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Physicians' guideline adherence is associated with better prognosis in outpatients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: the QUALIFY international registry
Author(s) -
Komajda Michel,
Cowie Martin R.,
Tavazzi Luigi,
Ponikowski Piotr,
Anker Stefan D.,
Filippatos Gerasimos S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1002/ejhf.887
Subject(s) - medicine , hazard ratio , heart failure , ivabradine , ejection fraction , guideline , medical prescription , cardiology , confidence interval , digoxin , heart rate , blood pressure , pharmacology , pathology
Aims To evaluate the impact of physicians' adherence to guideline‐recommended medications for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction ( HFrEF ), including ≥50% prescription of recommended doses, on clinical outcomes at 6‐month follow‐up. Methods and results In QUALIFY , an international, prospective, observational, longitudinal survey, 6669 outpatients with HFrEF were recruited 1–15 months after heart failure ( HF ) hospitalization from September 2013 to December 2014 in 36 countries and followed up at 6 months. A global adherence to guidelines score was developed for prescription of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors ( ACEIs ), angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs ), beta‐blockers ( BBs ), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists ( MRAs ) and ivabradine and their dosages. Baseline global adherence score was good in 23% of patients, moderate in 55%, and poor in 22%. At 6‐month follow‐up, poor adherence was associated with significantly higher overall mortality [hazard ratio ( HR ) 2.21, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 1.42–3.44, P =0.001], cardiovascular mortality ( HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.36–3.77, P =0.003), HF mortality ( HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.21–4.2, P =0.032), combined HF hospitalization or HF death ( HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.08–1.71, P =0.024) and cardiovascular hospitalization or cardiovascular death ( HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08–1.69, P =0.013). There was a strong trend between poor adherence and HF hospitalization ( HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04–1.68, P= 0.069). Conclusion Good adherence to pharmacologic treatment guidelines for ACEIs , ARBs , BBs , MRAs and ivabradine, with prescription of at least 50% of recommended dosages, was associated with better clinical outcomes during 6‐month follow‐up. Continuing global educational initiatives are needed to emphasise the importance of guideline recommendations for optimising drug therapy and prescribing evidence‐based doses in clinical practice.