Trial Outcomes & Findings for Veterans Affairs Lowering Readmission in Heart Failure (NCT NCT01144182)

NCT ID: NCT01144182

Last Updated: 2015-10-16

Results Overview

Assesses General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

136 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

3 months after discharge

Results posted on

2015-10-16

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Overall Study
STARTED
68
68
Overall Study
COMPLETED
51
47
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
17
21

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Overall Study
Death
5
6
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
3
6
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
9
9

Baseline Characteristics

Veterans Affairs Lowering Readmission in Heart Failure

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=68 Participants
Current best practice (CBP) receives the current treatment for patients discharged with heart failure
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=68 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Total
n=136 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
75.3 years
n=5 Participants
74.8 years
n=7 Participants
74.8 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
66 Participants
n=5 Participants
68 Participants
n=7 Participants
134 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White (non-Hispanic)
37 participants
n=5 Participants
30 participants
n=7 Participants
67 participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black (non-Hispanic)
14 participants
n=5 Participants
16 participants
n=7 Participants
30 participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Hispanic
13 participants
n=5 Participants
19 participants
n=7 Participants
32 participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
4 participants
n=5 Participants
3 participants
n=7 Participants
7 participants
n=5 Participants
Marital Status
Married
15 participants
n=5 Participants
18 participants
n=7 Participants
33 participants
n=5 Participants
Marital Status
Not Married
53 participants
n=5 Participants
50 participants
n=7 Participants
103 participants
n=5 Participants
Education
High school graduate or below
34 participants
n=5 Participants
32 participants
n=7 Participants
66 participants
n=5 Participants
Education
Some college or higher
34 participants
n=5 Participants
36 participants
n=7 Participants
70 participants
n=5 Participants
Employment status
Employed
6 participants
n=5 Participants
4 participants
n=7 Participants
10 participants
n=5 Participants
Employment status
Not employed
62 participants
n=5 Participants
64 participants
n=7 Participants
126 participants
n=5 Participants
Campus
Manhattan
50 participants
n=5 Participants
45 participants
n=7 Participants
95 participants
n=5 Participants
Campus
Brooklyn
18 participants
n=5 Participants
23 participants
n=7 Participants
41 participants
n=5 Participants
BNP
645.0 pg/mL
n=5 Participants
739.0 pg/mL
n=7 Participants
696.0 pg/mL
n=5 Participants
Number of heart failure medications
3 number of heart failure medications
n=5 Participants
3 number of heart failure medications
n=7 Participants
3 number of heart failure medications
n=5 Participants
Length of hospital stay
6 days
n=5 Participants
6 days
n=7 Participants
6 days
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Assesses General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
General Quality of Life From the Standardized Physical Component Score
31.6 units on a scale
Interval 25.4 to 38.5
35.5 units on a scale
Interval 28.0 to 44.3

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the MLHFQ, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Measured by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Scores range from 0-105, with higher scores indicating poorer QOL.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Heart Failure Specific Quality of Life
42.5 units on a scale
Interval 20.0 to 67.0
38.0 units on a scale
Interval 21.0 to 55.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Assesses General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Standardized Mental Component Score
48.8 units on a scale
Interval 35.6 to 58.9
53.2 units on a scale
Interval 39.6 to 58.5

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Physical Functioning
37.5 units on a scale
Interval 15.0 to 60.0
41.4 units on a scale
Interval 25.0 to 65.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36. Additionally, a second participant in CBP did not complete the role physical subscale items, leaving a total of 49 in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=49 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Role Physical
50.0 units on a scale
Interval 18.8 to 68.8
53.1 units on a scale
Interval 31.3 to 87.5

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Pain Index
51.0 units on a scale
Interval 31.0 to 84.0
61.5 units on a scale
Interval 41.0 to 100.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
General Health
41.0 units on a scale
Interval 20.0 to 57.0
57.0 units on a scale
Interval 35.0 to 77.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Vitality
45.0 units on a scale
Interval 30.0 to 65.0
50.0 units on a scale
Interval 35.0 to 70.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Social Functioning
62.0 units on a scale
Interval 37.5 to 75.0
75.0 units on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 100.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Role Emotional
66.7 units on a scale
Interval 33.3 to 100.0
75.0 units on a scale
Interval 50.0 to 100.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the VR-36, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of General Quality of Life from VR-36, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher score indicating better quality of life

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Mental Health
74.0 units on a scale
Interval 56.0 to 88.0
80.0 units on a scale
Interval 48.0 to 88.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (HF-specific quality of life measure). Scores range from 0-40, with higher scores indicating poorer QOL.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Physical Subscale of Heart Failure Specific Quality of Life
21.5 units on a scale
Interval 8.0 to 32.0
19.0 units on a scale
Interval 9.0 to 24.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months after discharge

Population: 51 patients in CBP and 47 patients in QIP had a follow-up visit. However, 1 participant in each arm did not complete the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, such that there are only 50 participants analyzed in CBP and 46 in QIP for this outcome.

Subscale of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (HF-specific quality of life measure). Scores range from 0-25, with higher scores indicating poorer QOL.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=50 Participants
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=46 Participants
Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Emotional Subscale of Heart Failure Specific Quality of Life
7.0 units on a scale
Interval 3.0 to 18.0
6.0 units on a scale
Interval 3.0 to 13.0

Adverse Events

Current Best Practice (CBP)

Serious events: 7 serious events
Other events: 6 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Quality Improvement Program (QIP)

Serious events: 8 serious events
Other events: 5 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=68 participants at risk
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=68 participants at risk
Quality improvement program (QIP) The comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
General disorders
Death
7.4%
5/68 • Number of events 5
8.8%
6/68 • Number of events 6
Cardiac disorders
myocardial infarction
2.9%
2/68 • Number of events 2
2.9%
2/68 • Number of events 2

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Current Best Practice (CBP)
n=68 participants at risk
CBP received no intervention and only current best practices for inpatient HF care.
Quality Improvement Program (QIP)
n=68 participants at risk
Quality improvement program (QIP) The comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP): Comprehensive quality improvement program (QIP) that intervenes on patient, provider and system levels. The QIP will consist of 3 monthly phone calls to promote diet and medication adherence using the transtheoretical model as a behavioral framework and checklists to facilitate patients' self-monitoring of their diet, physical activity, weight and medication taking. Further, providers during the posttest phase will use checklists for inpatient and outpatient care of HF patients.
Surgical and medical procedures
Coronary artery bypass graft
1.5%
1/68 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/68
Cardiac disorders
angina
2.9%
2/68 • Number of events 2
1.5%
1/68 • Number of events 1
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
broken bone
0.00%
0/68
1.5%
1/68 • Number of events 1
Cardiac disorders
hypertensive emergency
4.4%
3/68 • Number of events 3
4.4%
3/68 • Number of events 3

Additional Information

Sundar Natarajan, MD, M.Sc.

VA New York Harbor Healthcare System

Phone: 212-951-3395

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place