Guideline-Directed Cardiovascular Medicines

Overall uptake of guideline-directed cardiovascular medicines was high but varied by condition, medicine class, and frailty status. Further outcomes research is needed to quantify the risks and benefits of cardiovascular medicines in patients with multimorbidity and frailty because these groups are under-represented in clinical trials. Discharge medication orders may underestimate guideline-directed therapy because temporarily held medicines may not have been restarted before discharge. Multimorbidity was associated with greater use of several cardiovascular medicines while frailty was associated with lower use across all studied conditions. The findings support shared decision making with patients and carers when considering cardiovascular medicines in adults with frailty.