title: Patient adherence to evidence-based pharmacotherapy in systolic heart failure and the transition of follow-up from specialized heart failure outpatient clinics to primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Undertreatment with evidence-based pharmacotherapy for heart failure (HF) is an important problem, and it has been suggested that specialized HF clinics (HFCs) can improve treatment initiation and correct dosing. The objective of this study was to examine long-term adherence to and dosages of evidence-based pharmacotherapy during and after participation in specialized HFCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initiation, dosages, and adherence were studied in patients with systolic HF attending HFCs in Denmark from 2002 to 2009. Information was obtained from an electronic patient file and research database used in the HFCs combined with prescription data from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. A total of 8792 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 68 years; with a mean LVEF of 30%, and 72% were males. Long-term adherence to treatment was high for the patients who initiated renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers. Adherence after 1 year was 93% for RAS inhibitors, 92% for beta-blockers, and 86% for spironolactone. After 3 years, it was 90% for RAS inhibitors, 88% for beta-blockers, and 74% for spironolactone. For patients referred back to their general practitioner (GP), adherence 1 year after they left the HFC was 89% for RAS inhibitors, 89% for beta-blockers, and 72% for spironolactone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In specialized outpatient HFCs, long-term adherence to RAS inhibitors and beta-blockers is close to optimal. Importantly, adherence was maintained after patients were referred back to their GP for continued management. This is likely to provide long-term benefits for the patients.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Gentofte University Hospital, post 635, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. anne@gjesing.com
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Gjesing
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Schou
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Torp-Pedersen
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Køber
authors: Finn
authors: F
authors: Gustafsson
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Hildebrandt
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Videbæk
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Wiggers
authors: Malene
authors: M
authors: Demant
authors: Mette
authors: M
authors: Charlot
authors: Gunnar H
authors: GH
authors: Gislason
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004232:Diuretics; D013148:Spironolactone
keywords: Compliance/adherence; Drugs; Epidemiology; Heart failure; Heart failure clinic