2020
Disability and Recovery After Hospitalization for Medical Illness Among Community‐Living Older Persons: A Prospective Cohort Study
Dharmarajan K, Han L, Gahbauer EA, Leo‐Summers L, Gill TM. Disability and Recovery After Hospitalization for Medical Illness Among Community‐Living Older Persons: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2020, 68: 486-495. PMID: 32083319, PMCID: PMC7735402, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16350.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute medical illnessProspective cohort studyMedical illnessNew disabilityCohort studySelf-managing health conditionsCommunity-living older personsHealth conditionsImmediate transitional periodCommunity-living personsPost-discharge careChronic health conditionsMean recovery timeSubgroup of personsMobility activitiesIncident disabilityHospital dischargePeriod of vulnerabilityMonth 2Follow-up interviewHospitalizationDisability prevalenceOlder personsPrior monthIllness
2018
Association of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program With Mortality During and After Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, and Pneumonia
Khera R, Dharmarajan K, Wang Y, Lin Z, Bernheim SM, Wang Y, Normand ST, Krumholz HM. Association of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program With Mortality During and After Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, and Pneumonia. JAMA Network Open 2018, 1: e182777. PMID: 30646181, PMCID: PMC6324473, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.2777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHospital Readmissions Reduction ProgramAcute myocardial infarctionPostdischarge mortalityHeart failureHRRP announcementReadmissions Reduction ProgramMedicare beneficiariesRisk-adjusted ratesMyocardial infarctionService Medicare beneficiariesReduction programsInterrupted time series frameworkHospital mortalityReduced readmissionsCohort studyPneumonia hospitalizationsReadmission ratesMAIN OUTCOMEPneumoniaMedicare dataHospitalizationHospitalMortalityReadmissionConcomitant harmReply to Soo Hoo and Esquinas: Risk Trajectories of Readmission and Death in the First Year after Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Don’t Shortchange Noninvasive Ventilation
Lindenauer PK, Dharmarajan K, Krumholz HM. Reply to Soo Hoo and Esquinas: Risk Trajectories of Readmission and Death in the First Year after Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Don’t Shortchange Noninvasive Ventilation. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2018, 198: 283-284. PMID: 29566340, PMCID: PMC6058983, DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201803-0426le.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2017
Risk Trajectories of Readmission and Death in the First Year after Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Lindenauer PK, Dharmarajan K, Qin L, Lin Z, Gershon AS, Krumholz HM. Risk Trajectories of Readmission and Death in the First Year after Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2017, 197: 1009-1017. PMID: 29206052, PMCID: PMC5909167, DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201709-1852oc.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseSame respective groupsObstructive pulmonary diseaseVentilator supportPulmonary diseaseRisk of readmissionRisk of hospitalizationGeneral elderly populationGeneral Medicare populationRisk of deathDaily riskRespective groupsReadmission ratesHospital readmissionAbsolute riskMedicare populationReadmissionElderly populationMedicare beneficiariesHospitalizationClinical servicesFirst monthProlonged riskDeathLongitudinal outcomesPredicting death after acute myocardial infarction
Castro-Dominguez Y, Dharmarajan K, McNamara RL. Predicting death after acute myocardial infarction. Trends In Cardiovascular Medicine 2017, 28: 102-109. PMID: 28826668, DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2017.07.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarctionRisk factorsClinical presentation characteristicsRisk stratification modelImportant risk factorPatients important informationPatient riskClinical informationStratification modelPresentation characteristicsMortalityInfarctionRiskHospitalizationPrognosisCliniciansEpidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prognosis of Heart Failure in Older Adults
Dharmarajan K, Rich MW. Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prognosis of Heart Failure in Older Adults. Heart Failure Clinics 2017, 13: 417-426. PMID: 28602363, DOI: 10.1016/j.hfc.2017.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeart failureOlder adultsGeriatric syndromesHeart failure increasesCommon cardiovascular conditionAge-associated changesRehospitalization ratesCardiovascular conditionsCardiovascular syndromeCommon reasonCardiovascular structureSyndromeHospitalizationAdultsFailurePrognosisPathophysiologyDementiaFrailtyMortalityEpidemiologyPrevalenceIncidenceSex Differences in Trajectories of Risk After Rehospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia
Dreyer RP, Dharmarajan K, Hsieh AF, Welsh J, Qin L, Krumholz HM. Sex Differences in Trajectories of Risk After Rehospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia. Circulation Cardiovascular Quality And Outcomes 2017, 10: e003271. PMID: 28506980, PMCID: PMC5650228, DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.116.003271.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarctionHeart failureReadmission riskDaily riskImmediate postdischarge periodRisk of rehospitalizationSex differencesDeath 1 yearPrincipal discharge diagnosisHospitalization of patientsAssociation of sexRehospitalization riskPostdischarge periodDischarge diagnosisMedicare patientsHigh riskMortality riskMedicare feeTrajectories of riskRehospitalizationInfarctionService beneficiariesHospitalizationPneumonia
2016
Trajectories of Risk for Specific Readmission Diagnoses after Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia
Krumholz HM, Hsieh A, Dreyer RP, Welsh J, Desai NR, Dharmarajan K. Trajectories of Risk for Specific Readmission Diagnoses after Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia. PLOS ONE 2016, 11: e0160492. PMID: 27716841, PMCID: PMC5055318, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160492.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionRisk of readmissionHeart failureReadmission diagnosesHospital dischargeReadmission riskTiming of riskMyocardial infarctionImmediate post-discharge periodDiagnostic categoriesPhysiologic systemsRisk of rehospitalizationGeneral elderly populationRisk of deathPost-discharge periodPost-discharge interventionsTrauma/injuryHospitalization riskHospitalizationTrajectories of riskElderly populationMedicare feePneumoniaRehospitalizationService beneficiariesTreatment for Multiple Acute Cardiopulmonary Conditions in Older Adults Hospitalized with Pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or Heart Failure
Dharmarajan K, Strait KM, Tinetti ME, Lagu T, Lindenauer PK, Lynn J, Krukas MR, Ernst FR, Li SX, Krumholz HM. Treatment for Multiple Acute Cardiopulmonary Conditions in Older Adults Hospitalized with Pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or Heart Failure. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2016, 64: 1574-1582. PMID: 27448329, PMCID: PMC4988873, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14303.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdrenal Cortex HormonesAgedAged, 80 and overAnti-Bacterial AgentsCardiotonic AgentsCohort StudiesComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesDiureticsDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHeart FailureHospitalizationHumansMalePneumoniaPulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveRetrospective StudiesUnited StatesVasodilator AgentsConceptsChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseAcute cardiopulmonary conditionsObstructive pulmonary diseaseHeart failureCardiopulmonary conditionsOlder adultsPulmonary diseasePremier Research DatabaseEpisodes of pneumoniaRetrospective cohort studyReal-world treatmentHF hospitalizationCohort studyHospital daysPneumonia hospitalizationsCOPD hospitalizationsClinical syndromeAcute conditionsPneumoniaDiagnostic uncertaintyResearch DatabaseHospitalizationDiagnostic categoriesU.S. hospitalsAdults
2015
Trajectories of risk after hospitalization for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia: retrospective cohort study
Dharmarajan K, Hsieh AF, Kulkarni VT, Lin Z, Ross JS, Horwitz LI, Kim N, Suter LG, Lin H, Normand SL, Krumholz HM. Trajectories of risk after hospitalization for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia: retrospective cohort study. The BMJ 2015, 350: h411. PMID: 25656852, PMCID: PMC4353309, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h411.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionRetrospective cohort studyHeart failureRisk of deathMyocardial infarctionFirst readmissionAbsolute riskOlder patientsCohort studyRelative riskMedicare feeService beneficiariesRisk of readmissionGeneral elderly populationGeneral older populationRisk trajectoriesHigh-risk periodHospital dischargeHospital admissionDischarge diagnosisAdverse outcomesReadmissionHospitalizationTrajectories of riskElderly populationIntravenous Fluids in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Bikdeli B, Strait KM, Dharmarajan K, Li SX, Mody P, Partovian C, Coca SG, Kim N, Horwitz LI, Testani JM, Krumholz HM. Intravenous Fluids in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure. JACC Heart Failure 2015, 3: 127-133. PMID: 25660836, PMCID: PMC4438991, DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2014.09.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesDatabases, FactualFemaleFluid TherapyHeart FailureHospital MortalityHospitalizationHumansInfusions, IntravenousIntensive Care UnitsIntubation, IntratrachealIsotonic SolutionsMaleMiddle AgedRenal Replacement TherapyRetrospective StudiesRinger's SolutionSaline Solution, HypertonicSodium Potassium Chloride Symporter InhibitorsUnited StatesYoung AdultConceptsAcute decompensated heart failureDecompensated heart failureHeart failureIntravenous fluidsRetrospective cohort studyCritical care admissionRenal replacement therapyDays of hospitalizationProportion of hospitalizationsHalf-normal salineWarrants further investigationOnly diureticsCare admissionHospital deathHospital outcomesCohort studyLoop diureticsPatient groupReplacement therapyWorse outcomesNormal salineInpatient careMedian volumePatientsHospitalization
2014
Trends in Hospitalizations Among Medicare Survivors of Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States From 1999 to 2010
Murugiah K, Wang Y, Dodson JA, Nuti SV, Dharmarajan K, Ranasinghe I, Cooper Z, Krumholz HM. Trends in Hospitalizations Among Medicare Survivors of Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States From 1999 to 2010. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2014, 99: 509-517. PMID: 25527425, PMCID: PMC4454375, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.08.045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAortic valve replacementValve replacementHospitalization ratesAnnual Medicare paymentsPrincipal diagnosisOne-year hospitalization rateCommon principal diagnosisRisk of hospitalizationMean lengthGeneral Medicare populationMedicare paymentsPostoperative complicationsHeart failureBlack patientsMedicare patientsHospitalizationMedicare populationMedicare beneficiariesMortality ratePatientsStayCumulative daysCumulative lengthCertain subgroupsSurvivorsReadmissions after Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia among Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study
Ranasinghe I, Wang Y, Dharmarajan K, Hsieh AF, Bernheim SM, Krumholz HM. Readmissions after Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia among Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study. PLOS Medicine 2014, 11: e1001737. PMID: 25268126, PMCID: PMC4181962, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001737.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionMiddle-aged adultsTiming of readmissionHeart failureReadmission ratesAMI cohortReadmission diagnosesHF cohortReadmission riskMyocardial infarctionAge groupsRetrospective observational cohort studyIndex admission diagnosisObservational cohort studySimilar risk patternNon-cardiac diagnosisPneumonia cohortAdmission diagnosisElderly patientsCohort studyPatient characteristicsPrimary outcomePayer statusReadmissionHospitalizationHospital 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
2013
National Trends in Heart Failure Hospitalization After Acute Myocardial Infarction for Medicare Beneficiaries
Chen J, Hsieh AF, Dharmarajan K, Masoudi FA, Krumholz HM. National Trends in Heart Failure Hospitalization After Acute Myocardial Infarction for Medicare Beneficiaries. Circulation 2013, 128: 2577-2584. PMID: 24190958, PMCID: PMC4415510, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.113.003668.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionHF hospitalizationHeart failureMyocardial infarctionMedicare beneficiariesManagement of AMIHeart failure hospitalizationSubsequent HF hospitalizationNumber of patientsNational trendsHigh-risk conditionsContemporary national trendsRelative annual increaseDemographic factorsFailure hospitalizationPerson yearsClinical comorbiditiesNational sampleComplete national sampleHospitalizationMedicare feeAMI hospitalizationService beneficiariesAnnual declineStudy periodDiagnoses and Timing of 30-Day Readmissions After Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia
Dharmarajan K, Hsieh AF, Lin Z, Bueno H, Ross JS, Horwitz LI, Barreto-Filho JA, Kim N, Bernheim SM, Suter LG, Drye EE, Krumholz HM. Diagnoses and Timing of 30-Day Readmissions After Hospitalization for Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Pneumonia. JAMA 2013, 309: 355-363. PMID: 23340637, PMCID: PMC3688083, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.216476.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionCommon readmission diagnosesAcute MI hospitalizationReadmission diagnosesDays of hospitalizationPatient demographic characteristicsHeart failureMyocardial infarctionHF hospitalizationReadmission timingPneumonia hospitalizationsMedian timeMI hospitalizationMedicare feeIndex HF hospitalizationIndex pneumonia hospitalizationProportion of patientsDemographic characteristicsService claims dataMI cohortPneumonia cohortHF cohortCondition categoriesHospitalizationReadmission
2012
Procedure Intensity and the Cost of Care
Chen SI, Dharmarajan K, Kim N, Strait KM, Li SX, Safavi KC, Lindenauer PK, Krumholz HM, Lagu T. Procedure Intensity and the Cost of Care. Circulation Cardiovascular Quality And Outcomes 2012, 5: 308-313. PMID: 22576844, PMCID: PMC3415230, DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.112.966069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCosts and Cost AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHeart FailureHospital Bed CapacityHospital CostsHospital MortalityHospitalizationHospitals, RuralHospitals, TeachingHospitals, UrbanHumansLength of StayLinear ModelsMaleMiddle AgedModels, EconomicOutcome and Process Assessment, Health CareResidence CharacteristicsRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesYoung AdultConceptsHF hospitalizationHeart failureInvasive proceduresHospital groupRisk-standardized mortality ratesProportion of patientsLength of stayCost of careWilcoxon rank sum testHigher procedure ratesRank sum testPatient demographicsPerspective databaseMedian lengthSurgical proceduresProcedure ratesHospitalizationOutcome differencesMortality rateHospitalPatientsPractice styleProcedure useSum testOverall use