Impact of a Multidisciplinary Heart Failure Post-hospitalization Program on Heart Failure Readmission Rates

Background: Specialized chronic heart failure (HF) clinics have demonstrated significant reductions in readmissions. Limited evidence is available regarding HF clinics in the immediate post-discharge period. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary HF clinic on 90-day readmission rates and all-cause mortality in those recently discharged from a HF hospitalization. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients discharged with a primary HF diagnosis who attended the HF postdischarge clinic in 2010-2012 were compared with controls from 2009. During 6 clinic visits, patients were seen by a physician assistant, clinical pharmacist specialist, and case manager, with care overseen by a cardiologist. The program focused on optimizing therapy, identifying HF etiology/precipitating factors, medication titration, education, and medication adherence. The primary outcome was 90-day HF readmission. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare outcomes. Results: Among the 277 patients (144 clinic, 133 control) in the study, 7.6% of patients in the clinic and 23.3% of patients in the control group were readmitted for HF within 90 days (aHR (adjusted hazard ratio) = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.07-0.41; P < 0.001; ARR (absolute risk reduction) = 15.7%; NNT (number needed to treat) = 7). Clinic patients had lower 90-day time-to-first HF readmission or all-cause mortality (9.0% vs 28.6%; aHR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.06-0.31; P < 0.001; ARR = 19.6%; NNT = 6). Conclusions: The multidisciplinary HF posthospitalization outpatient program was associated with a significant reduction in 90-day HF readmissions in patients who were recently discharged from a HF hospitalization.