Improving medication optimisation in left ventricular systolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction.

Glasgow city has the highest cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate in the UK. Patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction represent a 'high-risk' cohort for adverse CVD outcomes. The optimisation of secondary prevention medication in this group is often suboptimal. Our aim was to improve the use and target dosing of ACE inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and beta-blockers in such patients, through pharmacist-led clinics and cardiology multidisciplinary team collaboration. Retrospective audits characterised baseline care. Prospective pharmacist-led clinics were piloted and rolled out across seven hospitals and primary care localities over four Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. 'Hub' and 'spoke' clinics utilised independent prescribing pharmacists with different levels of cardiology experience. Pharmacists were trained through a bespoke training programme-'Teach and Treat'. Consultant cardiologists provided senior support and governance. Patients attending prospective pharmacist-led clinics were more likely to be prescribed an ACEI (or ARB) and beta-blocker (n=856/885 (97%) vs n=233/255 (91%), p<0.001 and n=813/885 (92%) vs n=224/255 (88%), p=0.048, respectively) and be on target dose of ACEI (or ARB) and beta-blocker (n=585/885 (66%) vs n=64/255 (25%), p<0.001 and n=218/885 (25%) vs n=17/255 (7%), p<0.001, respectively) compared with baseline. The mean dose of ACEI (or ARB) and beta-blocker was also higher (79% vs 48% of target dose, p<0.001% and 48% vs 33% of target dose, p<0.001, respectively) compared with baseline. Use of secondary prevention medication was significantly improved by pharmacist and cardiology collaboration. These improvements were sustained across a 4-year period, supported by a novel approach called 'Teach and Treat' which linked training to defined clinical service delivery. Further work is needed to assess the impact of the programme on long-term CVD outcomes.

A competency framework for clinical pharmacists and heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Heart failure is an escalating 'pandemic' with malignant outcomes. Clinical pharmacist heart failure services have been developing for the past two decades. However, little clarity is available on the additional advanced knowledge, skills and experience needed for pharmacists to practice safely and competently. We aimed to provide an expert consensus on the minimum competencies necessary for clinical pharmacists to deliver appropriate care to patients with heart failure. METHODS: There were four methodological parts; (1) establishing a project group from experts in the field; (2) review of the literature, including existing pharmacy competency frameworks in other specialities and previous heart failure curricula from other professions; (3) consensus building, including developing, reviewing and adapting the contents of the framework; and (4) write-up and dissemination to widen the impact of the project. KEY FINDINGS: The final framework defines minimum competencies relevant to heart failure for four different potential levels of specialism: all pharmacists regardless of role (Stage 1); all patient-facing clinical pharmacists (Stage 2); clinical pharmacists with specific planned roles in the care of heart failure patients (Stage 3); and regionally/nationally/internationally recognised expert pharmacists with a direct specialism in heart failure (Stage 4). CONCLUSIONS: The framework delivers the vital first step needed to help standardise care, give pharmacists a blueprint for career progression and continuing professional development and bring clarity to the role of the pharmacist. Future collaboration between professional bodies and training providers is needed to develop structured programmes to align with the framework and facilitate training and resultant accreditation.

The need for pharmaceutical care in the prevention of coronary heart disease: an exploratory study in acute myocardial infarction patients.

AIM: To determine guideline-related pharmaceutical care issues for the prevention of coronary heart disease in hospitalised patients admitted for myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of Q-wave MI to two large teaching hospitals were studied. Relevant patient medical and drug histories, co-morbidities and total cholesterol concentrations were recorded. Primary or secondary prevention treatment prior to admission was assessed using a data collection tool of 16 criteria developed from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of adherence to defined clinical guideline criteria. RESULTS: There were 167 patients reviewed (mean age 65 years, 111 males), representing possible candidates for primary prevention (n = 98) or secondary prevention (n = 69) based on absence or presence of past history of coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively. Possible primary prevention candidates: eight guideline-based criteria were developed from the SIGN guideline. There were 85 (87%) patients with a total cholesterol concentration available on admission of whom 56 (66%) had a predicted CHD risk > or = 15% and 10 (12%) had CHD risk > or = 30%. Of those with CHD risk > or = 15% 6 (11%) had been receiving an anti-platelet agent and of those with CHD risk > or = 30% only 1 (10%) was recorded as taking a statin. Of known hypertensives with CHD risk > or = 15%, 21% (5/24) were not recorded as having received treatment. Secondary prevention candidates: a further eight guideline-based criteria were developed from the SIGN guidelines. There were 42/65 (65%) candidates for aspirin documented as receiving it. There were 22/47 (47%) of those who had a total cholesterol > or = 5 mmol/l and/or known history of hypercholesterolaemia receiving a statin (representing 76% of the known hypercholesterolaemic patients identified in the community). Of statin-treated patients with a cholesterol measured on admission, 44% (7/16) had cholesterol remaining > or = 5 mmol/l. Beta-blocker use was 27/62 (44%) and ACE inhibitors use was 11/31 (36%) of those eligible. Sublingual GTN was recorded in 36/69 (52%). CONCLUSION: The study has identified opportunities for improved pharmaceutical care in primary and secondary CHD prevention among those destined to suffer an MI. Candidates for secondary prevention are potentially identifiable from community pharmacy patient medication records from which the contribution of pharmacists in primary care might be targeted. The findings were obtained during a period of evolution of the evidence-base and so they establish a baseline for future work.