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Quality and Safety

Heart Attack Patients Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)

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InstitutionRating
U.S. Average190%
N.C. Average290%
Top Hospitals3100%
Duke Raleigh Hospital4n/a
Duke University Hospital100%
Durham Regional Hospital94%

The rates displayed in this graph are for discharges October 2007 through September 2008. Source: hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
(1) The U.S. average includes all reporting hospitals in the United States.
(2) The N.C. average includes all reporting hospitals in the state of North Carolina.
(3) "Top Hospitals" represent the top 10% of hospitals nationwide. These hospitals achieved 100% on this measure.
(4) The number of cases is too small (less than 25) to reliably predict hospital performance.

What Does This Measure?

The percentage of eligible heart attack patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) who received an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor or ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) on discharge.

Why Is This Important?

ACE inhibitors and ARBs are medicines that block a hormone in the body that causes blood vessels to narrow. They help lower blood pressure and reduce the heart’s workload.

Prescribing ACE inhibitors and ARBs to patients with heart failure symptoms or reduced heart function due to a heart attack significantly reduces the risk of death.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance?

Duke has enacted several initiatives to improve our performance. These include:

More Information

About This Page

Published: Mar. 6, 2008
Updated: June 19, 2008
URL: http://www.dukehealth.org/AboutDuke/quality/performance_measures/heart_attack/ace_inhibitor