Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Learning Community In DARTNet

This project was conducted from October 2009 through March 2012 and was funded by a grant from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In this two-year observational study, we created a Cardiovascular Risk and Reduction Learning Community consisting of DARTNet care providers and patients. We examined the electronic audit and feedback to see if this reduces major adverse cardiovascular events and their associated health care costs in patients.  

Specific Aims and Objectives:

1. Form a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Learning Community
2. Use multivariable modeling to define patient- and provider-level factors associated with control of blood pressure and cholesterol
3. Develop and implement recurring electronic feedback to DARTNet care providers concerning control of blood pressure and cholesterol
4. Survey care providers and other personnel regarding the usefulness of the audit and feedback
5. Use prevalence and changes in hypertension and LDL control to calculate sample sizes for a RCT
6. Collaboratively plan and secure support for a RCT to test the efficacy of these interventions in reducing adverse cardiovascular events

Key Findings and Publications

Effects of Changing Guidelines on Prescribing Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events. Hissett J, Folks B, Coombs L, LeBlanc W, Pace WD. J Am Board Fam Med. 2014; 27 (1):78-86.

Risk-Adjusted Comparison of Blood Pressure and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Noncontrol in Primary Care Offices. Hammermeister K, Bronsert M, Henderson WG, Coombs L, Hosokawa P, Brandt E, Bryan C, Valuck R, West DR, Liaw W, Ho M, Pace WD. J Am Board Fam Med. 2013; 26 (6):658-668.

Comparative Effectiveness in Antihypertensive Therapeutic Classes and Treatments Strategies in the Initiation of Therapy in Primary Care Patients: A Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet) Study. Bronsert MR, Henderson WG, Valuck R, et al. J Am Board Fam Med. 2013;26(5):529-38