Physicians' adherence to acute coronary syndrome prescribing guidelines in Vietnamese hospital practice: a cross-sectional study

Thang Nguyen; Thao H Nguyen; Hoa T K Pham; Thu T A Nguyen; Khoa M Huynh; Phuong T B Vo; Tam T Pham; Katja Taxis

doi:10.1111/tmi.12467

Physicians' adherence to acute coronary syndrome prescribing guidelines in Vietnamese hospital practice: a cross-sectional study

Trop Med Int Health. 2015 May;20(5):627-637. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12467. Epub 2015 Feb 16.

Authors

Thang Nguyen^{1

2}, Thao H Nguyen^{2

3}, Hoa T K Pham⁴, Thu T A Nguyen⁵, Khoa M Huynh³, Phuong T B Vo³, Tam T Pham⁶, Katja Taxis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
² Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
⁴ Cardiology Department, Can Tho General Hospital, Can Tho, Vietnam.
⁵ Cardiology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
⁶ Faculty of Public Health, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.

PMID: 25640658
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12467

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the extent of physicians' adherence to prescribing guidelines for acute coronary syndrome in Vietnamese hospitals.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of medical records of all patients with ACS admitted to two public hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from January to December 2013. Percentages of eligible patients receiving guideline-recommended medications were determined. Factors associated with non-adherence were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Overall, 711 medical records were reviewed and 284 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (mean age 64 years; 69.4% male). Of those patients eligible for treatment, aspirin was prescribed for 97.9% at arrival and 96.3% at discharge; dual antiplatelet therapy was prescribed for 92.3% at arrival and 91.7% at discharge; loading doses were prescribed for 79.5% (aspirin) and 55.8% (clopidogrel); beta blockers were prescribed for 58.7% at arrival and 76.7% at discharge; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) were prescribed for 89.1% at arrival or discharge; and statins were prescribed for 94.1% at arrival and 90.7% at discharge. Patients undergoing an invasive procedure were more likely to receive guideline-recommended medications at discharge: dual antiplatelet therapy (OR 3.77; 95% CI 1.23-11.52), beta blocker (OR 3.95; 95% CI 1.86-8.40) and ACEI/ARB (OR 4.01; 95% CI 1.30-12.41). Ninety of the excluded patients were discharged without completing treatment.

Conclusions: In general, physicians closely adhered to ACS prescribing guidelines in Vietnamese hospital practice. Prescribing of beta blockers and clopidogrel loading doses was probably suboptimal. Why patients do not complete treatment needs to be investigated.

Keywords: Vietnam; acute coronary syndrome; adherence; adherencia; adhésion; directive; guideline; guías; prescribing; prescripción; prescrire; syndrome coronarien aigu; síndrome coronario agudo.