Email Nudges to Improve GDMT (MRA) Adherence in Heart Failure

Importance: Guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) is a specific set of 4 medications proven to improve morbidity and mortality for patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), yet they are underutilized nationally and internationally. Various quality improvement (QI) interventions have had varying degrees of success at increasing GDMT prescription and titration.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to assess whether email nudges to UCLA Health cardiology clinic managers to schedule GDMT-specific appointments can lead to increased utilization of a specific medication within GDMT called a mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonist (MRA). Pertinent secondary objectives will include evaluating whether email nudges specific to MRA would increase utilization of the other medications in GDMT and whether they would increase appointments specific to GDMT.

Design, Setting, and Participants: The basic design is a pragmatic parallel-arm randomized control trial of a QI intervention. The setting is cardiology outpatient clinics at a large university-based single integrated healthcare system (UCLA Health). Participants are outpatients with HFrEF under the care of a UCLA cardiologist, with an ejection fraction on file, and currently not prescribed an MRA.

Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will lead to an increased utilization of MRA, compared to the control arm.