scholarly journals Mixed method study focusing on cost effectiveness of utilizing Guideline Directed Medical Therapy using Secondary and Primary Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lovekirat Singh ◽  
Carly Daley ◽  
Shauna Wagner ◽  
Roy Robertson ◽  
Michael Mirro

Background and Hypothesis:  In the United States, heart failure (HF) affects an increasing 5.8 million people, with healthcare costs estimated at $31 billion (2012). Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) is the primary method to standardize medical care of patients diagnosed with Heart Failure reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). GDMT lowers mortality rates, decreases readmission, and decreases the cost, but the success of GDMT is limited by adherence. We hypothesize increased GDMT prescription through integration of a pharmacist will decrease readmissions and hospital costs.    Methods:  This mixed-methods study involved a literature review and retrospective chart review. Online databases (PubMed, Embase, and Ovid) were searched using keywords related to GDMT and economic outcomes. The research was refined using empirical research and grey literature focusing on healthcare costs and readmission rates.  The chart review is part of a larger study examining the impact of integrating a pharmacist into a cardiology center on GDMT prescription. Inpatient and outpatient charges data was analyzed to determine if integration of a pharmacist led to decreased healthcare costs. This project was supported by Parkview Health and received funding from ACC Accreditation Foundation Board.     Results:  The study is currently ongoing. 70 articles and abstracts were reviewed, and 10 articles fit the criteria focusing on GDMT, healthcare cost, or readmissions. Articles supported a correlation between decreased readmission and overall healthcare cost with compliance to GDMT. Literature also supports the addition of an intervention leading to decreased readmissions. Preliminary charges data analysis showed a decrease in cost by 46% in inpatients and 35% in outpatients after pharmacist intervention.     Conclusion:  We conclude GDMT is associated with decreased healthcare costs due to decreased readmissions. Although there are multiple confounding variables when evaluating the primary data, data showed a  correlation between adding intervention (i.e. pharmacist) and decreasing readmissions and overall healthcare costs. Further studies need to be conducted to show causation.  

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123
Author(s):  
Aashiq A. Shukkoor ◽  
Nimmy E. George ◽  
Shanmugasundaram Radhakrishnan ◽  
Sivakumar Velusamy ◽  
Tamilarasu kaliappan ◽  
...  

Background: The adoption of guideline recommendations of pharmacotherapy to improve the clinical course of Heart Failure (HF) remains below par. Our objective is to evaluate the impact of clinical audit on adherence to the Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) in patients admitted with acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted over a period of 12 months from June 2018 to May 2019 in all patients admitted with acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The discharge prescriptions of patients who met the inclusion criteria were audited for appropriateness in the usage of neurohormonal blockers and Ivabradine, by a clinical pharmacist on a monthly basis. Audit results were presented to the practicing physicians every month and feedback was given. Results: Discharge prescriptions of 716 patients who presented with HF were audited for the reasonable or unreasonable omission of neurohormonal blocking drugs. The first-month audit revealed that the unreasonable omission of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/ Angiotensin Receptor Blockers/ Angiotensin Receptor Neprilisin Inhibitors ( ACEI/ARB/ARNI), Betablockers and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (MRA) were 24.5%, 13.1%, and 9.09% respectively, which reduced to nil at the end of the study period (p=0.00). Initiation of Ivabradine before prescribing or achieving the target dose of Betablocker was noted in 38.18% of patients in the first month, which was also reduced to nil (p=0.00) at the end of the study. Conclusion: This study reveals that periodic clinical audit improves adherence to GDMT in patients admitted with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Azmeen ◽  
Naga Vaishnavi Gadela ◽  
Vergara Cunegundo

Introduction: Heart failure(HF) is a clinical syndrome that is widely prevalent affecting approximately 6.5 million people in the United States. It accounts for the ever-rising health care costs in the US due to recurrent hospitalizations. Despite advancements in medical management, the mortality and the rate of hospitalizations continues to be high with geographic variations and racial disparities. Through this descriptive study, we sought to analyze the health disparities among Hispanic, African American (AA) and Caucasian population in a single-center. Methods: We identified a total of 178 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction from our outpatient clinic by utilizing the ICD-10 codes. Patients with ejection fraction >50% have been excluded. A retrospective chart review of their ethnic background, medications, and number of heart failure exacerbations per year has been performed. Results: 178 patients (mean age 62 years, 35.56% of females) including Hispanics (n=102), AA(n=44), and Caucasians (n=32) were included in the study. Although all patients were started on Beta-blockers, only 76.4% and 37.2% of Hispanics were started on ACEi/ARBs and spironolactone respectively. Similarly, 72.7% and 45.4% of AA were started on ACEi/ARBs and spironolactone respectively. This is in contrast to Caucasians population, where a majority of patients were on started on GDMT; 90% and 75% were started on ACEi/ARBs and spironolactone respectively. This was also reflected by the number of admissions due to HF exacerbations which ranged from 2-4/year for Hispanics and AA populations and 0-1/year for Caucasians. Conclusions: GDMT for HF is known to reduce heart failure exacerbations, mortality and the ever rising cost of the healthcare system. We have observed that despite recommendations to initiate GDMT in all patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, racial disparities exist. Physicians should be mindful of initiating GDMT in all patients.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Savarese ◽  
Camilla Hage ◽  
Ulf Dahlström ◽  
Pasquale Perrone-Filardi ◽  
Lars H Lund

Introduction: Changes in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been demonstrated to correlate with outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (EF). However the prognostic value of a change in NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is unknown. Hypothesis: To assess the impact of changes in NT-proBNP on all-cause mortality, HF hospitalization and their composite in an unselected population of patients with HFPEF. Methods: 643 outpatients (age 72+12 years; 41% females) with HFPEF (ejection fraction ≥40%) enrolled in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry between 2005 and 2012 and reporting NT-proBNP levels assessment at initial registration and at follow-up were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into 2 groups according the median value of NT-proBNP absolute change that was 0 pg/ml. Median follow-up from first measurement was 2.25 years (IQR: 1.43 to 3.81). Adjusted Cox’s regression models were performed using total mortality, HF hospitalization (with censoring at death) and their composite as outcomes. Results: After adjustments for 19 baseline variables including baseline NT-proBNP, as compared with an increase in NT-proBNP levels at 6 months (NT-proBNP change>0 pg/ml), a reduction in NT-proBNP levels (NT-proBNP change<0 pg/ml) was associated with a 45.2% reduction in risk of all-cause death (HR: 0.548; 95% CI: 0.378 to 0.796; p:0.002), a 50.1% reduction in risk of HF hospitalization (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.362 to 0.689; p<0.001) and a 42.6% reduction in risk of the composite outcome (HR: 0.574; 95% CI: 0.435 to 0.758; p<0.001)(Figure). Conclusions: Reductions in NT-proBNP levels over time are independently associated with an improved prognosis in HFPEF patients. Changes in NT-proBNP could represent a surrogate outcome in phase 2 HFPEF trials.


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