ACE inhibitor or ARB at discharge
In 2009, 97 percent of patients with heart failure at Community Health Network and The Indiana Heart Hospital received a discharge prescription for an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker medication unless otherwise contraindicated.
|
|
CHE
|
CHN
|
CHS
|
CHA
|
TIHH
|
Network
|
National
|
|
Patients Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB at Discharge
|
83
|
17
|
75
|
82
|
136
|
393
|
NR
|
|
Total Patients Treated
|
90
|
19
|
76
|
82
|
138
|
405
|
NR
|
|
Percentage
|
92%
|
89%
|
99%
|
100%
|
99%
|
97%
|
90%
|
|
Data period: January - December 2009
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View key
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What is an ACE inhibitor medication and what does it do for the heart?
An ACE inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme) is a type of medicine used to treat heart attacks, heart failure, or a decreased function of the left side of your heart. ACE inhibitors can help reduce the risk of death from a heart attack if taken within 24 hours of the first symptoms of a heart attack. Continued use may help prevent heart failure. ACE inhibitors work by stopping the production of a hormone that narrows blood vessels. This helps reduce the pressure in your heart and lower blood pressure. If you have a heart attack, you should get a prescription for ACE inhibitors before you leave the hospital.
Why is it important for certain patients to receive the ACE inhibitor medicine after suffering a heart attack?
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 percent or less). Yet, a new study shows that nearly half of heart failure patients were not prescribed ACE inhibitors on hospital discharge, and almost one-third of those discharged with ACE inhibitors had stopped taking them within a year. Considering that almost 50 percent 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)
Unless otherwise contraindicated, the protocol at Community Health Network and The Indiana Heart Hospital includes prescribing an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker medication for patients with heart failure at hospital discharge.
Key
CHE = Community Hospital East
CHN = Community Hospital North
CHS = Community Hospital South
CHA = Community Hospital Anderson
TIHH = The Indiana Heart Hospital
NR = Not Reported
Network = Networkwide Total
National = National Total reported by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
= Be careful when drawing conclusions for these hospitals because of the small number of patients treated for this condition.