Application of the MAT-CHDSP to assess guideline adherence and therapy goal achievement in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

Numerous studies have documented suboptimal adherence to guideline recommendations in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD(SP)). Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are continuously developed to define appropriate patient care, aiming to reduce risk of morbidity and death. The Medication Assessment Tool for CHD(SP) (MAT-CHD(SP)) was developed to assess adherence to CPGs concerning medication therapy and follow-up of patients with CHD(SP). The aim of this study was to explore whether the MAT-CHD(SP) could be applied retrospectively to assess guideline adherence and therapy goal achievement in secondary prevention of CHD.We collected data from electronic medical records of all patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation from January to March 2008 (n = 300) and applied the MAT-CHD(SP). We measured time for data collection and MAT application and tested reproducibility by calculating Cohen's kappa (κ) value for inter and intraobserver agreement.A total of 247 MAT applications were analyzed, showing overall applicability of 66 % of the 4,446 MAT-CHD(SP) criteria and a high reproducibility of MAT-CHD(SP) application (κ values 0.93 and 0.95 for intra- and interobserver agreement, respectively). Mean time for data collection and MAT-CHD(SP) application was 11 min. Adherence to criteria concerning prescription was high (75 %), but achievement of therapy goals for cholesterol and blood pressure was low (50 %). Documentation of lifestyle advice achieved intermediate (50-75 %) or low adherence, as did therapy amendments in patients in whom therapy goals were unachieved at hospital admission.The MAT-CHD(SP) offers a means to identify both adherence and nonadherence to CPGs concerning CHD(SP) is applicable in retrospective assessment of CHD(SP), and identifies potentials for improved patient care.