Evaluating the Prognostic Value of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Scores for 6‐Month Readmissions in Southeast Asian Populations With Heart Failure

TL;DR

The study finds that higher KCCQ scores in Southeast Asian heart failure patients are linked to lower 6-month readmission rates, suggesting they can be used as a clinical indicator.

Contribution

The study evaluates the KCCQ-12's prognostic value for 6-month readmissions in a Southeast Asian HF population using a stepwise model selection approach.

Findings

Higher KCCQ scores were significantly associated with lower 6-month readmission rates (adjusted OR = 0.929, p = 0.0255).

Incorporating KCCQ scores improved the predictive model's AUC from 0.64 to 0.82.

KCCQ-12 scores recorded at the first post-discharge visit effectively predicted 6-month HF readmissions.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent cause of hospital readmissions. Our study aims to determine the correlation between the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) scores and 6‐month readmission in our Southeast Asian population.

We evaluated KCCQ‐12 in a cohort of 180 patients at first post‐discharge visit after a recent hospitalization for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Logistic regression was used to determine the predictive significance of the KCCQ scores for 6‐month HF readmission. The selection of predictive parameters was performed using Stepwise Akaike Information Criterion (StepAIC).

Out of 180 patients, 52 (29%) were readmitted for HF within 6 months. The mean KCCQ score was higher in the non‐readmitted group (78.5) compared to the readmitted group (69.7, p = 0.0129). Multivariate analysis indicated a significant association between higher KCCQ scores (better health status) and lower HF readmission rates (adjusted OR = 0.929, p = 0.0255). The initial predictive model, using patient demographic data, had an AUC score of 0.64. Integrating KCCQ scores with demographics, length of stay (LOS), medical history and discharge medication variables raised the AUC score to 0.82.

KCCQ scores recorded at first post‐discharge encounter were found to have a significant relationship with 6‐month readmissions in our cohort, suggesting that KCCQ scores can serve as an effective clinical indicator of 6 month readmissions.

Stepwise model selection using the Akaike Information Criterion was employed to create a streamlined predictive model that included only the most significant variables. The predictive power of the KCCQ overall score was assessed within this optimized model. The model performance suggests that KCCQ‐12 is effective in predicting 6‐month HF readmissions.

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