title: Characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced chronic systolic heart failure receiving care at the Veterans Affairs versus other hospitals: insights from the Beta-blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Characteristics and outcomes of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction receiving care at Veterans Affairs (VA) versus non-VA hospitals have not been previously reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the randomized controlled Beta-blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST; 1995-1999), of the 2707 (bucindolol=1353; placebo=1354) patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, 918 received care at VA hospitals, of which 98% (n=898) were male. Of the 1789 receiving care at non-VA hospitals, 68% (n=1216) were male. Our analyses were restricted to these 2114 male patients. VA patients were older with higher symptom and comorbidity burdens. There was no significant between-group difference in unadjusted primary end point of 2-year all-cause mortality (35% VA versus 32% non-VA; hazard ratio associated with VA hospitals, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.26), which remained unchanged after adjustment for age and race (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.16) or multivariable adjustment, including cardiovascular morbidities (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.10). There was no between-group difference in cause-specific mortalities or hospitalizations. Chronic kidney disease, pulmonary edema, left ventricular ejection fraction <20%, and peripheral arterial disease were significant predictors of mortality for both groups. African America race, New York Heart Association class IV symptoms, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular ejection fraction <20% were associated with higher mortality among non-VA hospital patients only; however, these differences from VA patients were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction receiving care at VA hospitals were older and sicker; yet their risk of mortality and hospitalization was similar to younger and healthier patients receiving care at non-VA hospitals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000560.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Linda G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Mo-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Fadi G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Raya E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kheirbek
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Charity J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zile
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Wen-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deedwania
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Gregg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Sumanth D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.). aliahmedmdmph@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.); Department of Medicine (L.G.J., F.G.H., S.D.P.) and Department of Biostatistics (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Adult Health, Seattle University College of Nursing, Seattle, WA (M.-K.S.); Office of the Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC (R.E.K., R.D.F., A.A.); Department of Medicine, The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (M.R.Z.); Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI (W.-C.W.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (P.D.); Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (G.C.F.); Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla (W.S.A.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Geriatrics and Extended Care Services, Washington, DC (R.M.A.).
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Allman
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
keywords: hospitals; outcomes; systolic heart failure; veterans