of monitoring or modifying 4 or more lifestyle or dietary factors. Physician counseling was associated with several demographic and clinical factors. Documentation of none or few patient education recommendations was also associated with the failure to receive multiple effective medical therapies for HF. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our community-wide investigation suggest that considerable opportunity remains for the more effective hospital counseling of patients with acute HF.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Changing trends in the long-term prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction: a population-based perspective.

BACKGROUND: Little contemporary data exist describing changes over time in the postdischarge prognosis of hospital survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The purpose of our study was to examine recent and multidecade-long (1975-2001) trends in the long-term prognosis of greater Worcester (MA) residents discharged from all metropolitan Worcester hospitals after confirmed AMI. METHODS: A total of 9827 greater Worcester residents with independently validated AMI discharged from all metropolitan Worcester hospitals during 13 annual periods between 1975 and 2001 comprised the study population. A variety of follow-up approaches were used to ascertain the survival status of discharged patients through the end of 2003. RESULTS: Crude unadjusted 1-year postdischarge survival rates declined over time. Suggestions of modest improvements in the multivariable adjusted 1-year postdischarge survival rates were noted, however, in patients discharged from greater Worcester hospitals in the more recent (2001) (adjusted odds of surviving 1.23, 95% CI 0.97-1.55) as compared with earliest study periods (1975/1978). Advancing age, female sex, presence of prior diabetes, stroke, heart failure, or myocardial infarction and occurrence of several clinical complications during hospitalization were significantly related to an adverse postdischarge prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation provide contemporary insights into the long-term survival of patients with AMI from a more generalizable population-based perspective. Multivariable adjusted analyses revealed slight improvements in postdischarge survival over time. Our data identify several high-risk groups that should be targeted for more aggressive surveillance and increased use of effective cardiac therapies and interventions.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The Worcester Venous Thromboembolism study: a population-based study of the clinical epidemiology of venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: While there have been marked advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for venous thromboembolism, our understanding of its clinical epidemiology is based on studies conducted more than a decade ago. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this observational study was to describe the incidence and attack rates of venous thromboembolism in residents of the Worcester Statistical Metropolitan Area in 1999. We also describe demographic and clinical characteristics, management strategies, and associated hospital and 30-day outcomes. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: The medical records of all residents from Worcester, MA (2000 census=477,800), diagnosed with International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) codes consistent with possible venous thromboembolism during 1999 were independently validated, classified, and reviewed by trained abstractors. RESULTS: A total of 587 subjects were enrolled with validated venous thromboembolism. The incidence and attack rates of venous thromboembolism were 104 and 128 per 100,000 population, respectively. Three quarters of patients developed their venous thromboembolism in the outpatient setting - a substantial proportion of these patients had undergone recent surgery or had a recent prior hospitalization. Less than half of the patients received anticoagulant prophylaxis during high-risk periods before their venous thromboembolism. Thirty-day rates of venous thromboembolism recurrence, major bleeding, and mortality were 4.8%, 7.7%, and 6.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data provide insights into recent incidence and attack rates, changing patient profiles, management strategies, and subsequent outcomes in patients with venous thromboembolism. The underutilization of prophylaxis before venous thromboembolism, and relatively high 30-day recurrence rates, suggest a continued need for the improvement of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and management in the community.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2005

Treating patients with acute coronary syndromes with aggressive antiplatelet therapy (from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events).

Few data exist on the use of aggressive combination therapy with thienopyridines and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in higher risk patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to characterize the combined use of these agents and the associated hospital outcomes in patients with ACS enrolled in the multinational Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events. Data from 8,081 patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina were analyzed. Of these patients, 5,070 (62.7%) received aspirin and a thienopyridine, and the remainder received aspirin, a thienopyridine, and a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blocker. The presence of a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; a history of diabetes or coronary artery bypass surgery; performance of in-hospital catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting; and in-hospital use of heparin were independent predictors of the use of triple antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, thienopyridines, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers. Increased diastolic blood pressure and increased serum creatinine were associated with a failure to prescribe triple therapy. An increased risk of major bleeding during hospitalization was associated with the use of triple antiplatelet therapy (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.2). Aggressive antiplatelet therapy was used in approximately 2 of every 5 patients presenting with an ACS. Triple therapy was associated with the performance of catheterization and/or percutaneous coronary intervention, as well as high-risk patient features. Although no differences in hospital death rates were evident in patients receiving triple therapy, this population was at significantly increased risk of major bleeding episodes during hospitalization.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Use of combination evidence-based medical therapy prior to acute myocardial infarction (from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-4).

Utilization rates of aspirin, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins singly and as part of a multidrug regimen before hospitalization were measured in 109,540 patients with a history of coronary artery disease presenting with acute myocardial infarction to 1,283 hospitals participating in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-4. The profile of patients receiving none or only 1 of these therapies was compared with that of patients receiving any 3 or all 4 agents. Most patients (58%) with a history of coronary artery disease presenting with acute myocardial infarction were on none or only 1 of these effective medications at hospital admission. Only 21% of patients were on >or=3 of these therapies. Older age, female gender, and Medicare or no insurance coverage was significantly associated with previous receipt of or=3 of these therapies. In conclusion, data from this large national registry have indicated that most patients with a history of CAD were not receiving the recommended combination of cardiac medications before their AMI.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Effect of statin use within the first 24 hours of admission for acute myocardial infarction on early morbidity and mortality.

We determined the effects of early statin treatment in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Experimental models of ischemia and reperfusion have shown that statins have early cardioprotective effects. However, the effect of statin use within the first 24 hours of admission on early morbidity and mortality in AMI has not been well studied. Data were collected on 300,823 patients who had AMI in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 4. In-hospital events were compared between patients who continued statin therapy received before the index AMI hospitalization (n = 17,118) or newly started statin therapy within the first 24 hours of hospitalization (n = 21,978) and patients who did not receive early statin treatment (n = 126,128) or whose statin therapy was discontinued (n = 9,411). New or continued treatment with a statin in the first 24 hours was associated with a decreased risk of mortality compared with no statin use (4.0% and 5.3% compared with 15.4% no statin). Discontinuation of statin treatment was associated with a slightly increased risk of mortality (16.5%). Early statin use was also associated with a lower incidence of cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, rupture, but not recurrent myocardial infarction. Propensity analysis yielded mortality odds ratios of 0.46 for continued therapy, 0.42 for newly started therapy, and 1.25 for discontinued therapy for matched pairs versus no statin therapy (all p values <0.0001). In conclusion, the use of statin therapy within the first 24 hours of hospitalization for AMI is associated with a significantly lower rate of early complications and in-hospital mortality.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Magnitude of and risk factors for in-hospital and postdischarge stroke in patients with acute coronary syndromes: findings from a Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a recognized complication after acute myocardial infarction, but few studies have investigated the incidence and outcome of stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study examined the incidence and outcomes of hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic stroke and risk factors associated with stroke in patients with ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were obtained from 35,233 patients enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) with an ACS. In-hospital strokes occurred in 310 patients (0.9%), of which 100 (32.6%) were fatal. The incidence of in-hospital stroke was significantly higher in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction than in non-ST-segment myocardial infarction or unstable angina (1.3%, 0.9%, 0.5%, respectively; P<0.001). Overall, 35.5% of in-hospital strokes occurred within 6 days of hospitalization. The strongest risk factor for in-hospital nonhemorrhagic stroke was in-hospital CABG, followed by in-hospital atrial fibrillation, previous stroke, initial enzyme elevation, and advanced age. Prior statin use was a protective factor. After controlling for potential confounders, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher among patients who experienced an in-hospital stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 8.3; 95% CI, 6.0 to 11.4). A total of 269 additional strokes (1.1%) occurred within 6 months after discharge from hospital, of which 56 (20.9%) were fatal. The most important risk factor for postdischarge stroke was the occurrence of an in-hospital stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke is an uncommon event in patients with ACS but is associated with high mortality. Despite current therapy, the incidence of postdischarge stroke is not low. New approaches are warranted to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with ACS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Trends in mortality attributed to heart failure in Worcester, Massachusetts, 1992 to 2001.

Sparse data are available, particularly from the more generalizable perspective of a population-based investigation, that describe recent trends in community death rates due to heart failure (HF). The objectives of this study were to describe a decade-long trend (1992 to 2001) in mortality attributed to HF among residents of the metropolitan area of Worcester, Massachusetts. A secondary study goal was to describe changes in death rates due to HF in men and in women, in subjects of different ages, and according to location of death. Death data tapes were obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for greater Worcester residents who died between 1992 and 2001. A total of 2,677 deaths from HF occurred in metropolitan Worcester residents between 1992 and 2001. Increases in crude death rates (per 100,000 population) attributed to HF were observed from 1992 (death rate 82) to 2001 (death rate 102). Adjustment for age attenuated the increase in community death rates due to HF. Slight increases in age-adjusted death rates from HF were noted in men, whereas age-adjusted mortality from HF in women decreased by 22% between our initial study year and the most recent study year. The elderly were at greatest risk for dying of HF and increases in HF death rates were observed in the oldest subjects (>/=85 years of age) over time. There was an increasing proportion of all deaths due to HF that occurred in the out-of-hospital setting in 2001 (61%) compared with 1992 (52%). The results of this study suggest changing patterns in death rates due to HF in a large northeastern community.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Impact of combined pharmacologic treatment with clopidogrel and a statin on outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: perspectives from a large multinational registry.

AIMS: To evaluate clinical outcomes associated with the combined use of clopidogrel and statins vs. clopidogrel alone on a background of aspirin therapy in patients with the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Utilizing data from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events, we studied 15 693 patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina, dividing them according to discharge medications: aspirin alone (group I); aspirin + clopidogrel (group II); aspirin + statin (group III); aspirin + clopidogrel + statin (group IV). Among the groups of patients in whom clopidogrel was used (groups II and IV), group II patients were older, more likely to have prior MI, but less likely to have a history of prior revascularization. In-hospital cardiac catheterization and revascularization rates were similar between groups II and IV. Importantly, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 6 month mortality rate was lower in group IV (log-rank test 22.8, P<0.0001). The hazard ratio for the 6 month mortality rate was adjusted using the Cox proportional hazard model for confounding variables and for propensity score, and the 6 month mortality rate for patients in group IV remained lower compared with those in group II [0.59 (0.41-0.86), P<0.0001]. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the combination of clopidogrel with a statin has synergistic effects on the clinical outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Heart failure and shock complicating acute coronary syndromes.

Heart failure (HF) complicating acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome characterized by varying degrees of pulmonary congestion, and in its severest form, by profound organ hypoperfusion (cardiogenic shock). The occurrence of HF in patients with ACS has long been recognized as a strong predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. As such, there is increased interest in better understanding the epidemiology and management of this common clinical syndrome. This manuscript reviews recent insights from work in this area, including recent important trials evaluating the impact of renin-angiotensin system inhibition, early beta-blockade, and aggressive reperfusion strategies.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Decade-long changes in the use of combination evidence-based medical therapy at discharge for patients surviving acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Current practice guidelines suggest routine use of several effective cardiac medications in hospital survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objectives of our population-based study were to describe decade-long trends (1990-2001) in the use of aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, lipid-lowering agents, and combinations thereof, in patients discharged from all metropolitan Worcester (Mass) hospitals after AMI. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 5965 adult men and women of all ages discharged after AMI from all greater Worcester hospitals in 7 annual periods between 1990 and 2001. RESULTS: Although consistent increases in the use of each of the effective cardiac medications examined were observed over time, particularly marked relative increases in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (168% relative increase) and lipid-lowering agents (1086% relative increase) were noted. Use of combinations of effective cardiac medications also increased substantially over time. Between 1990 and 2001, the percentage of hospital survivors treated with > or =3 cardiac medications increased from 12.9% to 74.0%. Advancing age, female sex, history of angina, hypertension, or heart failure during hospitalization, presence of an initial non-Q wave MI, and development of atrial fibrillation during the index hospitalization were independently associated with underuse of combination medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest considerable improvements over the last decade in the medical management of patients hospitalized with AMI. Educational efforts, however, aimed at clinicians and designed to improve use of these therapies, as well as efforts to simplify medication regimens and enhance rates of adherence, remain warranted.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

A review of the oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran: not yet the end of the warfarin era...

Ximelagatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor that offers numerous potential advantages compared with traditional anticoagulants. It is given orally, has a rapid onset of action, does not require laboratory monitoring, and is not associated with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. Numerous phase III trials with ximelagatran focusing on deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis and treatment, stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, and secondary prevention after acute myocardial infarction have been conducted. Results of these trials indicate that ximelagatran has similar efficacy and risk of bleeding compared with currently used anticoagulants. Accordingly, the potential of this agent to replace warfarin therapy for a variety of indications has been widely touted. Ximelagatran has already been approved in Europe for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing hip or knee surgery. However, an adverse effect of ximelagatran is liver enzyme elevation, which has been observed in 5% to 10% of patients with chronic administration of the drug. Although initially felt to be transient in nature, subsequent data presented to the Federal Drug Administration suggest a small but real risk of significant hepatotoxicity. These data led the advisory committee to the Federal Drug Administration to recommend against immediate approval of ximelagatran pending further information. The consistent results of completed trials with ximelagatran suggest that it has the potential to be used in many conditions that currently require treatment with warfarin and heparin products. The potential benefit that may be achieved by the replacement of these historically problematic narrow therapeutic index agents must be weighed against as yet undetermined long-term risks of hepatotoxicity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Incidence and hospital death rates associated with heart failure: a community-wide perspective.

PURPOSE: Despite often stated references to the emerging epidemic of heart failure in the United States, relatively little data are available describing the incidence and short-term death rates associated with this clinical syndrome. The objectives of this study were to describe the hospital incidence and death rates associated with acute heart failure and factors associated with an adverse hospital prognosis in residents of the Worcester, Mass, metropolitan area hospitalized at all greater Worcester medical centers with new onset heart failure in 2000. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients hospitalized for acute heart failure at all 11 area medical centers during 2000. New onset heart failure was diagnosed using standardized criteria. Regression analyses were performed to examine demographic and clinical factors associated with hospital death rates. RESULTS: During 2000, 2604 men and women from greater Worcester were diagnosed with new onset heart failure; 637 (24.5%) of these cases were initial events. The incidence and attack rates (per 100,000) of heart failure were 219 and 897, respectively. Occurrence of heart failure increased with advancing age, and women were at greater risk for heart failure than men (incidence rates [per 100,000] = 250 and 194, respectively). Hospital case-fatality rates were 5.1%. Hospital death rates were associated with several demographic and clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that heart failure is an important clinical syndrome affecting residents of this large northeast community. Several groups at high risk for developing or dying from heart failure can be identified and targeted for preventive efforts as well as for the receipt of effective treatment modalities.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A 25-year perspective into the changing landscape of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (the Worcester Heart Attack Study).

Over the past several decades, significant advances have been made in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. However, effects of changing lifestyle and treatment practices on demographic and clinical profiles and on hospital outcomes of patients who present with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been well characterized. We carried out a prospective population-based investigation of >25-year trends (1975 to 2001) in demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment practices, and hospital outcomes of patients who had been hospitalized with AMI. Residents of a metropolitan area (Worcester, Massachusetts) who had been hospitalized with validated AMI (n = 10,440) in all greater Worcester hospitals during thirteen 1-year periods between 1975 and 2001 comprised the sample of interest. Patients who had been hospitalized during the most recent study years were significantly older, were more likely to be women, and had a greater prevalence of co-morbidities. Hospitalized patients were increasingly more likely to receive effective cardiac medications and coronary interventions over the period under investigation. Multivariable-adjusted hospital survival rates improved considerably over time, whereas different trends were observed in the occurrence of several important clinical complications. The present results provide insights into the changing characteristics of patients who are hospitalized with AMI, treatment practices, and their short-term outcomes. Given the magnitude of AMI and evolving approaches to manage it, continued monitoring of these trends remains of considerable clinical and public health importance.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Early withdrawal of statin therapy in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: national registry of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the non-lipid-lowering effects of statins and their effect on outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. It has been suggested that withdrawal of statin therapy during an acute coronary syndrome may attenuate any benefits of pretreatment, thereby providing indirect evidence of the importance of their non-lipid-lowering effects. METHODS: This observational study compared the demographic and clinical characteristics and hospital outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction enrolled in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 4. Comparison groups consisted of patients previously receiving statins who also received statins within 24 hours of hospital admission (n = 9,001), patients previously using statins in whom therapy was discontinued (n = 4,870), and patients who did not receive statins at any time before or during hospitalization (n = 54,635). RESULTS: Of 13,871 patients receiving statins before hospital admission, 35.1% had treatment withdrawn during the first 24 hours of hospitalization. These patients had increased hospital morbidity and mortality rates relative to patients in whom therapy was continued, with higher rates of heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, shock, and death. In multivariate analyses, these patients were at statistically significant increased risk of hospital death compared with those continuing statin therapy and at similar risk compared with those not receiving statins before or during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of statin therapy in the first 24 hours of hospitalization for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is associated with worse hospital outcomes. In the absence of data from randomized clinical trials, our findings suggest that statin therapy should be continued during hospitalization for myocardial infarction unless strongly contraindicated.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Association of statin therapy with outcomes of acute coronary syndromes: the GRACE study.

BACKGROUND: Statins administered early in patients with acute coronary syndromes may lead to modest reductions in recurrent ischemic events. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between previous and early in-hospital statin therapy and the presentation and outcomes of an acute coronary syndrome. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: 94 hospitals in 14 countries participating in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE). PATIENTS: 19,537 patients with an acute coronary syndrome who were enrolled from April 1999 to September 2002. MEASUREMENTS: Statin use before and after presentation with an acute coronary syndrome and associated rates of myocardial infarction, hospital complications, and hospital mortality. The composite end point included death, in-hospital myocardial infarction, and stroke. RESULTS: Patients who were already taking statins when they presented to the hospital were less likely to have ST-segment elevation (odds ratio [OR], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71 to 0.88]) or myocardial infarction (OR, 0.78 [CI, 0.70 to 0.86]). Patients who continued to take statins in the hospital were less likely to experience complications or die than patients who never received statins (OR, 0.66 [CI, 0.56 to 0.77]). Patients not previously taking statins who began statin therapy in the hospital were less likely to die than patients who never received statin therapy (OR, 0.38 [CI, 0.30 to 0.48]). However, adjustment for the hospital of admission attenuated the association between initiation of statin therapy and the composite end point (OR, 0.84 [CI, 0.65 to 1.10]). LIMITATIONS: This observational study cannot exclude confounding by clinical and hospital factors. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that statin therapy can modulate early pathophysiologic processes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. A randomized trial of statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction is warranted.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Declining length of hospital stay for acute myocardial infarction and postdischarge outcomes: a community-wide perspective.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this population-based study were to describe trends of more than a decade (1986-1999) in duration of hospitalization after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), patient characteristics associated with varying lengths of stay, and the impact of declining length of stay on postdischarge mortality. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 4551 patients discharged after AMI from all greater Worcester, Mass, hospitals in 8 annual periods during the study period. Regression models were used to examine the influence of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables on length of stay and the association between declining length of hospital stay and postdischarge mortality. RESULTS: Marked declines were observed in the average length of stay between the 1986-1988 (11.7 days) and 1997-1999 (5.9 days) periods. Factors associated with a longer hospital stay included advanced age, female sex, anterior and Q-wave MI, and occurrence of clinically important cardiac complications. Patients with health maintenance organization, Medicare, Medicaid, or no insurance coverage were less likely to have an increased length of stay. Increased 30- and 90-day mortality was associated with a length of stay of greater than 14 days (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.66) relative to those with a length of stay of 6 to 8 days (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-3.01). Patients with a length of stay of less than 6 days exhibited no significant increases in postdischarge mortality. Similar trends were observed in patients with a complicated AMI. CONCLUSIONS: We found marked decreases in length of stay for patients hospitalized with AMI during the past decade. However, we found no negative association between declining length of stay and short-term mortality after hospital discharge for AMI.

Aged↗