Discharge Planning in Emergency Department for Frail Older With AHF

Discharge Planning in Emergency Department to Reduce 30-day Adverse Outcomes for Frail Older Patients With Acute Heart Failure: Design and Rationale of DEED FRAIL-AHF Clinical Trial Study

Objectives: To demonstrate the efficacy of care transition holistic intervention (Multilevel Guided Discharge Planning, MGDP) in reducing 30-day adverse outcomes among frail older patients with acute heart failure (AHF) discharged from Emergency Departments (EDs) and to validate the results of MGDP in real life.

Method: Investigators will select frail patients ≥70 years with primary diagnosis of AHF discharged from EDs. The intervention will consist of MGDP implementation: 1) checklist that includes clinical recommendations and resources activations; 2) scheduling of early visit with the specialist; 3) communication with primary care; 4) providing a written instruction sheet to patient or caregiver. Phase 1: matched-pair cluster randomized clinical trial. EDs were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. Investigators will compare the outcomes between intervention and control groups. Phase 2: a quasi-experimental study. The 20 EDs will carry out the intervention. Investigators will compare the outcomes between phase 1 and phase 2 of intervention group and between phase 1 and phase 2 of control group. The main outcome is a 30-day composite endpoint (ED revisit or hospital admission for AHF and cardiovascular death) after being discharged.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥70 years.
• Diagnosis of descompensated chronic heart failure.
• Screening for frailty positive (ISAR ≥ 2).
• Planned discharge home from Emergency Department (included observation and short stay unit).
• Written informed consent provided by the patient or proxy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• De novo (new onset) acute heart failure (AHF).
• Severe episode of acute heart failure (≥9th decile of MEESSI-AHF Score).
• Uncorrected clinically significant primary valvular disease.
• Acute coronary syndrome currently or within 30 days prior to enrolment.
• Surgery or implanted device within 30 days prior to enrolment.
• Significant arrhythmias.
• Uncorrected systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg, O2 saturation baseline < 92%, heart rate < 60 or >110 bpm, serum sodium < 130 mmol/l, serum potassium >5,5 mmol/l or hemoglobin <9 g/dL prior to enrolment.
• Planned treatment with vasoactive therapies, ventricular assist device, heart surgery or transplant within 6 months.
• End stage renal disease.
• Severe disability.
• Difficulty intervention due to significant dementia, active delirium or psychiatric disorder.
• Condition with a life expectancy <1 year.
• Length of stay in Emergency Department ≥96 hours.
• Discharged to facility care.
• Inability of outpatient follow-up.