| Intervention | Outcome at 3–6 Months | N Studies | N Subjects | Finding | Relative Risk (95% CI) | NNT* | SOE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home-visiting programs | All-cause readmission | 9 | 1563 | ⇩ | 0.75 (0.68 to 0.86) | 9 |
 |
| HF-specific readmission | 1 | 282 | ⇩ | 0.51 (0.31 to 0.82) | 7 |
 | |
| Composite endpoint** | 4 | 824 | ⇩ | 0.78 (0.65 to 0.94) | 10 |
| |
| Mortality | 8 | 1693 | ⇩ | 0.77 (0.60 to 0.997) | 33 |
| |
| Number of hospital days at readmission | 3 | 403 | ⇩ | WMD, -1.17 (-2.44 to 0.09) | NA |
 | |
| Structured telephone support | All-cause readmission | 8 | 2166 | ⬄ | 0.92 (0.77 to 1.10) | NA |
|
| HF-specific readmission | 7 | 1790 | ⇩ | 0.74 (0.61 to 0.90) | 14 |
| |
| Composite endpoint | 3 | 977 | ⬄ | 0.81 (0.58 to 1.12) | NA |
| |
| Mortality | 7 | 2011 | ⇩ | 0.74 (0.56 to 0.97) | 27 |
| |
| Number of hospital days at readmission | 5 | 1189 | ⇩ | WMD, -0.95 (-2.43 to 0.53) | NA |
| |
| Telemonitoring | All-cause readmission | 3 | 434 | ⬄ | 1.11 (0.87 to 1.42) | NA |
|
| HF-specific readmission | 1 | 182 | ⬄ | 1.70 (0.82 to 3.51) | NA |
| |
| Mortality | 3 | 564 | ⬄ | 0.93 (0.25 to 3.48) | NA |
| |
| Multidisciplinary-HF clinic | All-cause readmission | 2 | 336 | ⇩ | 0.70 (0.55 to 0.89) | 8 |
|
| HF-specific readmission | 1 | 106 | – | 0.70 (0.29 to 1.70) | NA |
 | |
| Composite endpoint | 2 | 306 | ⬄ | 0.80 (0.43 to 1.01) | NA |
| |
| Mortality | 3 | 536 | ⇩ | 0.56 (0.34 to 0.92) | 18 |
| |
| Nurse-led HF clinic | All-cause readmission | 2 | 264 | ⬄ | 0.88 (0.57 to 1.37) | NA |
|
| HF-specific readmission | 1 | 158 | – | 0.95 (0.68 to 1.32) | NA |
| |
| Composite endpoint | 1 | 106 | – | 0.66 (0.43 to 1.01) | NA |
| |
| Mortality | 2 | 264 | ⬄ | 0.59 (0.12 to 3.03) | NA |
| |
| Primarily educational interventions | All-cause readmission | 1 | 200 | – | 1.14 (0.84 to 1.54) | NA |
|
| HF-specific readmission | 1 | 223 | – | 0.53 (0.31 to 0.90) | NA |
| |
| Composite endpoint | 2 | 423 | ⬄ | 0.92 (0.58 to 1.47) | NA |
| |
| Mortality | 2 | 423 | ⬄ | 1.20 (0.52 to 2.76) | NA |
|
95% CI = 95-percent confidence interval; HF = heart failure; N = number; NA = not available; NNT = number needed to treat; SOE = strength of evidence; WMD = weighted mean difference; ⇩ = reduced; ⬄ = no difference vs. control; – = evidence is insufficient
An NA entry for NNT indicates that the relative risk (95% CI) was not statistically significant and that an NNT was not calculated.
The composite endpoint comprises all-cause readmission or death.
From: Transitional Care Interventions To Prevent Readmissions for People With Heart Failure
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