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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Jan;21(1):22-9.
doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.00268.x.

Randomized controlled trial of an informatics-based intervention to increase statin prescription for secondary prevention of coronary disease

William T Lester  1 , Richard W Grant, G Octo Barnett, Henry C Chueh
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized controlled trial of an informatics-based intervention to increase statin prescription for secondary prevention of coronary disease

William T Lester et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Suboptimal treatment of hyperlipidemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is well documented. We report the impact of a computer-assisted physician-directed intervention to improve secondary prevention of hyperlipidemia.

Design and setting: Two hundred thirty-five patients under the care of 14 primary care physicians in an academically affiliated practice with an electronic health record were enrolled in this proof-of-concept physician-blinded randomized, controlled trial. Each patient with CAD or risk equivalent above National Cholesterol Education Program-recommended low-density lipoprotein (LDL) treatment goal for greater than 6 months was randomized, stratified by physician and baseline LDL. Physicians received a single e-mail per intervention patient. E-mails were visit independent, provided decision support, and facilitated "one-click" order writing.

Measurements: The primary outcomes were changes in hyperlipidemia prescriptions, time to prescription change, and changes in LDL levels. The time spent using the system was assessed among intervention patients.

Results: A greater proportion of intervention patients had prescription changes at 1 month (15.3% vs 2%, P=.001) and 1 year (24.6% vs 17.1%, P=.14). The median interval to first medication adjustment occurred earlier among intervention patients (0 vs 7.1 months, P=.005). Among patients with baseline LDLs >130 mg/dL, the first postintervention LDLs were substantially lower in the intervention group (119.0 vs 138.0 mg/dL, P=.04). Physician processing time was under 60 seconds per e-mail.

Conclusion: A visit-independent disease management tool resulted in significant improvement in secondary prevention of hyperlipidemia at 1-month postintervention and showed a trend toward improvement at 1 year.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Sample FastTrack e-mail
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Participant flow
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Questionnaire generated when no changes in management were made
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Time to statin initiation or dose change, FastTrack versus Controls
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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