Electronic Alert to Improve Testing For Primary Aldosteronism in Patients With Hypertension (ALERT-PA)

Electronic Alert-Based Computerized Decision Support to Improve Testing For Primary Aldosteronism in Patients With Hypertension: ALERT-PA

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is common but rarely recognized cause of hypertension that carries excess cardiovascular and renal risk and has approved targeted treatments. Despite current clinical guidelines that recommend screening in a defined set of high-risk populations, less than 5% of eligible patients are ever screened for PA. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a computer decision support Best Practice Advisory (BPA) alert on rates of screening for PA in guideline-eligible patients, referral to specialist PA care, and treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.

The study protocol is a single-center Quality Improvement initiative performed as a cluster-randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of an EPIC electronic health record Best Practice Advisory (BPA) alert on rates of screening for PA in guideline-eligible patients. 1600 patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for Primary Aldosteronism (PA) screening will comprise the study population, with randomization of alert/no alert occurring at the level of their treating clinician (Attending Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant) to minimize spillover/contamination effects of the BPA onto other patients treated by the same clinician. Treating clinicians within primary care and relevant specialties including endocrinology, nephrology, and cardiology will be randomized 1:1 to receive or not receive a BPA prompting screening for PA with laboratory testing of plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity, and a basic metabolic panel, as well as an order for an e-consult to provide guidance on interpretation of results, for eligible patients. Outcomes will be ascertained by electronic health record review at 6 months.

Primary Aldosteronism, Resistant Hypertension, Secondary Hypertension, Hyperaldosteronism, Mineralocorticoid Excess, Hypertension

An on-screen electronic alert will be issued during the outpatient clinical encounter that notifies the clinician that their patient should be screened for Primary Aldosteronism and provides an order set for the corresponding laboratory evaluation. Details of the electronic alert are provided in the Intervention description.

No electronic alert will be issued in the No Intervention group. Providers will continue standard of care with their patients.

For patients randomly assigned to the BPA Alert Group, an on-screen electronic alert will be issued during the outpatient clinical encounter than notifies the clinician that their patient should be screened for PA. The clinician will be provided with on-screen details of which patient-specific risk factors qualified them for PA screening and with an option to order a plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and basic metabolic panel. If screening labs are ordered, the clinician will also receive an option to order an eConsult for expert guidance on interpretation of the test results. If the clinician does not order the PA screening labs, they will be able to continue with clinical EHR documentation but will need to select a reason they opted not to follow the alert's evidence-based clinical practice recommendation.

Difference between average of last 3 outpatient systolic blood pressure readings prior to study initiation vs. average of first 3 outpatient readings after study completion (Exploratory)

Inclusion Criteria: Adults 18+ Seen by clinician at one of the intervention practices at least once in the prior 2 years History of Hypertension (ICD Code) PLUS ≥1 of the below: Outpatient BP >150/100 on 2 or more occasions Three or more current antihypertensive medication prescriptions Potassium level <3.5mEq/L or potassium supplement prescription in the last 5 years History of Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter (ICD Code) Exclusion Criteria: History of Primary Aldosteronism (ICD Code) Prescription for a Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (MRA) within the last 3 months

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