Postmarketing surveillance of captopril for hypertension

Revealed Opportunism: How Physicians "Game" Prior Authorization Protocols Until They Are Rescinded

BACKGROUND

Prior authorization (PA) is a management technique that has been implemented to manage the utilization of expensive drugs and to improve the precision of drug prescribing. PA requirements may incentivize physicians to document adverse effects, sometimes falsely, to meet the eligibility requirements.

OBJECTIVES

To identify documentation patterns that may facilitate the quantitative analysis of physician gaming and underreporting behaviors associated with the prescribing of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in a primary care setting, and to evaluate the effect of a PA requirement on the documentation of adverse events as a way to receive approval for more expensive drugs.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of physician electronic reporting of adverse effects associated with ACE inhibitors before and after the revocation of a PA requirement for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) between 2004 and 2013 in an Israeli HMO. The data were stratified into 2 groups-patients who were newly prescribed an ACE inhibitor or those who had been receiving an ACE inhibitor for at least 1 year. The annual rate of adverse events related to ACE inhibitors (ie, the number of reported cases of adverse events per 1000 patients receiving an ACE inhibitor) was calculated from data captured on the date the events were first reported for the 5 years before and 5 years after the revocation of the PA constraint.

RESULTS

A total of 151,845 patients treated with ACE inhibitors were identified during the 10-year study period. The reported adverse events among patients newly treated with an ACE inhibitor peaked in 2007 to 10 cases per 1000 patients, and gradually decreased to 4.6 cases in 2012, which was the year after the PA requirements for the ARBs valsartan and candesartan were rescinded by the HMO. Among previously treated patients, adverse events rates decreased from a high of 5.4 per 1000 patients in 2008 to 1.9 in 1000 patients in 2012, the year after the PA restraints for the last 2 ARBs with a requirement were revoked.

CONCLUSIONS

The PA requirement influenced physician propensity for reporting drug side effects, possibly encouraging reporting inaccuracies. The decline in the incidence of reported side effects, in both subpopulations in the study, with the revocation of the PA requirement confirms our hypothesis that physicians were incentivized to document the side effects related to ACE inhibitors to meet the eligibility requirements for the approval of an ARB by the HMO.

Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of cough induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has been reported to be 5%-20%, with less than half of affected patients requiring discontinuation due to persistent cough. However, the incidence in the local Asian population has not been studied. This study aimed to objectively evaluate the incidence of discontinuation of ACE inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, both electronic and written, of patients who attended Tampines Polyclinic to identify those who were newly prescribed ACE inhibitors. The written medical records were analysed to identify patients who discontinued the use of ACE inhibitors and to find out the reasons for discontinuation.

RESULTS

A total of 424 patients were identified during the study period. Out of the 424 patients, 129 (30.4%) discontinued the use of ACE inhibitors due to cough. Overall, 90 (21.2%) patients who were initially started on ACE inhibitors were eventually switched to angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, the incidence of discontinuation of ACE inhibitors due to cough is higher than most other studies. The relationship between ethnicity and tolerance of medications should not be underestimated. As there is a high incidence of discontinuation of ACE inhibitors due to cough in the local population, ARBs may be a reasonable substitute as a first-line medication, if clinically indicated.

Eczematous reactions due to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to antihypertensive drugs have been frequently reported. We describe a peculiar clinical pattern of cutaneous ADR, represented by an eczematous reaction induced by certain antihypertensive drugs that we observed in elderly patients. The case series consisted of 23 hypertensive patients aged 66-87 years; 19 of them were taking another drug in addition to the suspected antihypertensive medication and 15 were on polytherapy with three or more drugs to treat multiple comorbidities. The antihypertensive culprit agents were angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in 9 patients, ACE-inhibitors combined to hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in 7 subjects, angiotensin II receptor blockers alone in 2 patients and associated with HCT in 5 cases. The cutaneous ADR was characterized by an eczematous rash that was generalized in 16 patients and localized in 7 cases, with predominant involvement of lower limbs. Such lesions developed after a latency of 4-30 months and were associated with moderate-to-severe itch, usually unresponsive to oral antihistamines. Histopathological diagnosis was available for 9 cases, confirming the presence of a spongiotic dermatitis with possible associated psoriasiform skin changes.

Dechallenge and rechallenge method showed different incidences of cough among four ACE-Is

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of cough secondary to (1) Cilazapril, (2) Enalapril, (3) Imidapril, and (4) Perindopril and their efficacy in the control of hypertension.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Randomized double-blind study conducted in selected medical centers in the Philippines from the first quarter of 1999 to March, 2001.

RESULTS

A total of 301 patients, aged 28-86 years with stage I or II hypertension were included. Patients were randomized to Cilazapril 2.5-5.0 mg/day (n=70), Enalapril 10-20 mg/day (n=82), Perindoril 4-8 mg/day (n=73), or Imidapril 10-20 mg/day (n=76). Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg/day was added if needed. Using a dechallenge and rechallenge method, a strict criteria to attribute cough to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) not yet used in previous reports, the cough incidence were as follows: (1) Cilazapril--22.86% (16/70), (2) Enalapril--21.95% (18/82), (3) Perindopril--10.96% (6/73), and (4) Imidapril--13.16% (10/76) (P=0.041). Control of hypertension was significantly better with Enalapril during the first follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Statistically significant differences in the incidence of cough among the studied ACE-Is were noted. Control of hypertension was observed to be better in those with a higher incidence of cough; however, the mean change of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were not significantly different.

Cardiovascular drug-drug interactions

The drug-drug interactions discussed in this article have either documented or suspected clinical relevance for patients with cardiovascular disease and the clinician involved in the care of these patients. Oftentimes, drug-drug interactions are difficult, if not impossible, to predict because of the high degree of interpatient variability in drug disposition. Certain drug-drug interactions, however, may be avoided through knowledge and sound clinical judgment. Every clinician should maintain a working knowledge of reported drug-drug interactions and an understanding of basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to help predict and minimize the incidence and severity of drug-drug interactions.

Management of heart failure: evidence versus practice. Does current prescribing provide optimal treatment for heart failure patients?

Heart failure is an increasingly common and costly chronic disorder, with a rising prevalence of at least 2% in populations over the age of 45 years, mortality rates that are as poor as common solid cancers, and very high health care utilisation costs. Despite increased evidence supporting a range of effective interventions, predominantly therapeutic, there remain significant degrees of physician underperformance in terms of heart failure diagnosis and management. Until the early 1990s, the management of heart failure was largely confined to the symptomatic relief of patients with well established heart failure in fluid overload. The introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors provided the first treatments that beneficially altered the prognosis of patients with the most common expression of heart failure, namely established systolic dysfunction, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. Evidence has now extended these benefits to delaying progression of heart failure and reducing hospitalisation. Much of our understanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure stems from these studies. More recent data has clarified the limited role of digoxin, the important benefits of beta-blockade and aldosterone blockers as adjuvants to ACE inhibition, and the emerging evidence on angiotensin II antagonists. There are, in contrast to these positive findings, reliable data from Europe and North America revealing significant underperformance of primary care and hospital physicians in heart failure diagnosis and management, with evidence of underuse and underdosing of evidence-based therapies. Limited qualitative data suggest the reasons for this underperformance are complex and relate to lack of access to objective testing of ventricular function and exaggerated concerns over treatment risks and side-effects. Heart failure represents a complex cluster of aetiologies and risks that are not easy to correctly identify, even in specialist settings. Since there is now powerful evidence on how heart failure can be modified and improved, explicit guidance is needed for which suspected patients should be referred, for confirmation of diagnosis and advice on appropriate treatment regimes, and for which patients can be handled mainly within primary care but with enhanced access to objective non-invasive tests to improve diagnostic reliability and to stratify patients to evidence-based therapies. Current evidence suggests that in North America and Europe today primary care physicians do underperform in their management of patients with heart failure, often owing to factors outside of their immediate control.

Perindopril postmarketing surveillance: a 12 month study in 47,351 hypertensive patients

AIMS

To gain information on serious adverse events in a large number of patients exposed to perindopril.

METHODS

Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight general practitioners throughout France collaborated in the recruitment of 47,351 patients for a 12 month postmarketing study. Data collection was undertaken by company representatives under the supervision of nine regional medical officers. Computerised data entry was performed by six pharmaceutical officers. Serious adverse events were later individually reviewed medically.

RESULTS

Withdrawals due to adverse events occurred in 6.1% of female and 3.2% of males patients. The ascertainment of adverse events in this study approved satisfactory, as shown by the reported incidence of cough, which was 11.3% in women and 7.8% in men, this being compatible with the best estimates of the true incidence of cough during ACE-inhibitor therapy. Serious adverse reactions-anaphylaxis and blood dyscrasias-were rare.

CONCLUSIONS

This study successfully followed a large cohort of patients treated with perindopril and failed to demonstrate any unexpected hazards.

Higher incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough in black subjects

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of discontinuation of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

METHODS

A registry from a tertiary hypertension clinic consisting of 892 patients who received their first-ever dose of ACE inhibitor therapy was examined. Surveillance for cough was prospective, systematic, and constant beginning in 1986 and routinely included a trial of sinusitis therapy, followed by withdrawal and rechallenge before discontinuation of drug.

RESULTS

The prevalence (per 100 patients) of cough requiring discontinuation of ACE inhibitor therapy was 62 of 644 (9.6 per 100) patients among black subjects compared with six of 248 (2.4 per 100) patients among others (odds ratio, 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 9.1; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in discontinuation rates across the three most commonly used ACE inhibitors: captopril (6.6%; all black subjects), enalapril (6.1%; 94% black subjects), and lisinopril (7.3%; 90% black subjects). Cough was more common among women (70% of subjects). After adjustment (by backward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis) for baseline differences, black subjects had a relative risk of 2.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 4.65; p = 0.01) of discontinuation of ACE inhibitor due to cough.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that there may be a race- or ethnicity-related difference in the prevalence of cough attributed to ACE inhibitor therapy. Although a race-related difference in ACE gene polymorphism has been suggested, further work is necessary to define the biological reason and pathophysiology for such a difference.

ACE inhibitor-induced cough and bronchospasm. Incidence, mechanisms and management

A dry, tickly and often bothersome cough is the most common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors. Recent studies indicate that cough may develop in around 10% of the patients treated with ACE inhibitors. In half of these patients, the ACE inhibitor has to be discontinued. Cough has emerged as a class effect occurring with all ACE inhibitors with no clear difference between the single substances. While ACE inhibition is safe in the vast majority of patients with obstructive airways disease, asthmatic symptoms or exacerbation of asthma as well as a rise in bronchial reactivity have been occasionally reported. ACE inhibition increases the cough reflex. The mechanisms underlying ACE inhibitor-induced cough are probably linked to suppression of kininase II activity, which may be followed by an accumulation of kinins, substance P and prostaglandins. Physicians should be aware that a dry cough is the most common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors and that this symptom may occur not necessarily shortly after institution of therapy but months or even a year later. Replacement by another ACE inhibitor should not be tried, since the cough will almost always recur on rechallenge with the same or another ACE inhibitor. After withdrawal of the ACE inhibitor, which is the treatment of choice, cough will resolve usually within a few days.

The CARE Study: a postmarketing evaluation of ramipril in 11,100 patients. The Clinical Altace Real-World Efficacy (CARE) Investigators

A postmarketing surveillance study was undertaken to confirm the efficacy and safety of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril and to extend the findings of controlled clinical trials into real-world conditions. A total of 11,100 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension treated by primary care physicians were enrolled in this 8-week, open-label study. Ramipril was usually initiated at a dosage of 2.5 mg once daily and titrated to achieve target blood pressure. Efficacy was assessed in 8261 patients for whom blood pressure data were recorded after the start of treatment: safety was assessed in all patients. Of patients with combined systolic and diastolic hypertension, 86.0% achieved a final diastolic blood pressure of < or = 90 mm Hg or a > or = 10 mm Hg decrease from baseline; the highest response was seen in elderly patients (87.2%), and the lowest response was seen in black patients (81.2%). Of patients with isolated systolic hypertension, 70.4% achieved a final systolic blood pressure of < or = 140 mm Hg or a > or = 20 mm Hg decrease from baseline, including 70.6% of women, 70.3% of men, and 69.1% of elderly patients; the highest response was seen in white patients (71.8%), and the lowest response was seen in black patients (64.4%). Adverse events were generally mild; cough (3.0%) was the most frequent. Once-daily ramipril was effective and well tolerated during an 8-week period in a large, diverse population of patients who had mild-to-moderate hypertension and who were treated by primary care physicians.

European postmarketing surveillance of ramipril in hypertension. 1. Feasibility and study cohort

A prospective observational cohort study of the angiotensin inhibitor, ramipril, was undertaken in four countries within the European Community-Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium. A total of 10,377 consecutive patients with essential hypertension were recruited to the study with the aim of follow-up for one year. Overall 37% of doctors who agreed to participate in the study actually enrolled at least one patient. One third of the doctors who enrolled patients in the study entered two thirds of patients studied. Some 15% of participating males and 27% of females were aged over 70 years. Newly diagnosed hypertensives comprised 22% of the study cohort, the proportion being highest in UK and Netherlands, whereas 53% were established hypertensives of two or more years' duration, the proportion being highest in Germany and Belgium. There were substantial differences among the participating countries in the concurrent treatment these patients were receiving for hypertension, with two or more co-therapies being most frequent in Germany and Belgium. There were also substantial differences in co-therapies for concurrent diseases among the participating countries, reflecting both standard therapeutic practices in local areas and differences in marketing of drugs in the different countries. This report describes the initial findings of this multinational study and emphasises the need to consider several major potentially confounding variables in the analysis of the outcome events both in this study and in other collaborative observational international monitoring schemes for adverse drug reactions.

Captopril. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy after myocardial infarction and in ischaemic heart disease

Captopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor which has been used extensively in the treatment of patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure. In recent years, animal and human studies have demonstrated that captopril attenuates left ventricular remodelling (structural changes and enlargement) which occurs after myocardial infarction, and can lead to left ventricular dysfunction and increased risk of death. Subsequently, large clinical trials have shown reduced mortality and morbidity in patients receiving captopril or other ACE inhibitors (in addition to standard therapy) after acute myocardial infarction. Results of the 4th International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS-4), a factorial trial which randomised more than 58,000 patients, indicate that captopril, initiated within 24 hours of myocardial infarction and titrated to 50 mg twice daily for 1 month, significantly reduced overall mortality at 5 weeks after randomisation compared with placebo (7.19 vs 7.69%; p = 0.02). This corresponds to an absolute benefit of 5 lives saved per 1000 patients treated with captopril over this period. Furthermore, the survival advantage appeared to be maintained at 1 year post-infarction. Although both high- and low-risk patients were included in the ISIS-4 trial, the greatest survival benefit of captopril occurred in patients at greater risk of mortality, such as those with signs of heart failure or previous infarction. A significant relative reduction in overall mortality of 19% was seen in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (but not overt heart failure or ongoing ischaemia) after acute myocardial infarction treated with captopril in the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) study. Captopril was started within 3 to 16 days after myocardial infarction and titrated to 50 mg 3 times daily for a mean duration of 42 months. In this high-risk group of patients, approximately 40 to 50 lives were saved per 1000 patients treated with captopril over this period. This was similar to survival benefits demonstrated with other ACE inhibitors following acute myocardial infarction in high-risk patients in other large randomised trials. Cost-effectiveness analyses using data from the SAVE trial indicate that captopril compares favourably with other interventions used for survivors of myocardial infarction. In general, captopril was well tolerated by patients in SAVE, ISIS-4 and other studies in this clinical setting. Thus, when added to standard therapy after acute myocardial infarction, early or late administration of captopril improves survival and reduces cardiovascular morbidity, particularly in selected high-risk patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Captopril. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy after myocardial infarction and in ischaemic heart disease

Captopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor which has been used extensively in the treatment of patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure. In recent years, animal and human studies have demonstrated that captopril attenuates left ventricular remodelling (structural changes and enlargement) which occurs after myocardial infarction, and can lead to left ventricular dysfunction and increased risk of death. Subsequently, large clinical trials have shown reduced mortality and morbidity in patients receiving captopril or other ACE inhibitors (in addition to standard therapy) after acute myocardial infarction. Results of the 4th International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS-4), a factorial trial which randomised more than 58,000 patients, indicate that captopril, initiated within 24 hours of myocardial infarction and titrated to 50 mg twice daily for 1 month, significantly reduced overall mortality at 5 weeks after randomisation compared with placebo (7.19 vs 7.69%; p = 0.02). This corresponds to an absolute benefit of 5 lives saved per 1000 patients treated with captopril over this period. Furthermore, the survival advantage appeared to be maintained at 1 year post-infarction. Although both high- and low-risk patients were included in the ISIS-4 trial, the greatest survival benefit of captopril occurred in patients at greater risk of mortality, such as those with signs of heart failure or previous infarction. A significant relative reduction in overall mortality of 19% was seen in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (but not overt heart failure or ongoing ischaemia) after acute myocardial infarction treated with captopril in the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) study. Captopril was started within 3 to 16 days after myocardial infarction and titrated to 50 mg 3 times daily for a mean duration of 42 months. In this high-risk group of patients, approximately 40 to 50 lives were saved per 1000 patients treated with captopril over this period. This was similar to survival benefits demonstrated with other ACE inhibitors following acute myocardial infarction in high-risk patients in other large randomised trials. Cost-effectiveness analyses using data from the SAVE trial indicate that captopril compares favourably with other interventions used for survivors of myocardial infarction. In general, captopril was well tolerated by patients in SAVE, ISIS-4 and other studies in this clinical setting. Thus, when added to standard therapy after acute myocardial infarction, early or late administration of captopril improves survival and reduces cardiovascular morbidity, particularly in selected high-risk patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and cough: a prospective evaluation in hypertension and in congestive heart failure

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) have become the mainstem of antihypertensive therapy and first-choice agents for vasodilatation in congestive heart failure (CHF). A typical dry cough is the main cause for discontinuation of ACE-I therapy. Data about the incidence, course, and clinical significance of this side effect are conflicting. This study determined the incidence of cough in ACE-I treated patients with hypertension and with CHF and to appreciate its clinical significance; 268 ACE-I treated patients, 164 with hypertension and 104 with CHF were prospectively followed for at least 1 year and specifically questioned about cough and other side effects. In those in whom cough developed, a second and then a third ACE-I were tried. Cough developed in 50 (18.6%) of the 268 patients; 23 patients with hypertension (14%) had coughs 24.7 +/- 17.1 (SD) weeks after initiation of therapy; 27 patients with CHF (26%) had coughs 12.3 +/- 12 (SD) weeks after the start of ACE-I therapy (P = 0.005). All but three patients had coughs also on the second and third ACE-I. The time from the beginning of therapy to the onset of cough was significantly shorter with the second than the first drug. ACE-I agents had to be discontinued in 50% of the patients in whom coughs developed, most of them in the CHF group. In the others, cough was well tolerated or disappeared during subsequent months. The incidence of cough, which necessitated discontinuation of ACE-I treatment, was 4% among patients with hypertension and 18% among patients with CHF (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)