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Published on: July 12, 2024
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Challenges to heart failure medication prescribing post-hospitalization.
Jiaqi Li1, Visopiano Sanyu2, Elise Coia1
1Department of Pharmacy, Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Melbourne, VIC 3144, Australia.
The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
|July 16, 2024
Summary
Prescribing of heart failure (HF) medications, including renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and HF-specific beta-blockers, remains low upon hospital discharge. This study highlights a gap in guideline-recommended HF pharmacotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
- Evidence-based guidelines recommend specific pharmacotherapies for HF management.
- Optimizing medication prescribing at discharge is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current prevalence of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) prescribing upon discharge for patients admitted with heart failure.
- To identify prescribing rates for key HF medication classes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective audit of 216 heart failure admissions over six months.
- Analysis of electronic health records to extract medication data at discharge.
Main Results:
- Prescribing rates for key HF medications at discharge were: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (32.9%), HF-specific beta-blockers (31.5%), aldosterone receptor antagonists (42.6%), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (11.6%), and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (10.6%).
- Overall prescribing of guideline-recommended HF medications remains low.
Conclusions:
- Despite established benefits and guideline recommendations, the prescription of heart failure medications at discharge is suboptimal.
- Further interventions are needed to improve adherence to evidence-based pharmacotherapy for heart failure patients.
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