Heart Failure Readmission After Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement: Five-Year Follow-Up in the Medicare Population

The authors explored readmission rates for heart failure after MV repair/replacement in the US Medicare population as a means for assessing quality.  The preop heart failure rate in this population was 61%.  Readmission rates were 25% at 30 days and 78% at 5 years; they were substantially higher for those with preop heart failure and were higher for those undergoing valve repair rather than valve replacement.