Using Electronic Pharmacy Intervention to Optimize Adherence to Beta-blocker Therapy in Patients With Heart Failure
Hope Kimura, PharmD; Kristina De Los Santos, PharmD, BCPS; Stephanie J. Davis, PharmD; and Emily Sager, PharmD
Dr. Kimura is a clinical pharmacist at the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. Dr. De Los Santos is assistant chief, pharmacy service line clinical and education and pharmacy residency director; Dr. Davis is assistant residency director and a clinical pharmacist; and Dr. Sager is a clinical pharmacist, all at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System in Tucson.
Cardiology research, including landmark trials, has demonstrated that 3 beta-blockers (BBs), bisoprolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol succinate, reduce mortality in heart failure (HF) patients.1-6 As a result, National Clinical Practice Guidelines strongly recommend using 1 of 3 BBs proven to reduce mortality in all stable patients who have current or prior symptoms of HF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), unless contraindicated (Class I, Level of evidence A).7-8