Pharmacist review of 60 outpatient heart failure patients identified numerous drug therapy-related issues, resulting in recommendations to modify the regimen in 22% (63) of the identified issues.
Observational (n=60)
Does pharmacist-driven intervention identify and resolve drug therapy-related issues in outpatient heart failure patients?
Pharmacist-driven medication reviews in outpatient heart failure clinics identify a high prevalence of drug therapy-related issues and lead to actionable regimen modifications.
BACKGROUND: The Ambulatory Cardiac Triage, Intervention, and Education (ACTIVE) infusion unit is an outpatient center that aims to provide heart failure (HF) patients with comprehensive multidisciplinary interventions. OBJECTIVE: To describe the patient population served in ACTIVE and to document the prevalence of comorbidities and drug therapy-related issues (DRIs) in order to define the most effective role of a pharmacist in the unit. METHODS: Patients who have been interviewed by a pharmacist in ACTIVE were included. Comprehensive medical and medication profile reviews were performed. Patient comorbidities were documented, and DRIs were classified. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included. Most prevalent cardiac comorbidities included hypertension (73%) and hyperlipidemia (62%). Top 3 noncardiac comorbidities included chronic kidney disease (60%), diabetes (50%), and obesity (35%). The prevalence of DRI was reported as follows: (1) needs additional/alternative therapy (untreated indication 37 or suboptimal therapeutic choice 46), (2) wrong drug (major drug-drug interaction 90, contraindication 11, or duplicate therapy 1), (3) suboptimal dosing (17), (4) dose exceeds recommended maximum (9), and (5) adverse drug reaction (93). In 63 (22%) of the DRIs, a pharmacist made recommendations to modify the regimen. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DRI is high even among HF patients managed in a subspecialty cardiovascular practice. Pharmacists in this setting play a vital role in more effectively resolving DRI.
Dempsey et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Heart failure (n=60). Pharmacist interview and medication profile review was evaluated on Prevalence of comorbidities and drug therapy-related issues (DRIs). Pharmacist review of 60 outpatient heart failure patients identified numerous drug therapy-related issues, resulting in recommendations to modify the regimen in 22% (63) of the identified issues.