A tool for assessment of heart failure prescribing quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Development of a scale to gain insight into the experience of living with chronic heart failure: The UNAV-Experience of Living with Chronic Heart Failure Scale

BACKGROUND

To date, there are no tools for the nursing staff to gain systematic insight on the experience lived by patients with chronic heart failure. The objective of this study was to develop a scale for this purpose.

METHODS

The study was conducted between January 2018 and December 2020 in three Spanish hospitals. The process described by DeVellis was used for the development of the scale. The items were built based on a phenomenological study and a systematic review of the literature. Next, feedback from a panel of experts was obtained, the scale was administered to a sample of patients with chronic heart failure, and a cognitive interview and an observational study were conducted to create the final version of the scale.

RESULTS

The first version of the scale had in seven domains and 76 items. After its evaluation by a panel of experts, it was reduced to a second version with six domains and 55 items. Following the administration of Version 2 to 17 patients (58.8% male, mean age 59.53, 70.6% classified as NYHA functional class II), five items were modified and two eliminated. Thus, the third version of the UNAV-CHF Experience Scale was composed of six domains and 53 items.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the development of the UNAV-experience of living with chronic heart failure scale. It is an original and novel instrument that allows systematically explore this experience. A larger-scale study is necessary to confirm the validity of our scale.

Use of heart failure medications in older individuals and associations with cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

To achieve the best treatment of heart failure, it is important to use all recommended drugs at their target doses. Given that underuse of medications can occur in individuals with cognitive impairment, we investigated the filled prescriptions and target doses of heart failure medication for older individuals with and without cognitive impairment as well as associated factors.

METHODS

The study was based on two separate datasets. The first dataset, which was based on data from questionnaires sent to nursing homes in Sweden, included 405 individuals with heart failure. The data were linked with the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and the National Patient Register to obtain information regarding filled prescriptions of heart failure medications and heart failure diagnoses among the population. In the second dataset, medical records of individuals aged 75 years or older admitted to a hospital in northern Sweden were reviewed and individuals with heart failure were identified. Target doses of heart failure medications were evaluated in 66 individuals who lived at home.

RESULTS

Filled prescriptions of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and loop diuretics were significantly more common in individuals without cognitive impairment (OR 1.087; 95% CI 1.026-1.152, p < 0.05) and (OR 1.057; 95% CI 1.017-1.098, p < 0.05), respectively. There were no significant differences between individuals with and without cognitive impairment in terms of achieving target doses for any of the drug classes. A higher age was associated with fewer filled prescriptions and less ability to reach the target doses of beta blockers (OR 0.950; 95% CI 0.918-0.984, p < 0.05) and (OR 0.781; 95% CI 0.645-0.946, p < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that individuals with cognitive impairment are partly undertreated for heart failure in that they had fewer filled prescriptions of important heart medications. Separately, the relatively low proportion of older individuals reaching target doses is an important observation and indicates that treatment of heart failure could be further optimised among older individuals.

The role of discharge checklist in guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) during hospitalization is recommended for patients with heart failure (HF). However, GDMT is underutilized in real-world practice. This study evaluated the role of a discharge checklist on GDMT.

METHODS

This was a single-center, observational study. The study included all patients hospitalized for HF between 2021 and 2022. The clinical data were retrieved from the electronic medical records and discharge checklist published by the Korean Society of Heart Failure. The adequacy of GDMT prescriptions was evaluated in three ways: the total number of GDMT drug classes and two types of adequacy scores. The primary endpoint was the incidence of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization due to HF within 2 months of discharge.

RESULTS

Overall, the checklist was completed by 244 patients (checklist group) and was not completed in 171 patients (non-checklist group). The baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups. At discharge, a higher proportion of patients in the checklist group received GDMT than in the non-checklist group (67.6% vs. 50.9%, p = 0.001). The incidence of primary endpoint was lower in the checklist group compared to the non-checklist group (5.3% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.018). The use of the discharge checklist was associated with significantly lower risk of death and rehospitalization in the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.92; p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Discharge checklist usage is a simple but effective strategy for GDMT initiation during hospitalization. The discharge checklist was associated with better outcome in patients with HF.

Factors influencing prescribing by critical care physicians to heart failure patients in Egypt: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Heart failure (HF) guideline-led prescribing improves patient outcomes; however, little is known about the factors influencing guideline-led prescribing in critical care settings. This study used a cross-sectional survey to assess the factors that influence physicians when prescribing to heart failure patients in a critical care setting in Egypt.

Results

The response rate was 54.8%. The international HF guidelines were the primary source of prescribing information for 84.2% of respondents. Staff were more familiar with the latest guideline recommendations than associate staff (86.7% vs 36.8%, p = 0.012) and considered patient’s perspectives more often (86.7% vs 26.3%, p = 0.036). Renal function was the clinical factor that most frequently influenced the prescribing of loop diuretics or renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors. Pulmonary function influenced beta-blockers prescription. The most frequently cited barrier to guideline-led prescribing was the absence of locally drafted guidelines. A majority of prescribers agreed that implementation of clinical pharmacy services, physician education and electronic reminders may improve the implementation of guideline-led prescribing.

Conclusions

Although experienced physicians are familiar with and use international guidelines, physicians would welcome local guidance on HF prescribing and greater clinical pharmacist input.

Multivariable Analysis of Primary Care Physician Adherence to Guideline-recommended Pharmacotherapy of Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Aim. To study predictors of primary care physician adherence to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy of stable coronary artery disease.

Material and methods. This pharmacoepidemiologic cross-sectional study was conducted in primary care setting of Moscow. 805 patients (mean age 68.9±9.9 years, males 51.4%) with established stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) were included. Demography, medical history, prescribed pharmacological treatment data were obtained. Physician adherence to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy (GRP) of SCAD was evaluated based on the Class I guideline recommendations. Pharmacotherapeutic guideline adherence index (PGAI) was introduced as composite quality indicator, calculated in line with “all-or-none” rule and in regard with documented contraindications. To search for predictors of adherence the patient population was divided in two groups by level of physician adherence measured by PGAI. Statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 16.0, the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results. The prescription rates of essential drug therapies of SCAD (regarding contraindications) were quite adequate: beta-blockers/calcium channel blockers – 90,1%, acetylsalicylic acid/clopidogrel/oral anticoagulants – 95,7%, statins/ezetimibe – 86,3%, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers – 87,6%. 82,9% (n=667) of patients were prescribed treatment for SCAD in compliance with the guidelines. Suboptimal pharmacotherapy was identified in 17,1% (n=138) of patients. These groups were similar in sex distribution (males 50,4 vs. 56,5%; p=0,188). Mean age tended to be lower in GRP adherent group (68,5±9,9 vs. 70,6±10,0 years; p=0,052). Bivariable analysis showed that good adherence to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy was associated with higher prevalence of stable angina (66,4 vs. 53,6%; p=0,004), arterial hypertension (93,3 vs. 79,7%; p<0,001) and dyslipidemia (21,4 vs. 9,4%; p<0,001) and with lower prevalence of myocardial infarction (48,1 vs. 67,4%; p<0,001). Logistic multivariable regression model (gender, age, 6 medical history variables) identified 6 patient-related factors that were significantly associated with physician adherence to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy: age (odds ratio [OR] 0,97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0,95-0,99; p=0,009), arterial hypertension (OR 3,89; 95%CI 2,19-6,90; p<0,001), dyslipidemia (OR 2,31; 95%CI 1,23-4,34; p=0,009), chronic heart failure (OR 1,95; 95%CI 1,06-3,61; p=0,032), revascularization (OR 2,14; 95%CI 1,33-3,45; p=0,002), myocardial infarction (OR 0,28; 95%CI 0,16-0,48; p<0,001).

Conclusion. Primary care cardiologist adherence to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy of SCAD was satisfactory evaluated as 82,9% by composite indicator PGAI. Arterial hypertension, heart failure, dyslipidemia и revascularization were predictors of better physician adherence. History of myocardial infarction and older age were risk factors of non-adherence. Identification of patient-related factors associated with underperformance may facilitate tailoring quality improvement interventions in primary care of coronary patients.

Factors associated with non-use and sub-target dosing of medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

In clinical practice, many patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are either not prescribed guideline-directed medical therapies for which they are eligible or are prescribed therapies at sub-target doses. The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with not receiving guideline-directed medical therapies or receiving sub-target doses. We conducted a systematic review of articles published between January 2014 and May 2019 that described dosing patterns and factors associated with non-use and sub-target dosing of HFrEF therapies in clinical practice. Thirty-seven studies were included. The percentages of patients reaching target doses for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, sacubitril/valsartan, beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists ranged from 4 to 55%, 11 to 87%, 4 to 60%, and 22 to 80%, respectively. Older age and worsening renal function were associated with non-use and sub-target dosing, lower body mass index was commonly associated with non-use, and hyperkalemia and hypotension were commonly associated with sub-target dosing. In conclusion, several common patient characteristics are associated with non-use and sub-target dosing of medical therapy for HFrEF. These high-risk groups are in particular need of further studies to improve implementation of available medications and to define the role of novel therapies.

Guideline-led prescribing to ambulatory heart failure patients in a cardiology outpatient service

Background Guidelines recommend heart failure (HF) patients be treated with multiple medications at doses proven to improve clinical outcomes. Objective To study guideline-led prescribing in an Irish outpatient HF population. Setting Cardiology Outpatient Clinic, Mercy University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. Methods Guideline-led prescribing was assessed using the Guideline Adherence Index (GAI-3), that considered the prescribing of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers; beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. The GAI-based target dose was calculated based on the prescription of ≥ 50% of the guideline-recommended target dose of each of the three GAI medications to HF patients with ejection fraction ≤ 40%. High-GAI was achieved by prescription of ≥ 2 GAI medicines. Potentially inappropriate prescribing was assessed using a HF-specific tool. Main outcome measure Heart failure guideline-led prescribing assessed using the GAI-3. Results A total of 127 HF patients, mean age 71.7 ± 13.1 years, were identified in the study. Seventy-one patients had ejection fraction ≤ 40%. Population mean GAI-3 was 65.8%. When contraindications to therapy are considered, the adjusted GAI-3 increased to 72.9%. The target dose GAI was 18.5%. High-GAI management was prescribed to 54 patients (76.1%). A potentially inappropriate medicine in HF was prescribed to 14 (19.7%) patients. Conclusion Most HF patients with ejection fraction ≤ 40% in this setting received optimal guideline-led prescribing however the proportion of patients achieving the target doses of these agents was suboptimal.

Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (PIP-HFrEF)

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition. Heart Failure patients are usually at high risk of polypharmacy and consequently, potentially inappropriate prescribing leading to poor clinical outcomes. Based on the published literature, a comprehensive HF-specific prescribing review tool is compiled to avoid medications that may cause HF or harm HF patients and to optimize the prescribing practice of HF guideline-directed medical therapies. Recommendations are made in line with the last versions of ESC guidelines, ESC position papers, scientific evidence, and experts' opinions.

Heart Failure Prescribing Quality at Discharge from a Critical Care Unit in Egypt: The Impact of Multidisciplinary Care

Discharge prescriptions for heart failure (HF) patients may not adhere to the clinical practice guidelines. This study aimed to assess the impact of the clinical pharmacist as a member of a multidisciplinary team on the quality of prescribing to HF patients at discharge from a Critical Care Unit (CCU) in Egypt. This was a retrospective cohort study of HF patients discharged from the CCU between January 2013 and December 2017. Guideline Adherence Index (GAI-3) was used to assess guideline-directed prescribing at discharge. Multidisciplinary care was introduced to the CCU on 1 January 2016. The study included 284 HF patients, mean (±SD) age 66.7 ± 11.5 years, 53.2% male. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction affected 100 patients (35.2%). At discharge, loop diuretics were prescribed to 85.2% of patients; mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to 54.9%; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers to 51.4%; and β-blockers to 29.9%. Population Guideline Adherence Index (GAI-3) was 45.5%. High-GAI was prescribed to 136 patients (47.9%). Patients with High-GAI were younger; less affected by chronic kidney disease and had fewer comorbidities than those without High-GAI. Prescription of β-blocker increased (24.1% vs. 38.6%, p < 0.001) and digoxin utilization decreased (34.7% vs. 23.7%, p < 0.049) after the introduction of the multidisciplinary care. The inclusion of a clinical pharmacist in the multidisciplinary care team may have a role in optimizing the prescribing of HF guideline-directed therapies at discharge from this setting.