Clinical pharmacy specialist implementation of lisinopril therapy in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
As the results of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation trial suggested that patients with both coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus would benefit from angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy, our objective was to increase the percentage of patients with both of these conditions receiving the goal dosage (20 mg/day) or highest tolerated dosage of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril through intervention of a clinical pharmacy service.


METHODS
Prospective study with historic comparison (control group).


METHODS
Clinical Pharmacy Cardiac Risk Service.


METHODS
Hospitalized patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes mellitus.


RESULTS
At hospital discharge, lisinopril 5 mg/day was started in eligible patients; the drug was titrated to a goal dosage of 20 mg/day or the highest tolerated dosage. Potassium level, serum creatinine level, and blood pressure were monitored at baseline, at each dosage titration, and 2 weeks after the goal or highest tolerated dosage was reached. The group receiving usual care (control group) consisted of 95 patients; the treatment group had 101 patients. At baseline, 19 patients (20%) in the control group were receiving the goal dosage of lisinopril, 34 (36%) were taking a suboptimal dosage, 16 (17%) were excluded from treatment, and 26 (27%) were eligible but were not receiving lisinopril therapy. After 9 months, ACE inhibitor dosages had changed minimally in the control group. In the treatment group, at baseline, 37 patients (36%) were at their goal dosage and therefore titration was not necessary; 15 (15%) were receiving a suboptimal dosage, 35 (35%) were excluded from treatment, and 14 (14%) were eligible but not receiving therapy. After the titration period, 55 (54%) treatment group patients were at the goal dosage, 11 (11%) were taking a suboptimal dosage, and 35 (35%) were not candidates for ACE inhibitor therapy. The most common reasons for exclusion were renal insufficiency, cough, and baseline hypotension. Changes in potassium level, serum creatinine level, and blood pressure were not significant during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical pharmacy service more than doubled the number of patients with CAD and diabetes who achieved the goal dosage of an ACE inhibitor, a drug class that has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in this patient population.
McConnell
Karen J
KJ
School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, USA. Karen.McConnell@kp.org
Humphries
Tammy L
TL
Raebel
Marsha A
MA
Merenich
John A
JA
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017706:Lisinopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D017706:Lisinopril