The impact of a cardio-geriatric integrated care on mortality and readmissions in older patients with Heart Failure. Results of a quasi-experimental study

Abstract Background Despite advancements in heart failure (HF) management, older adults still experience adverse outcomes. Post-discharge care for frail elders is often complicated by non-cardiac events and Hospital-Acquired Deconditioning Syndrome. While an integrated multidisciplinary approach combining cardiological and geriatric expertise appears highly beneficial, it remains underutilized. Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated Cardio-Geriatric approach in improving one-year mortality, reducing HF readmissions and increasing days-alive-out-of-hospital (DAOH) among older patients discharged from acute care hospitals. Methods The study utilized a before-and-after design. The study enrolled two groups of patients: the first consisted of individuals aged ≥ 65 years hospitalized for acute HF between January 2018 and December 2019, receiving usual care (UC) post-discharge follow-up (referral to a cardiologist and general practitioner); the second group evaluated outpatients in the Cardio-Geriatric ambulatory clinic (CG) within three weeks after discharge for acute HF between January 2020 and December 2022. Primary outcomes included one-year all-cause mortality, HF readmissions and DOAH. Cox Regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, frailty status, and main comorbidities assessed CG effectiveness. Results Among 606 patients (mean age 86 years, 56% females), 477 received US, the remaining 175 were referred to the CG. At 1-year follow-up we observed a significant reduction in re-hospitalizations between CG and UC (36.5% vs. 53.6%; respectively, p < 0.001) and mortality (20% vs. 44.8%; respectively, p < 0.001). CG patients had more than double DAOH (300 ± 100 vs 156 ± 145 days, p <0.001). Cox regression analysis confirmed CG integrated approach as a protective factor for mortality or re-hospitalization even after adjustment for confounders [aHR 0.50; 95% CI (0.28-0.89)]. Respiratory diseases, neurological conditions, and infections were common causes of readmission, emphasizing the need for comprehensive post-discharge care. Conclusion The Cardio-Geriatric integrated approach significantly improved outcomes, highlighting the potential of integrated care in addressing the multifaceted needs of older adults with heart failure