Today experts from the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) and HEART UK - the Cholesterol Charity, are calling upon primary care clinicians to embrace new guidance designed to support optimal care and treatment of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Cardiology, the guidance is unique as it is aligned to both patients and primary care, thereby recognising the vital role of empowering patients and their families in achieving the best possible clinical outcomes.2

'Follow Your Heart*: optimal care after a heart attack for you and your patients' was developed collaboratively by primary and secondary care clinicians in response to an unmet need for clear, consistent and practical recommendations to support GPs and practice nurses in the management of the 1.4 million post-MI survivors across the UK.1

Dr Jonathan Morrell, a GP in Hastings and member of the PCCS and HEART UK, commented: "Post-MI patients are at a much higher risk of having a further cardiovascular event. Ensuring that they receive optimal care and information is a priority for us all. Based on our own experiences and recent research, we know that there is a real need for this guidance, which consolidates existing evidence based recommendations, including the latest NICE guidance, in one place in order to deliver truly optimal care to our patients. The guidance provides clarity and consistency for GPs and practice nurses who are tasked with the day-to-day management of these higher risk patients."

The Follow Your Heart group - a collaboration between HEART UK, the PCCS and Pfizer - recognised the need for this guidance after a recent qualitative study highlighted considerable variation in the awareness, availability and implementation of guidelines for the clinical management of post-MI patients amongst primary care clinicians. This variation indicates that, in some areas of the UK, care for post-MI patients after leaving hospital may not be optimal.

Engaging patients in post-MI care

The guidance differs as it recognises the importance of patients and their families in achieving best clinical outcomes and includes patient-focused components to enable individuals to better understand their condition and take an active responsibility for their recovery and continued health.

Michaela Nuttall, a Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist at Bromley PCT and member of the PCCS and HEART UK commented: "By being involved and positively engaged in their own care, patients can have a positive impact on their health, especially when it comes to making and sustaining the behavioural changes that are key to recovery. Before now, there has often been a disconnect between the information provided to post-MI patients and the clinical guidance for healthcare professionals. By addressing this we hope to maximise the opportunity that each patient has to support his or her own recovery."

Implementing best practice day-to-day

Based on the guidance, the Follow Your Heart group has developed a set of practical, user-friendly tools for primary care clinicians and patients. The tools summarise the guidance for incorporation into day-to-day practice for clinicians and day-to-day life for patients and their families.

"It is our hope that these recommendations will help to encourage better quality two-way dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals, reduce practice variation by raising standards of care and ultimately improve outcomes for post-MI patients," added Dr Morrell.

*The Follow Your Heart group is a collaboration between HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity, the PCCS and Pfizer.

References

1 BHF Heart Stats (Accessed July 2009)

2 Sivers, F et al. Follow your heart: optimal care after a heart attack - a guide for you and your patients. Br J Cardiol 2009;16:187-91.

Source
Pfizer