Dataset Information

Age and receipt of guideline-recommended medications for heart failure: a nationwide study of veterans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older patients often receive less guideline-concordant care for heart failure than younger patients.

Objective

To determine whether age differences in heart failure care are explained by patient, provider, and health system characteristics and/or by chart-documented reasons for non-adherence to guidelines.

Design and patients

Retrospective cohort study of 2,772 ambulatory veterans with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction <40% from a 2004 nationwide medical record review program (the VA External Peer Review Program).

Main measures

Ambulatory use of ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and beta blockers.

Results

Among 2,772 patients, mean age was 73 +/- 10 years, 87% received an ACE inhibitor or ARB, and 82% received a beta blocker. When patients with explicit chart-documented reasons for not receiving these drugs were excluded, 95% received an ACE inhibitor or ARB and 89% received a beta blocker. In multivariable analyses controlling for a variety of patient and health system characteristics, the adjusted odds ratio for ACE-inhibitor and ARB use was 0.43 (95% CI 0.24-0.78) for patients age 80 and over vs. those age 50-64 years, and the adjusted odds ratio for beta blocker use was 0.66 (95% CI 0.48-0.93) between the two age groups. The magnitude of these associations was similar but not statistically significant after excluding patients with chart-documented reasons for not prescribing ACE inhibitors or ARBs and beta blockers.

Conclusions

A high proportion of veterans receive guideline-recommended medications for heart failure. Older veterans are consistently less likely to receive these drugs, although these differences were no longer significant when accounting for patients with chart-documented reasons for not prescribing these drugs. Closely evaluating reasons for non-prescribing in older adults is essential to assessing whether non-treatment represents good clinical judgment or missed opportunities to improve care.

SUBMITTER: Steinman MA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3181303 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Age and receipt of guideline-recommended medications for heart failure: a nationwide study of veterans.

Steinman Michael A MA Harlow John B JB Massie Barry M BM Kaboli Peter J PJ Fung Kathy Z KZ Heidenreich Paul A PA

Journal of general internal medicine 20110521 10

<h4>Background</h4>Older patients often receive less guideline-concordant care for heart failure than younger patients.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether age differences in heart failure care are explained by patient, provider, and health system characteristics and/or by chart-documented reasons for non-adherence to guidelines.<h4>Design and patients</h4>Retrospective cohort study of 2,772 ambulatory veterans with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction <40% from a 2004 nationwi ...[more]

PMID: 21604076

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Although hypokalemia has been viewed as a significant concern among patients with heart failure (HF), recent advances in HF management tend to increase the risk of hyperkalemia. OBJECTIVE:To characterize contemporary data regarding correlates and prognostic values of dyskalemia in patients with HF. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, we studied 142,087 patients with newly diagnosed HF in US nationwide Veterans Administration database from 2005 through 2013. EXPOSURES:Demographic characteristics, laboratory variables, comorbidities, and medication use for the analysis of correlates of dyskalemia as well as potassium level in the analysis of mortality. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:Dyskalemia and mortality. RESULTS:Hypokalemia (<3.5 mmol/L) at baseline was observed in 3.0% of the population, whereas hyperkalemia (?5.5 mmol/L) was seen in 0.9%. An additional 20.4% and 5.7% had mild hypokalemia (3.5-3.9 mmol/L) and mild hyperkalemia (5.0-5.4 mmol/L). Key correlates were black race, higher blood pressure, and use of potassium-wasting diuretics for hypokalemia, and lower kidney function for hyperkalemia. Baseline potassium levels showed a U-shaped association with mortality, with the lowest risk between 4.0-4.5 mmol/L. With respect to potassium levels over a year after HF diagnosis, persistent (>50% of measurements), intermittent (>1 occurrence but ?50%), and transient (1 occurrence) hypo- and hyperkalemia were also related to increased mortality in a graded fashion regardless of the aforementioned thresholds for dyskalemia. These dyskalemic patterns were also related to other clinical actions and demands such as emergency room visit. CONCLUSIONS:Potassium levels below 4 mmol/L and above 5 mmol/L at and after HF diagnosis were associated with poor prognosis and the clinical actions. HF patients (particularly with risk factors for dyskalemia like black race and kidney dysfunction) may require special attention for both hypo- and hyperkalemia.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:Ischaemic heart diseases (IHDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide. Although prescribing according to guidelines improves health outcomes, it remains suboptimal. We determined whether interventions targeted at healthcare professionals are effective to enhance prescribing and health outcomes in patients with IHDs. METHODS:We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2017. We included original studies of interventions targeted at healthcare professionals to enhance prescribing guideline-recommended medications for IHDs. We only included randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Main outcomes were the proportion of eligible patients receiving guideline-recommended medications, the proportion of patients achieving target blood pressure and target low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)/cholesterol level and mortality rate. Meta-analyses were performed using the inverse-variance method and the random effects model. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS:We included 13 studies, 4 RCTs (1869 patients) and 9 cluster RCTs (15?224 patients). 11 out of 13 studies were performed in North America and Europe. Interventions were of organisational or professional nature. The interventions significantly enhanced prescribing of statins/lipid-lowering agents (OR 1.23; 95%?CI 1.07 to 1.42, P=0.004), but not other medications (aspirin/antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers and the composite of medications). There was no significant association between the interventions and improved health outcomes (target LDL-C and mortality) except for target blood pressure (OR 1.46; 95%?CI 1.11 to 1.93; P=0.008). The evidence was of moderate or high quality for all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:Organisational and professional interventions improved prescribing of statins/lipid-lowering agents and target blood pressure in patients with IHDs but there was little evidence of change in other outcomes. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER:CRD42016039188.

Project description:ObjectivesThis study sought to describe the patterns of heart failure (HF)-exacerbating medications used among older adults hospitalized for HF and to examine determinants of HF-exacerbating medication use.BackgroundHF-exacerbating medications can potentially contribute to adverse outcomes and could represent an important target for future strategies to improve post-hospitalization outcomes.MethodsMedicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age with an adjudicated HF hospitalization between 2003 and 2014 were derived from the geographically diverse REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke) cohort study. Major HF-exacerbating medications, defined as those listed on the 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Statement listing medications that can precipitate or induce HF, were examined. Patterns of prescribing medications at hospital admission and at discharge were examined, as well as changes that occurred between admission and discharge; and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify determinants of harmful prescribing practices following HF hospitalization (defined as either the continuation of an HF-exacerbating medications or an increase in the number of HF-exacerbating medications between hospital admission and discharge).ResultsAmong 558 unique individuals, 18% experienced a decrease in the number of HF-exacerbating medications between admission and discharge, 19% remained at the same number, and 12% experienced an increase. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18 to 2.75]) and small hospital size (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.18 to 3.16) were the strongest, independently associated determinants of harmful prescribing practices.ConclusionsHF-exacerbating medication regimens are often continued or started following an HF hospitalization. These findings highlight an ongoing need to develop strategies to improve safe prescribing practices in this vulnerable population.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Five guideline-recommended medication categories are available to treat patients who have heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. However, adherence to these medications is often suboptimal, which places patients at increased risk for poor health outcomes, including hospitalization. We aimed to examine the association between adherence to these medications and potentially preventable HF hospitalizations among younger insured adults with newly diagnosed HF. METHODS AND RESULTS:Using the 2008-2012 IBM MarketScan Commercial database, we followed 26,439 individuals aged 18-64 years with newly diagnosed HF and calculated their adherence (using the proportion of days covered (PDC) algorithm) to the five guideline-recommended medication categories: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers; beta blockers; aldosterone receptor antagonists; hydralazine; and isosorbide dinitrate. We determined the association between PDC and long-term preventable HF hospitalizations (observation years 3-5) as defined by the United States (U.S.) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Overall, 49.0% of enrollees had good adherence (PDC≥80%), which was more common among enrollees who were older, male, residing in higher income counties, initially diagnosed with HF in an outpatient setting, and who filled prescriptions for fewer medication categories assessed. Adherence differed by medication category and was lowest for isosorbide dinitrate (PDC = 60.7%). In total, 7.6% of enrollees had preventable HF hospitalizations. Good adherers, compared to poor adherers (PDC<40%), were 15% less likely to have a preventable hospitalization (HR 0.85, 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.96). CONCLUSION:We found that approximately half of insured U.S. adults aged 18-64 years with newly diagnosed HF had good adherence to their HF medications. Patients with good adherence, compared to those with poor adherence, were less likely to have a potentially preventable HF hospitalization 3-5 years after their initial diagnosis. Because HF is a chronic condition that requires long-term management, future studies may want to assess the effectiveness of interventions in sustaining adherence.

Dataset Information

Age and receipt of guideline-recommended medications for heart failure: a nationwide study of veterans.

Background

Objective

Design and patients

Main measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Age and receipt of guideline-recommended medications for heart failure: a nationwide study of veterans.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure