A non-experimental study of oral anticoagulation therapy initiation before and after national patient safety goals

作者:Beadles Christopher A*; Lich Kristen Hassmiller; Viera Anthony J; Greene Sandra B; Brookhart M Alan; Weinberger Morris
来源:BMJ Open, 2014, 4(2): e003960.
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003960

摘要

Objectives The Joint Commission revised its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) to include oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) in 2008. We sought to examine the effect of including OAT in The Joint Commission's NPSGs on historically low rates of OAT initiation for individuals with incident atrial fibrillation (AF). Setting Southeastern state in the USA. Participants North Carolina State Health Plan claims data from 944500 individuals enrolled between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010, supplemented with data from the Area Resource File and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting data network. We evaluated OAT initiation before and after the 2008 NPSGs revisions in a retrospective cohort new user design with an AF intervention group and two control groups: a positive controlpatients estimated to be at very high risk of thromboembolism (mechanical heart valve and pulmonary embolism); and a negative controlpatients with very low perceived risk of thromboembolism (paroxysmal AF). We developed multivariable models using a difference-in-difference parameterisation. Effects were estimated with generalised estimating equations. Primary outcome measure OAT initiation, a binary outcome defined as having a prescription drug claim for warfarin within 30days of the index claim. Results OAT initiation was low (26.8%) for eligible individuals with incident AF in 2006-2008 but increased after NPSGs implementation (31.7%, p=0.022). OAT initiation was high but decreased in the positive control group (67.5% vs 62.0%, p=0.003). Multivariate analysis resulted in a relative 11% (95% CI (4% to 18%), p<0.01) increase in OAT initiation for incident AF patients. Conclusions We document a substantial increase in guideline concordant OAT initiation in incident AF after the establishment of NPSGs, suggesting that regulatory healthcare agency initiatives can influence clinical practice.

  • 出版日期2014