Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2011
Abstract
Aims: We sought to: (1) estimate the proportion of patients who initiated beta-blocker therapy after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Regione Emilia-Romagna (RER); (2) examine predictors of post-AMI beta-blocker initiation; and (3) assess adherence to such therapy.
Methods and Results: Using healthcare claims data covering all of RER, we identified a cohort of 24,367 patients with a hospitalization for AMI between 2004 and 2007, who were discharged from the hospital alive and without contraindications to beta-blocker therapy. We estimated the proportion of eligible patients with at least one prescription for a beta-blocker following discharge and performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of post-AMI beta-blocker initiation. We computed the proportion of days covered (PCD) as a measure of medication adherence at 6 and 12 months post-discharge. Following discharge, 16,383 (67%) cohort members initiated beta-blocker therapy. Independent predictors of beta-blocker initiation included age and receipt of invasive procedures during hospitalization, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-2.81), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.31-1.54), and cardiac catheterization (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11-1.32). Among initiators, adherence to beta-blocker treatment at 6 and 12 months was low and decreased in each study year.
Conclusion: Overall, use of and adherence to post-AMI beta-blocker therapy was suboptimal in RER between 2004 and 2007. Older patients and those with indicators of frailty were less likely to initiate therapy. The proportion of patients adherent at 6 and 12 months decreased over time.
Recommended Citation
Maio, PharmD, MS, MSPH, Vittorio; Marino, PhD, Massimiliano; Robeson, MD, Mary; and Gagne, PharmD, MS, Joshua J, "Beta-blocker initiation and adherence after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction." (2011). College of Population Health Faculty Papers. Paper 47.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/healthpolicyfaculty/47
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabiliation
Volume 18, Issue 3, June 2011, Pages 438-445.
The published version is available at DOI: 10.1177/1741826710389401. Copyright © European Society of Cardiology