2015
Blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio is associated with congestion and mortality in heart failure patients with renal dysfunction
Parrinello G, Torres D, Testani JM, Almasio PL, Bellanca M, Pizzo G, Cuttitta F, Pinto A, Butler J, Paterna S. Blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio is associated with congestion and mortality in heart failure patients with renal dysfunction. Internal And Emergency Medicine 2015, 10: 965-972. PMID: 26037394, DOI: 10.1007/s11739-015-1261-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBUN/CrInferior vena cavaRenal dysfunctionHeart failureVenous congestionBUN/Cr ratioMultiple logistic regression modelNYHA class 3Independent risk factorLong-term mortalityHeart failure patientsGlomerular filtration rateBlood urea nitrogenReceiver-operating characteristic analysisLogistic regression modelsCause deathHF outpatientsHF severityLower eGFRRenal functionAmbulatory visitsFailure patientsCreatinine ratioSingle centerRenal biomarkers
2014
Hospital Variation in Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Kulkarni VT, Kim N, Dai Y, Dharmarajan K, Safavi KC, Bikdeli B, Lindenauer PK, Testani J, Dries DL, Krumholz HM. Hospital Variation in Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure. Circulation Heart Failure 2014, 7: 427-433. PMID: 24633829, PMCID: PMC4386575, DOI: 10.1161/circheartfailure.113.000698.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute decompensated heart failureNoninvasive positive pressure ventilationDecompensated heart failureRisk-standardized mortality ratesPositive pressure ventilationHeart failureIntubation rateMortality ratePressure ventilationUse of NPPVHospital risk-standardized mortality ratesHigher intubation rateHospital practice patternsHospital-level outcomesCross-sectional studyHierarchical logistic regression modelsLogistic regression modelsNIPPV useHospital variationSuch hospitalizationsPractice patternsHospitalizationHospitalQuartileBottom quartile