Issue:
A major pharmaceutical client sought to better understand whether select renal biomarkers associated with acute heart failure (AHF) were predictive of patient outcomes (readmission risk, mortality risk, lengthy length of stay and high costs).
Solution:
- We identified and characterized distinct patient phenotypes that had either persistent worsening renal function (WRFp) or transient worsening renal function (WRFt) or who were neither (non-WRF) based on criteria gleaned from the literature and clinical expert input.
- Using hospital claims data, we first identified and characterized the patient cohorts based on their WRF status. A series of GLM and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the likelihood of the WRF cohorts in experiencing the outcomes of interest. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to ensure the robustness of the key findings. This study was the first of its kind to determine the impact on length of stay and costs among patients with WRFp and WRFt.
- Two abstracts have been submitted to medical conferences and accepted for presentation. A manuscript highlighting the key findings from this analysis has been submitted and accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
