Appropriate baseline laboratory testing following ACEI or ARB initiation by Medicare FFS beneficiaries

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Laboratory testing to identify contraindications and adverse drug reactions is important for safety of patients initiating angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Rates and predictors of appropriate testing among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries are unknown. In this HCFO-funded study, the researchers examined baseline laboratory testing rates to identify predictors of suboptimal testing and to assess the prevalence of abnormal creatinine and potassium among beneficiaries initiating ACE inhibitors or ARBs. The study findings suggest that appropriate monitoring could be improved for African American beneficiaries and beneficiaries with a history of stroke or Alzheimer's disease and related disorders initiating ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

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