title: Nonprescription medication use in patients with heart failure: assessment methods, utilization patterns, and discrepancies with medical records.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of over-the-counter products, herbals, and vitamins or supplements (collectively termed "nonprescription medications") is common among individuals with cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine patterns and predictors of nonprescription medication use and assessed whether different survey methodology may result in variable patient reporting of these products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We surveyed 161 patients with heart failure. The first 80 participants were provided a written survey to complete during their clinic appointment, and the next 80 age-matched participants met with study personnel for survey administration via face-to-face interview. Over-the-counter product use was reported by 88% of participants, whereas 34.8% took herbal supplements, and 65.2% took vitamins or supplements. Users of nonprescription medications were older, more likely to have an ischemic etiology, and concomitant chronic conditions. No differences in reporting were noted for patient versus provider-administered surveys. Discrepancies between survey and medical record data were common (40.4%), occurring most frequently with nonprescription aspirin, proton pump inhibitors, magnesium, and acetaminophen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of study participants used nonprescription medications, and often did not report usage to health care providers. Patient education regarding importance of disclosure of nonprescription medications is crucial, as is consistent querying of use by heart failure providers.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holschbach
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Electronic address: ovardeny@pharmacy.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vardeny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: Heart failure; herbal supplements; over-the-counter medications; vitamins