Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Atle Fretheim

Publications and source records attributed to Atle Fretheim.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Rational Prescribing in Primary Care (RaPP-trial). A randomised trial of a tailored intervention to improve prescribing of antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs in general practice [ISRCTN48751230].

BACKGROUND: The underlying reasons for differences between clinical practice and systematically developed guidelines vary from one clinical problem to another. It is therefore logical to tailor strategies to support the implementation of guidelines to address identified barriers to change. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effects of a tailored intervention to support the implementation of systematically developed guidelines for the use of antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. METHODS/DESIGN: Unblinded, cluster-randomised trial. 150 general practices will be recruited from two geographical areas in Norway, and randomised to the intervention or control group (passive dissemination of guidelines). Outcomes will be measured for all eligible patients seen in the participating practices during one year after the intervention. A multifaceted intervention has been tailored to address identified barriers to change. Key components are an educational outreach visit with audit and feedback, and computerised reminders. Pharmacists will conduct the visits. During the outreach visit the main recommendations will be presented and software will be installed that links to the electronic medical record systems used in the participating practices. The software will perform an audit that will be fed back during the visit, present pop-up reminders for patients with high blood pressure or cholesterol, and provide a cardiovascular risk calculator and patient education material. The main outcomes are the proportions of 1) first time prescriptions for hypertension where thiazides are not prescribed, 2) patients not assessed for cardiovascular risk before prescribing antihypertensive or cholesterol-lowering drugs, and 3) patients treated for hypertension or high cholesterol for three months or more who have not achieved recommended treatment goals.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed2002

[Guidelines for pharmacological primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases--who should be treated?].

BACKGROUND: Several clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia are available. The quality of these guidelines varies and the basis for their conclusions is often not clear. We have used systematic and explicit methods in the development of a new set of recommendations. This is the first of three articles describing these guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evidence was found by a systematic search in databases and reference lists in guidelines and articles. A set of recommendations was prepared based on a critical appraisal of the literature. These recommendations were revised through discussions with a panel of physicians and agreed upon after several iterations. The guidelines were circulated to professional, governmental and patient organisations, with a request for feedback on errors or shortcomings. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The absolute risk of cardiovascular disease should be used as the basis for discussing with a patient whether drug treatment should be initiated. A 20% risk of developing angina or myocardial infarction over the next ten years is a reasonable threshold for considering treatment. The effects of antihypertensives for persons older than 80 years and of cholesterol-lowering drugs for persons older than 70 years are uncertain. Treatment of blood pressure above 170/100 mm Hg is recommended independent of the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Which antihypertensive drugs should be used in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?].

BACKGROUND: Several clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of hypertension are available. The quality of these guidelines varies and the basis for their conclusions is often not clear. We have used systematic and explicit methods in the development of a new set of recommendations. This is the second of three articles describing these guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evidence was found by a systematic search in databases and reference lists in guidelines and articles. A set of recommendations was prepared based on a critical appraisal of the literature. These were revised through discussions with a panel of physicians, and agreed upon after several iterations. The guidelines were circulated to professional, governmental and patient organisations. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Thiazides should be first-choice drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated hypertension. Beta-blockers are a reasonable second choice. The treatment goal should be below 140/90 mm Hg. For combination therapy, thiazides and beta-blockers should be first choice. Diabetic patients should be treated aggressively with a diastolic blood pressure goal below 80 mm Hg. Angiotensin-II antagonists or angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors should be first choice drugs for diabetics with microalbuminuria. Patients with hypercholesterolaemia are not given a particular recommendation for choice of drug. Patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should choose other drugs than beta-blockers. Thiazides should be avoided if the patient has, or has had, gout.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed2002

[Which cholesterol-lowering drugs should be used in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?].

BACKGROUND: Several clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia are available. The quality of these guidelines varies and the basis for their conclusions is often not clear. We have used systematic and explicit methods in developing a new set of recommendations. This is the last of three articles describing these guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evidence was found by a systematic search in databases and reference lists in guidelines and articles. A set of recommendations was prepared based on a critical appraisal of the literature. These were revised through discussions with a panel of physicians, and agreed upon after several iterations. The guidelines were circulated to professional, governmental and patient organisations. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Statins should be first-choice drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. Total cholesterol below 5 mmol/l and/or LDL cholesterol below 3 mmol/l are the recommended treatment goals for persons at high risk of coronary heart disease.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed2002

The relation between methods and recommendations in clinical practice guidelines for hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between methods used to develop clinical practice guidelines and the recommendations that are made. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for hypertension or hyperlipidemia. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Two people independently appraised guideline methods by using 8 criteria and the aggressiveness of recommendations for treatment thresholds, initial drug selection, and screening. RESULTS: We identified 33 guidelines. Only 6 fulfilled 5 or more of the 8 criteria. For 5 of the criteria, fewer than 50% of the guidelines fulfilled those criteria. There was wide variation in recommendations for treatment thresholds, drug selection, and cholesterol screening. Guidelines that did not fulfill the criteria tended to suggest more aggressive recommendations than did guidelines that met the criteria. For 6 of the 8 criteria, guidelines published by specialty societies were less likely to fulfill them compared with guidelines not published by specialty societies. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline developers who did not use rigorous methods tended to promote intervening more aggressively for hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Adult↗