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Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker at Discharge
Unless otherwise contraindicated, the protocol at Strong Memorial Hospital includes prescribing an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker medication for patients with heart failure at discharge.
From
January 2006 to June 2006,
86% of patients with heart failure at Strong Memorial Hospital received a discharge prescription for an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker medication unless otherwise contraindicated.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Routine lifelong use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (or angiotensin receptor blockers) is recommended for heart failure patients with a lower than usual ejection fraction (40% or less).
Yet, a new study shows that nearly half of heart failure patients were not prescribed ACE inhibitors upon hospital discharge, and almost one-third of those discharged with ACE inhibitors had stopped taking them within a year.
Considering that almost 50% of heart failure patients are readmitted to the hospital within 6 months of discharge, underuse of ACE inhibitors is a significant problem" (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 2, 2004: 43(11); 2036-2043).