Evaluating the quality of care for heart failure hospitalizations in inflammatory arthritis – A population-based cohort study

Abstract

Background

Individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA) face an elevated risk of heart failure (HF). However, whether the quality of HF care in IA patients differs from other high-risk groups, such as those with diabetes mellitus (DM), remains unclear.

Methods

This population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada, included patients who experienced their first HF hospitalization and survived to discharge. Patients were categorized into four groups: IA alone, DM alone, IA + DM, and a general population comparator. We assessed quality care measures within 30 days of hospitalization (echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray) and physician follow-up within 7 days. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) adherence was evaluated within 90 days and classified as perfect, moderate, or poor. Logistic regression was used to determine whether IA was independently associated with lower HF care quality.

Results

Among 101,645 eligible hospitalizations, 1987 had IA + DM, 3849 had IA alone, 33,553 had DM alone, and 62,256 were general comparators. While all groups showed high adherence to testing, IA patients (with or without DM) had significantly lower GDMT use compared to DM patients (p < 0.001). IA was independently linked to lower odds of moderate or perfect GDMT adherence.

Conclusion

Although adherence to HF testing quality measures was high, IA patients were less likely to receive GDMT than those with DM. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for lower GDMT use in IA and its impact on HF outcomes such as re-hospitalization and mortality.