Patterns of Treatment in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study

Abstract

PurposeWe described medication use patterns among REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) participants hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (152 hospitalizations, 101 unique individuals).\n\nMethodsMedication data were obtained from medical record review and Medicare Part D pharmacy claims. We compared discharge medication prescriptions between patients with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes.\n\nResultsThe mean age was 74.8 years, 53.3% were black and 73.7% were female. Hypertension (97.2%), diabetes (65.1%), COPD (51.3%), CKD (41.1%) and history of CHD (60.9%) were common. On admission and discharge, respectively, beta-blockers (66.4%, 72.7%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (42.8%, 51.7%), diuretics (61.2%, 80.9%), loop diuretics (55.9%, 78.3%), calcium channel blockers (41.0%, 41.2%) and statins (44.7%, 50.3%) were commonly used. Spironolactone, digoxin, hydralazine plus isosorbide dinitrate (HISDN), isosorbide dinitrate alone and aldosterone receptor antagonists were used by <20%. For each medication, prescriptions were more common at discharge than admission. Many participants did not have Medicare claims for filled prescriptions in the year following discharge. A higher percentage of patients with versus without CKD, CHD, and diabetes had discharge prescriptions statins. Participants with CKD were also more likely to receive prescriptions for HISDN.\n\nConclusionBeta-blockers and diuretics were commonly prescribed at admission and discharge among HFpEF, but pharmacy claims for these medications within one-year were substantially less common. The comorbidities CHD, CKD, and diabetes were associated with prescriptions of statins at discharge.