A Comparison of Prescribing Guideline-Advocated Treatment for Heart Failure at Discharge from Cardiology and Non-Cardiology Wards

BACKGROUND: Adherence to heart failure (HF) management guidelines is important to optimise clinical outcomes but can be variable in practice. This study compared prescribing guideline-advocated pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of HF between patients discharged from cardiology and non-cardiology wards. METHOD: A retrospective audit of electronic medical records was undertaken of patients discharged from cardiology (n=100) or non-cardiology wards (n=100) of a tertiary hospital with a primary diagnosis of HF. Non-pharmacological management was quantified from documentation in medical records. Drug prescription was determined based on patients' discharge summaries. Comparisons between wards were conducted using Student's t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous data and chi square tests or Fisher's tests for categorical data. Binary logistic regression modelling was applied. RESULTS: Patients discharged from non-cardiology wards were older and had a higher incidence of hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and renal insufficiency than those discharged from cardiology wards. The prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)/angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists at any dose (52% vs 80%; p<0.01, 25% vs 52%; p<0.01, respectively) were lower in non-cardiology than in cardiology wards, but there was no difference between wards for beta blockers. Referral to cardiac rehabilitation (4% vs 28%; p<0.01) before discharge was significantly lower in non-cardiology wards. Increased age was associated with less likelihood of the prescription of ACEIs/ARBs/ARNIs and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists at any dose and ≥50% target dose. Better renal function was a predictor for ACEIs/ARBs/ARNIs at any dose and ≥50% target dose. Discharge ward was not in itself an independent predictor of drug prescription at any dose or for any drug class. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription rates with key components of pharmacological and non-pharmacological HF management were lower in non-cardiology than in cardiology wards. For pharmacological management, this appeared related to higher patient complexity rather than the ward. Quality improvement programs to strengthen adherence to guideline-advocated treatment is warranted to optimise care, especially for higher complexity admitted to a non-cardiology ward.