Abstract P589: Utilization of Pulmonary Artery Sensor (CardioMEMS Device) During the Sars-CoV-2 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The implantation of wireless pressure monitoring devices has allowed remote monitoring of hemodynamic data in patients with congestive heart failure. Devices such as the (CardioMEMS HF System) achieve this by remotely monitoring changes in pulmonary artery pressure, which has been shown to be a signal of worsening heart failure. The benefits of wireless pressure monitoring devices in reducing mortality and hospitalizations have been shown in clinical trial data. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its use has not been studied. The aim of this study was to examine if the COVID-19 pandemic led to gender and race differences in in-hospital outcomes, length of stay, and total hospital charges in pulmonary artery sensor insertion. Methods: Data was extracted from the National Inpatient Sample database for the calendar year 2020. Patients implanted with a wireless pressure monitoring device were identified using relevant International Classification of Disease, and Clinical Modification codes. The study sample was stratified based on gender and race. The key outcomes of length of stay, total hospitalization cost, and mortality were then accessed. Results: A total of 485 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 66.3 years, 32% (155 of 485) were female and 70% (340 of 485) were Caucasian. The overall inpatient mortality rate was 3.09% (15 of 485), 76.2% (370 of 485) of admissions were non elective, mean length of hospitalization was 14.87 days and mean total hospital charges was 349,599 US dollars. We found no association between differences in mortality rates between both gender and race. Regarding total hospital charges, there was a significant less amount of total hospital charges for females (P<0.05) but not between races. There was no significant difference between length of hospital stay for gender or race. Conclusion: Analysis of this large database of patients undergoing wireless pressure monitoring device implantation suggests that in-hospital mortality and length of stay were comparable in both gender and race during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic. However, females had a significantly less amount of hospital charges. Our study suggests that further randomized data is needed to fully assess gender disparities in patients implanted with wireless pulmonary artery pressure devices.