title: Effectiveness of a clinical decision support system for reducing the risk of QT interval prolongation in hospitalized patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the effectiveness of a computer clinical decision support system (CDSS) for reducing the risk of QT interval prolongation in hospitalized patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 2400 patients admitted to cardiac care units at an urban academic medical center. A CDSS incorporating a validated risk score for QTc prolongation was developed and implemented using information extracted from patients' electronic medical records. When a drug associated with torsades de pointes was prescribed to a patient at moderate or high risk for QTc interval prolongation, a computer alert appeared on the screen to the pharmacist entering the order, who could then consult the prescriber on alternative therapies and implement more intensive monitoring. QTc interval prolongation was defined as QTc interval >500 ms or increase in QTc of ≥60 ms from baseline; for patients who presented with QTc >500 ms, QTc prolongation was defined solely as increase in QTc ≥60 ms from baseline. End points were assessed before (n=1200) and after (n=1200) implementation of the CDSS. CDSS implementation was independently associated with a reduced risk of QTc prolongation (adjusted odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.89; P<0.0001). Furthermore, CDSS implementation reduced the prescribing of noncardiac medications known to cause torsades de pointes, including fluoroquinolones and intravenous haloperidol (adjusted odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.91; P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A computer CDSS incorporating a validated risk score for QTc prolongation influences the prescribing of QT-prolonging drugs and reduces the risk of QTc interval prolongation in hospitalized patients with torsades de pointes risk factors.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.). jtisdale@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tisdale
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jaynes
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Joanna R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kingery
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Overholser
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Noha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Tate N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN (J.E.T., H.A.J., B.R.O., N.A.M.); Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis (J.E.T., B.R.O., R.J.K.); Department of Pharmacy, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis (J.R.K., T.N.T.).
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D004562:Electrocardiography; D055695:Electronic Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: electrocardiography; medical decision making, computer-assisted; risk score; torsades de pointes