Comparison of Household Income In In-Hospital Outcomes After
Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device
Abstract
Introduction: Due to the inability to keep up with the demand for heart
transplantation, there is an increased utilization of left ventricular
assist devices (LVAD). However, paucity of data exists regarding the
association of household income with in-hospital outcomes after LVAD
implantation. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using the NIS to
identify all patients ≥18 years who underwent LVAD implantation from
2011-2017. Statistical analysis was performed comparing low household
income (≤50th percentile) and high income (>50th
percentile). Results: A total of 25,503 patients underwent LVAD
implantation. The low-income group represented 53% and the high-income
group corresponded to 47% of the entire cohort. The low-income group
was found to be younger (mean age 55 ±14 vs. 58 ±14 years), higher
proportion of females (24% vs. 22%), and higher proportion of blacks
(32% vs. 16%, p<0.001 for all). The low-income group was
found to have higher prevalence of hypertension, chronic pulmonary
disease, smoking, dyslipidemia, obesity and pulmonary hypertension
(p<0.001 for all). However, the high-income cohort had higher
rate of atrial tachyarrhythmias and end-stage renal disease
(p<0.001). During hospitalization, patients in the high-income
group had increased rates of ischemic stroke, acute kidney injury, acute
coronary syndrome, bleeding and need of extracorporeal membrane
oxygenation (p<0.001 for all). We found that the unadjusted
mortality had an OR 1.30 (CI [1.21-1.41], p<0.001) and
adjusted mortality of OR 1.14 (CI [1.05-1.23], p=0.002). Conclusion:
In patients undergoing LVAD implantation nationwide, low-income was
associated with increased comorbidity burden, younger age, and fewer
in-hospital complications and all-cause mortality.