Retrospective analysis of clinical decision support system use in patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation (INTELLECT)

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the relationship between the clinical decision support system use (CDSS) and adherence to clinical guidelines.Materials and methods. Medical records of 300 patients with atrial fibrillation and hypertension from the electronic medical database of the Almazov National Medical Research Center were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data, as well as information on anticoagulant, antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive prescriptions were analyzed. The primary endpoint was adherence of prescribed treatment to current clinical guidelines for each of the three therapies. Firstly, a group of independent clinical experts assessed primary endpoint for retrospective prescriptions. Secondly, new prescriptions were simulated by another group of clinical experts using CDSS and blinded to previous therapy. Primary endpoint at the second step was analysed by independent experts. We compared adherence to relevant clinical guidelines with and without use of CDSS. Additionally, we analyzed predictors of failing to meet the current recommendations in the retrospective records.Results. Out of 300 patients, only 291 (97%) had all characteristics and were included in the analysis. In 26 patients (18%), all three treatment strategies were in accordance with current clinical guidelines. Anticoagulant therapy was adherent to the guidelines in 92% of cases. Experts who used CDSS were 15% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10-21%) more likely to prescribe novel oral anticoagulants and 14% (95% CI, 10-19%) less likely to prescribe warfarin compared to baseline. Antiarrhythmic therapy was adherent to the guidelines in 69% of cases. When the CDSS platform was applied, experts were 14% (95% CI 4-19%) more likely to prefer antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) monotherapy and 32% (95% CI 26-37%) more often prescribed radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of left atrium. At baseline, antihypertensive therapy combinations were adherent clinical guidelines in 28% of cases. The use of the CDSS platform by experts was significantly associated with an increase in the frequency of prescribing dual and triple antihypertensive therapy.Conclusion. CDSS use is associated with improved adherence to current clinical guidelines. Prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the CDSS effectiveness in the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Keywords

• artificial intelligence
• atrial fibrillation
• hypertension
• clinical guidelines
• clinical decision support system