title: The relationship of medication regimen to hospital readmissions for older adults with heart failure.
abstract: The purpose of this part of a longitudinal study was to examine whether medication therapy for older adults with heart failure predicted days to readmission post-hospital discharge. Using a prospective, predictive design, a convenience sample included 127 older adults with heart failure who had been recently discharged from two hospitals in northeastern Ohio. One hundred five patients were prescribed diuretics, 49 angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 23 b blockers, and 47 digoxin. There were no significant differences between readmitted and non-readmitted patients with regard to the use of the specific classes of cardiac medications. None of the specific classes of cardiac medications predicted the number of days between the initial hospital discharge and readmission 3 months later. The use of a small, non-probability sample and exclusion of variables limit the results of the study. Effective case management with teaching about heart failure must address changes involved with heart failure and the use of medication therapy. More research is needed about treatment protocols in various regions of the United States.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3701, USA. karen12@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Roobin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowery
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D004232:Diuretics