Clinical implications of an accurate problem list on heart failure treatment.
BACKGROUND
The premise of the problem-oriented medical record is that an accurately defined problem list will directly result in more thorough and efficient patient care. However, little empirical evidence exists demonstrating improved patient outcomes as a result of an adequately structured problem list.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of problem list documentation of heart failure on the likelihood that evidence-based pharmacotherapy has been prescribed.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Community-based primary care clinics in Portland, Oregon.


METHODS
Active patients in the network with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less, with and without heart failure, in their structured problem list.


METHODS
The proportion of patients prescribed medications with known benefits for systolic dysfunction.


RESULTS
In this group of patients with known systolic dysfunction, the likelihood of therapy with either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker was higher in patients who had heart failure listed on their problem list compared to patients who did not (92.2% vs 76.7%; P<.05). This association remained after statistical adjustment for age, gender, and ejection fraction. Patients with accurate problem list entries were also more likely to receive digoxin (61.1% vs 36.7%; P=.001) and spironolactone (26.7% vs 13.3%; P=.025). There were no differences in the use of beta-blockers between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate documentation of heart failure on the problem list of patients with known systolic dysfunction is associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of being prescribed medications with known clinical benefit.
Hartung
Daniel M
DM
Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, OR, USA.
Hunt
Jacquelyn
J
Siemienczuk
Joseph
J
Miller
Heather
H
Touchette
Daniel R
DR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000804:Angiotensin II; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008501:Medical Records, Problem-Oriented / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002216:Captopril