Primary prevention aspirin use in high-risk patients: A pharmacist intervention and comparison of risk stratification tools

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objectives of this project are 1) to describe aspirin use for primary prevention in an underserved, minority population; 2) to determine the impact of a pharmacist-led intervention on the prevalence of aspirin use for primary prevention; and 3) to compare aspirin indications based on Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score. MethodsMen and women age 45-79 and 55-79 years, respectively, without ASCVD were screened for aspirin use. An FRS of 10% or greater and low risk for a serious bleed were considered indications for primary prevention aspirin on the basis of guideline-directed medical therapy recommendations. When treatment with aspirin was indicated, providers were notified with patient-specific messages. Patients’ FRS and ASCVD risk score distributions were plotted and compared. Primary prevention aspirin indications were identified using both risk stratification tools. ResultsOne hundred sixteen patients were evaluated for aspirin use in a predominantly black (80%), middle-aged (mean age, 58 years), and indigent population. Thirty-one patients (27%) had an FRS of 10% or greater and low risk for bleeding, and 10 patients (9%) were taking aspirin at baseline. Providers approved recommendations to start administering aspirin in 19 of 31 patients (61%), which significantly increased the overall proportion receiving aspirin compared to baseline (9%-25%; P < 0.01). Patients were more than twice as likely to meet the minimum risk score threshold (≥10%) for a primary prevention aspirin indication using ASCVD risk scores versus FRS (70% vs. 30%; P < 0.01). ConclusionsBaseline utilization of primary prevention aspirin was low in an indigent, minority population. A provider-focused pharmacist intervention improved the prevalence of aspirin use for primary prevention, while minimizing risk for serious bleeding events. Among our cohort, more patients had indications for primary prevention aspirin using ASCVD risk scores versus FRS.