Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Little is known about long-term recovery from severe COVID-19 disease. Here, we characterize overall health, physical health, and mental health of patients 1 month after discharge for severe COVID-19. METHODS:This was a prospective single health system observational cohort study of patients ≥ 18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease who required at least 6 l of oxygen during admission, had intact baseline cognitive and functional status, and were discharged alive. Participants were enrolled between 30 and 40 days after discharge. Outcomes were elicited through validated survey instruments: the PROMIS® Dyspnea Characteristics and PROMIS® Global Health-10. RESULTS:A total of 161 patients (40.6% of eligible) were enrolled; 152 (38.3%) completed the survey. Median age was 62 years (interquartile range [IQR], 50-67); 57 (37%) were female. Overall, 113/152 (74%) participants reported shortness of breath within the prior week (median score 3 out of 10 [IQR 0-5]), vs 47/152 (31%) pre-COVID-19 infection (0, IQR 0-1), p < 0.001. Participants also rated their physical health and mental health as worse in their post-COVID state (43.8, standard deviation 9.3; mental health 47.3, SD 9.3) compared to their pre-COVID state, (54.3, SD 9.3; 54.3, SD 7.8, respectively), both p < 0.001. Physical and mental health means in the general US population are 50 (SD 10). A total of 52/148 (35.1%) patients without pre-COVID oxygen requirements needed home oxygen after hospital discharge; 20/148 (13.5%) reported still using oxygen at time of survey. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with severe COVID-19 disease typically experience sequelae affecting their respiratory status, physical health, and mental health for at least several weeks after hospital discharge.

BACKGROUND:Little is known about long-term recovery from severe COVID-19 disease. Here, we characterize overall health, physical health and mental health of patients one month after discharge for severe COVID-19. METHODS:This was a prospective single health system observational cohort study of patients ≥18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease who required at least 6 liters of oxygen during admission, had intact baseline cognitive and functional status and were discharged alive. Participants were enrolled between 30 and 40 days after discharge. Outcomes were elicited through validated survey instruments: the PROMIS Dyspnea Characteristics and PROMIS Global Health-10. RESULTS:A total of 161 patients (40.6% of eligible) were enrolled; 152 (38.3%) completed the survey. Median age was 62 years (interquartile range [IQR], 50-67); 57 (37%) were female. Overall, 113/152 (74%) participants reported shortness of breath within the prior week (median score 3 out of 10 [IQR 0-5]), vs. 47/152 (31%) pre-COVID-19 infection (0, IQR 0-1), p<0.001. Participants also rated their physical health and mental health as worse in their post-COVID state (43.8, standard deviation 9.3; mental health 47.3, SD 9.3) compared to their pre-COVID state, (54.3, SD 9.3; 54.3, SD 7.8, respectively), both p <0.001. A total of 52/148 (35.1%) patients without pre-COVID oxygen requirements needed home oxygen after hospital discharge; 20/148 (13.5%) reported still using oxygen at time of survey. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with severe COVID-19 disease typically experience sequelae affecting their respiratory status, physical health and mental health for at least several weeks after hospital discharge.

BACKGROUND: Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are common destinations after hospitalization for patients with heart failure (HF). However, readmissions from SNFs and immediately after SNF discharge are common. In this study, we examined whether patients with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of HF may benefit from a HF disease management program (HF-DMP) while undergoing post-acute rehabilitation in SNFs.
METHOD(S): This is a sub-group analysis of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of HF-DMP vs usual care (UC) for patients in SNF (n=671) with a HF diagnosis, regardless of ejection fraction (EF), conducted in 47 SNFs in the Denver-metropolitan area. The HF-DMP standardized SNF HF care using HF practice guidelines and performance measures and was delivered by a HF nurse advocate (HFNA). The HFNA directed a 7- component intervention focused on optimizing HF disease management through the following: documentation of EF, symptom and activity assessment, weights 3 times a week with dietary surveillance, recommendations for medication titration, patient/caregiver education, discharge instructions, and 7-day post- SNF discharge follow-up. This sub-group analysis examined patients discharged from hospital to SNF with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of HF (n=125). The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause hospitalization, emergency department visits, and mortality at 60 days post-SNF admission. The etiology (HF related, non-HF cardiovascular (CV) related, or "other") of the first event was adjudicated by a Clinical Endpoints committee that was blinded to treatment group. Secondary outcomes were the composite outcome at 30 days, and change in health status and self-management from baseline to 60 days measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the Self-care of HF Index (SCHFI).
RESULT(S): Of the 125 patients with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of HF, 50were in the HF-DMP and 75 in UC. Overallmean age was 79+/-10, 53% were women, mean EF was 46+/-15%. At 60 days, the rate of the composite outcome was lower in the HF-DMP group (30%) compared to UC (52%) (p=0.02). Adjudicated events in the HF-DMP group revealed one HF related event, one CV related event, and 12 events classified as "other" within 60 days. In contrast, the UC group had 12 HF related events, 5 CV related events, and 19 events classified as "other" within 60 days. The rate of the composite outcome at 30 days for the HFDMP group was 18% versus 31% in the UC group (p=0.11). Change in KCCQ and SCHFI measures were not significantly different between groups at 60 days.
CONCLUSION(S): Patients with a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of HF who received HF-DMP while receiving rehabilitation in a SNF had lower rates of the composite outcome at 60 days and less HF related events. Standardized HF management during SNF stays may be particularly important for patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of HF

BACKGROUND:The seminal Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH) study demonstrated the effectiveness of diet to control hypertension; however, the effective implementation and dissemination of its principles have been limited. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a DASH mobile health intervention. We hypothesized that combining Bluetooth-enabled data collection, social networks, and a human coach with a smartphone DASH app (DASH Mobile) would be an effective medium for the delivery of the DASH program. METHODS:We conducted a single-arm pilot study from August 2015 through August 2016, using a pre-post evaluation design to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a smartphone version of DASH that incorporated a human health coach. Participants were recruited both online and offline. RESULTS:A total of 17 patients participated in this study; they had a mean age of 59 years (SD 6) and 10 (60%) were women. Participants were engaged with the app; in the 120 days of the study, the mean number of logged blood pressure measurements was 63 (SD 46), the mean number of recorded weight measurements was 52 (SD 45), and participants recorded a mean of 55 step counts (SD 36). Coaching phone calls had a high completion rate (74/102, 73%). The mean number of servings documented per patient for the dietary assessment was 709 (SD 541), and patients set a mean number of 5 (SD 2) goals. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, weight, body mass index, and step count did not significantly change over time (P>.10 for all parameters). CONCLUSIONS:In this pilot study, we found that participants were engaged with an interactive mobile app that promoted healthy behaviors to treat hypertension. We did not find a difference in the physiological outcomes, but were underpowered to identify such changes.