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(Ivanhoe Newswire) A new study suggests patients are underusing the treatment of aldosterone antagonist therapy, which is part of a guideline-recommended treatment for heart failure patients.
Clinical trials have already proven the effectiveness of aldosterone antagonist therapy in fighting the action of the adrenal hormone aldosterone in patients with heart failure. A new study conducted by Nancy M. Albert, PhD., R.N., of the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues examined recent aldosterone antagonist use among hospitalized patients with HF.
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Researchers found that 28.8 percent of the 12,565 patients from 201 hospitals participating met the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) management guidelines for heart failure treatment. Of those eligible patients who met the ACC/AHA guideline, 32.5 percent received an aldosterone antagonist at a hospital discharge.
These data confirm that in the context of a hospital-based performance improvement program, aldosterone antagonist therapy can be used according to guidelines with little inappropriate use, researchers concluded. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality risk faced by patients hospitalized with heart failure and the established efficacy of aldosterone antagonist prescription in heart failure, a stronger update of aldosterone antagonist therapy indicted by evidence-based guidelines may be warranted.
SOURCE: JAMA, October 21, 2009
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