Opportunities to Optimize Care in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Opportunities to Optimize Care in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Faculty Presenter

Kristen T. Pogue, PharmD, BCCP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Cardiology
Michigan Medicine

Clinical Associate Professor
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy

Residency Program Director
PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Residency
Michigan Medicine
Ann Arbor, Michigan
 
Program Description
Over the past decade, treatment approaches for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have evolved, with efforts now focusing on providing earlier treatment to slow clinical deterioration. Goal-oriented therapy is a treatment strategy that also uses multiple prognostic indicators as treatment targets, with additional therapy considered when targets are not met. Delivery of medical care to patients with PAH is a complex undertaking that requires a multidisciplinary team with specialized expertise. As more pharmacologic therapies for PAH with unique mechanisms of action are approved, combination therapy that targets more than one pathogenicity of PAH may provide superior benefit to monotherapy, and coordination of care will become more crucial in managing PAH. However, with polypharmacy, pharmacists must balance the increased benefits with increased risks, including drug interactions, increase in medication burden that may decrease adherence, and risk of catheter-related infections and pump malfunctions for drugs that are administered via intravenous or subcutaneous injection. In addition, PAH drug therapy has a high rate of adverse effects that require monitoring and have been linked to poor medical adherence. As new agents for PAH emerge, it is crucial that health-system pharmacists understand the adverse effect profile and risks of interactions to ensure the benefit of combination PAH therapy outweighs the risks.

Target Audience: Health-system and specialty pharmacists
Type of Activity: Application
Release date: May 7, 2021
Expiration date: May 7, 2022
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by WHO Functional Class and describe prognostic treatment goals (eg, low risk)
• Examine different treatment paradigms implemented to improve patient care and treatment outcomes in PAH
• Compare the current and emerging therapies for PAH treatment, including their clinical efficacy, safety, drug interactions, and administration
• Outline health-system pharmacist activities that can improve multidisciplinary care and improve quality of life for patients with PAH

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-21-187-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through May 7, 2022.


Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view the webinar in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
 

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Disclosures

Kristen T. Pogue, PharmD, BCCP, has the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Consultant: Merck, Shionogi, Qpex, Entasis, Utility Therapeutics (spouse)

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff – Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Michelle Carlson, PharmD; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; and Brianna Winters have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

An anonymous peer reviewer is used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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