Geographic Variation in the Quality of Heart Failure Care Among U.S. Veterans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The burden of heart failure is growing. Guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMT) reduce adverse outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Whether there is geographic variation in HFrEF quality of care is not well described.

Objectives

This study evaluated variation nationally for prescription of GDMT within the Veterans Health Administration.

Methods

A cohort of Veterans with HFrEF had their address linked to hospital referral regions (HRRs). GDMT prescription was defined using pharmacy data between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021. Within HRRs, we calculated the percentage of Veterans prescribed GDMT and a composite GDMT z-score. National choropleth maps were created to evaluate prescription variation. Associations between GDMT per

SUBMITTER: Kosaraju RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10792103 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature