Recent prescription trends for novel heart failure medications were analyzed at a major Kansas City safety net hospital, focusing on the utilization patterns of sacubitril/valsartan and SGLT2 inhibitors in underserved populations. The study examined prescription data from October 2021 to October 2022, involving 769 patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan and 2,287 patients prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors.
Key findings revealed interesting prescriber patterns. For sacubitril/valsartan, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists issued nearly half (49.8%) of all prescriptions, while cardiologists and primary care physicians each accounted for approximately 23%. The majority of patients (65%) received the starting dose of 24/26 mg.
SGLT2 inhibitor prescriptions showed different distribution patterns, with primary care physicians leading at 52.3% of prescriptions, followed by endocrinologists at 20.6%. Cardiologists issued only 10% of SGLT2 inhibitor prescriptions, highlighting a shift toward broader involvement of various specialties in heart failure management.
The dosing patterns reflected careful consideration of treatment guidelines, with most patients starting at recommended initial doses. This approach aligns with established safety protocols while allowing for dose adjustments based on patient response and tolerance.
These findings suggest a transformation in heart failure treatment delivery, moving away from specialist-centered care toward a more integrated, multidisciplinary approach. The substantial role of primary care providers and advanced practice practitioners indicates successful adaptation of novel therapies into broader medical practice, particularly benefiting underserved populations through innovative healthcare delivery models.
This prescription pattern analysis provides valuable insights for healthcare systems seeking to optimize the implementation of new heart failure treatments while ensuring equitable access across diverse patient populations.
Source: https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/354965/20250405-43374-dhs9d8.pdf
