Abstract 13575: Utilizing Electronic Health Record Alerts to Increase Prescription of Lipid Lowering Therapies in Patients Admitted With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Abstract

Introduction:Patients who present to the hospital with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) often have poor control of cardiac risk factors. Multiple studies have demonstrated that lipid lowering therapy is not appropriately initiated or intensified in these patients.Hypothesis:We hypothesized that an interruptive alert delivered via the electronic medical record would increase the initiation and intensification of lipid lowering therapies.MethodsUsing Epic EHR (Epic Systems, Verona, WI), an interruptive alert was designed to trigger upon opening the patient’s chart when the patients were admitted with an ICD code that indicated an ACS (i.e., STEMI, NSTEMI, or Unstable Angina). The alert included an order set to obtain a cholesterol panel or if a cholesterol panel had already been collected it would be displayed and suggest modifications to the patient’s current medication regimen. These alterations included statin intensification or the addition of ezetimibe.ResultsBetween September 1, 2021 and May 30, 2022 172 unique patients were identified. The mean age was 64.8 ±13.8 years, 64.5% were male, 74% were white, and 12% were black. The identified patients had multiple comorbidities including cerebrovascular disease (23%), heart failure (47%), peripheral vascular disease (30%), and being a current or former smoker (53%). The triggered order set had a direct effect on 42 (24%) patients, with 10 initiating ezetimibe and 32 having their statins intensified. The most common indicated reason for overriding the alert (n=99) was not meeting criteria. Of these 99 patients, 4 were ultimately started on ezetimibe, 57 had their statin intensified, and 23 were appropriately excluded (including patients with type II myocardial infarctions who were not the target of this intervention). Of note, 15 patients should have received intensified therapy but had their alert over ridden.ConclusionsThis targeted alert led to direct intensification of lipid lowering therapy in 24% of ACS patients with an additional 35% of patients identified by the alert also having therapeutic intensification. This alert will remain in place to allow for further assessment of its effects and can be easily translated to other clinical systems.