INTRODUCTION: Heart failure hospitalization is a hallmark of disease progression associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Benefits of multidisciplinary clinics have been established in the care of heart failure patients and can be particularly impactful post-hospital discharge. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a clinical pharmacist-integrated model of care within a Heart Failure Bridge Clinic (HFBC) at a large tertiary care referral center. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% discharged from Mission Hospital (Asheville, North Carolina) between August 2018 and July 2019 were screened. Patients in the HFBC arm had a clinic visit inclusive of a clinical pharmacist within 30 days of hospital discharge and were compared with a control group of patients with a usual care provider clinic visit. The HFBC provided clinical assessment, detailed heart failure education, and medication reconciliation and adjustment with an emphasis on optimization of Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT). Patients were followed for 90 days for the primary end point of hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visit, or death. RESULTS: A total of 1463 patients (HFBC, n = 307; control, n = 1156) comprised our final cohort. After accounting for baseline variables, 90-day cumulative probability of hospitalization, ED visit, or death favored HFBC patients (26% vs 32%, P = .0275). Comprehensive review of medications prior to and after HFBC appointment demonstrated significant alterations to therapies (30% GDMT addition, 27% GDMT titration, 7.2% discontinuation of medications associated with worsening heart failure, and 28% loop diuretic adjustment). CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacist-integrated HFBC allows for focused medication review and optimization and is associated with a 19% relative risk reduction in hospitalization, ED visit, or death at 90 days.
INTRODUCTION: Heart failure hospitalization is a hallmark of disease progression associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Benefits of multidisciplinary clinics have been established in the care of heart failure patients and can be particularly impactful post-hospital discharge. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a clinical pharmacist-integrated model of care within a Heart Failure Bridge Clinic (HFBC) at a large tertiary care referral center. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% discharged from Mission Hospital (Asheville, North Carolina) between August 2018 and July 2019 were screened. Patients in the HFBC arm had a clinic visit inclusive of a clinical pharmacist within 30 days of hospital discharge and were compared with a control group of patients with a usual care provider clinic visit. The HFBC provided clinical assessment, detailed heart failure education, and medication reconciliation and adjustment with an emphasis on optimization of Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT). Patients were followed for 90 days for the primary end point of hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visit, or death. RESULTS: A total of 1463 patients (HFBC, n = 307; control, n = 1156) comprised our final cohort. After accounting for baseline variables, 90-day cumulative probability of hospitalization, ED visit, or death favored HFBC patients (26% vs 32%, P = .0275). Comprehensive review of medications prior to and after HFBC appointment demonstrated significant alterations to therapies (30% GDMT addition, 27% GDMT titration, 7.2% discontinuation of medications associated with worsening heart failure, and 28% loop diuretic adjustment). CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacist-integrated HFBC allows for focused medication review and optimization and is associated with a 19% relative risk reduction in hospitalization, ED visit, or death at 90 days.
Authors: Clyde W Yancy; Mariell Jessup; Biykem Bozkurt; Javed Butler; Donald E Casey; Mark H Drazner; Gregg C Fonarow; Stephen A Geraci; Tamara Horwich; James L Januzzi; Maryl R Johnson; Edward K Kasper; Wayne C Levy; Frederick A Masoudi; Patrick E McBride; John J V McMurray; Judith E Mitchell; Pamela N Peterson; Barbara Riegel; Flora Sam; Lynne W Stevenson; W H Wilson Tang; Emily J Tsai; Bruce L Wilkoff Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2013-06-05 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Clyde W Yancy; Mariell Jessup; Biykem Bozkurt; Javed Butler; Donald E Casey; Monica M Colvin; Mark H Drazner; Gerasimos S Filippatos; Gregg C Fonarow; Michael M Givertz; Steven M Hollenberg; JoAnn Lindenfeld; Frederick A Masoudi; Patrick E McBride; Pamela N Peterson; Lynne Warner Stevenson; Cheryl Westlake Journal: Circulation Date: 2017-04-28 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Genevieve M Hale; Sonia L Hassan; Scott L Hummel; Carrie Lewis; David Ratz; Michael Brenner Journal: Ann Pharmacother Date: 2017-03-09 Impact factor: 3.154
Authors: Steven M Hollenberg; Lynne Warner Stevenson; Tariq Ahmad; Vaibhav J Amin; Biykem Bozkurt; Javed Butler; Leslie L Davis; Mark H Drazner; James N Kirkpatrick; Pamela N Peterson; Brent N Reed; Christopher L Roy; Alan B Storrow Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2019-09-13 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Cynthia A Jackevicius; Noelle K de Leon; Lingyun Lu; Donald S Chang; Alberta L Warner; Freny Vaghaiwalla Mody Journal: Ann Pharmacother Date: 2015-08-10 Impact factor: 3.154