UNASSIGNED: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) optimization can improve outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
UNASSIGNED: The objective of this study was to determine if a novel computable algorithm appropriately recommended GDMT.
UNASSIGNED: Clinical trial data from the GUIDE-IT (Guiding Evidence-Based Therapy Using Biomarker Intensified Treatment in Heart Failure) and HF-ACTION (Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training) trials were evaluated with a computable medication optimization algorithm that outputs GDMT recommendations and a medication optimization score (MOS). Algorithm-based recommendations were compared to medication changes. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to estimate the associations between MOS and the composite primary end point for both trials.
UNASSIGNED: The algorithm recommended initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in 52.8%, 34.9%, and 68.1% of GUIDE-IT visits, respectively, when not prescribed the drug. Initiation only occurred in 20.8%, 56.9%, and 15.8% of subsequent visits. The algorithm also identified dose titration in 48.8% of visits for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers and 39.4% of visits for beta-blockers. Those increases only occurred in 24.3% and 36.8% of subsequent visits. A higher baseline MOS was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21-0.80; P = 0.009) in GUIDE-IT and all-cause death and hospitalization (HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.44-0.84; P = 0.003) in HF-ACTION.
UNASSIGNED: The algorithm accurately identified patients for GDMT optimization. Even in a clinical trial with robust protocols, GDMT could have been further optimized in a meaningful number of visits. The algorithm-generated MOS was associated with a lower risk of clinical outcomes. Implementation into clinical care may identify and address suboptimal GDMT in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Informal caregivers of stroke survivors often report the need for training on how to care for a loved one with functional mobility limitations. Evidence on training interventions to help informal caregivers with issues related to mobility is varied. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the literature including skill-based training interventions that educate caregivers on functional mobility for stroke survivors.
We extracted studies from OVID Medline, Cochrane, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Embase published between 1990 and 2021. At every stage of assessment, data extraction forms were used to reach consensus among at least three out of four authors. We followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and Arskey and O\'Malley\'s framework to chart information into several tables based on research questions and summarized with descriptive statistics.
Most studies were conducted outside the US focused on training in mobility and activities of daily living. The stroke survivor, on average, was an older individual (mean age 64.8 [SD = 5.3] years). The informal caregiver was predominately a younger female spouse (mean age 54.2 [SD = 6.3]). More than a third of the studies reported improvement in the stroke survivors\' physical function post-intervention, with a mean follow-up time of 4.4 months. Effective studies tended to include stroke survivors with less cognitive and functional mobility limitations at higher training dosages.
Gaps in our understanding of informal caregiver training for those caring for stroke survivors are identified, and recommendations are provided for future research.

OBJECTIVE: Syncope is a complex symptom requiring thoughtful evaluation. The ACC/AHA/HRS published syncope management guidelines in 2017. Effective guideline implementation hinges on overcoming multilevel barriers, including providers\' perceptions that patients prefer aggressive diagnostic testing when presenting to the emergency department (ED) with syncope, which conflicts with the 2017 Guideline on Syncope. To better understand this perceived barrier, we explored patient and family caregiver expectations and preferences when presenting to the ED with syncope.
METHODS: We conducted semi-structured focus groups (N=12) and in-depth interviews (N=19) with patients presenting to the ED with syncope as well as with their family caregivers. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by a team of researchers following a directed content analysis. Results were reviewed and shared iteratively with all team members to confirm mutual understanding and agreement.
RESULTS: Syncope patients and caregivers discussed three main desires when presenting to the ED with syncope: 1) clarity regarding their diagnosis,; 2) context surrounding their care plan and diagnostic approach; and 3) to feel seen, heard and cared about by their health care team.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians have cited patient preferences for aggressive diagnostic testing as a barrier to adhering to the 2017 Guideline on Syncope, which recommends against routine administration of imaging testing (eg, echocardiograms). Our results suggest that while participants preferred diagnostic testing as a means to achieve clarity and even a feeling of being cared for, other strategies, such as a patient-engaged approach to communication and shared decision-making, may address the spectrum of patient expectations when presenting to the ED with syncope while adhering to guideline recommendations.

Syncope is a common condition seen in the emergency department. Given the multitude of etiologies, research exists on the evaluation and management of syncope. Yet, physicians\' approach to patients with syncope is variable and often not value based. The 2017 ACC/AHA/HRS Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Patients with Syncope includes a focus on unnecessary medical testing. However, little research assesses implementation of the guidelines.
Mixed methods approach was applied. The targeted provider specialties include emergency medicine, hospital medicine and cardiology. The Evidence-based Practice Attitude Scale-36 and the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment surveys were distributed to four different hospital sites. We then conducted focus groups and key informant interviews to obtain more information about clinicians\' perceptions to guideline-based practice and barriers/facilitators to implementation. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used for survey analysis. Two-stage coding was used to identify themes with NVivo.
Analysis of surveys revealed that overall attitude toward evidence-based practices was moderate and implementation of new guidelines were seen as a burden, potentially decreasing compliance. There were differences across hospital settings. Five common themes emerged from interviews: uncertainty of a syncope diagnosis, rise of consumerism in health care, communication challenge with patient, provider differences in standardized care, and organizational processes to change.
Despite recommendations for the use of syncope guidelines, adherence is suboptimal. Overcoming barriers to use will require a paradigm shift. A multifaceted approach and collaborative relationships are needed to adhere to the Guidelines to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Public reporting of physician-specific outcome data for procedures, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), can influence physicians to avoid high-risk patients who may benefit from treatment. Prior physician attitudes toward public scorecards in New York State (NYS) have been studied, but the exclusion criteria have evolved. Additionally, patient perceptions toward such reports remain poorly understood. This study evaluates (1) whether exclusion of certain high-risk patients from public reporting of PCI outcomes in NYS has influenced physician attitudes, (2) current patient awareness and use of publicly reported outcome data, and (3) differences in physician and patient attitudes toward public reporting.
RESULTS: A questionnaire was administered to interventional cardiologists in NYS with specific emphasis on how modifications in publicly reported outcome data have influenced their practice. The results were compared with a 2003 survey administered by our group. A separate questionnaire regarding the publicly available NYS PCI Report was administered to patients referred to our center for possible PCI. The majority of interventional cardiologists indicated that the exclusion of patients with anoxic brain injury and refractory cardiogenic shock from public reporting has made them more likely to perform PCI for these subgroups. While patient awareness of the NYS PCI Report was low, patients were significantly more likely than physicians to think that publication of physician-specific mortality data can provide an accurate measure of physician quality, serve to improve patient care, and provide useful information in terms of physician selection.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides further evidence that public reporting of physician-specific outcome data influences physician behavior and indicates that significant discrepancies exist in how scorecards are perceived by physicians versus patients.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence that the use of nitrates in acute decompensated heart failure early after presentation to a hospital can improve clinical outcomes. We aimed to determine whether early nitrate exposure is associated with improved survival in a large retrospective cohort study.
RESULTS: We examined 11 078 acute decompensated heart failure patients who presented to emergency departments in Ontario, Canada, between 2004 and 2007, in the Enhanced Feedback For Effective Cardiac Treatment and the Emergency Heart failure Mortality Risk Grade studies. In propensity-matched analyses, we examined the effect of nitrate administration in the acute emergency department setting for its impact on death at 7, 30, and 365 days. In propensity-matched analyses, we found no difference in survival between those who received nitrates in the emergency department and the non-nitrate comparator group. Hazard ratios for mortality were 0.76 (95% CI; 0.51, 1.12) over 7 days, 0.97 (95% CI; 0.77, 1.21) over 30 days, and 0.91 (95% CI; 0.82, 1.02) over 1 year of follow-up. There was no significant difference in survival or hospital length of stay between nitrate and non-nitrate controls in extended follow-up. There was also no significant effect of nitrates in subgroups stratified by presence of chest pain, troponin elevation, chronic nitrate use, and known coronary artery disease.
CONCLUSIONS: In acute decompensated heart failure, use of nitrates acutely in the emergency department setting was not associated with improvement in short-term or near-term survival. Our study does not support generalized use of nitrates when the primary goal of therapy is to reduce mortality.