This audit focuses on baseline testing of patients before starting treatment with an angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). For the purposes of this audit,
baseline is defined as three months before starting treatment. Baseline testing prior to initiating ARBs can also
be included in this audit as the general principles applying to these medicines are the same as for
ACE inhibitors. ARBs are now considered a first-line alternative to ACE inhibitors.
N.B. This is a revision of a previously published audit that only included patients on ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors and ARBs are commonly used and are indicated for a range of conditions including hypertension, heart failure,
post myocardial infarction, diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. The pharmacological actions of ACE inhibitors
and ARBs include reduced glomerular filtration, raised serum potassium and reduced blood pressure. In most patients these
effects are an indicator of a beneficial effect and are not associated with adverse events. However, these medicines can
cause clinically significant hyperkalaemia, renal impairment or hypotension in patients with pre-existing risk factors such
as volume depletion, concurrent diuretics, renal impairment, heart failure, diabetes and concurrent use of medicines with
the potential to interact (e.g. NSAIDs).
Baseline testing helps identify patients at risk of adverse effects before starting an ACE inhibitor or ARB. ACE inhibitors
and ARBs are most likely to cause hypotension after the first dose or after a dose increase. Baseline values of electrolytes,
creatinine and blood pressure also set a benchmark for ongoing monitoring of treatment effectiveness and safety.
Ongoing monitoring is also recommended during treatment to check for clinically significant changes in serum potassium
and renal function from baseline but is not covered in this audit.
N.B. From 1 May, 2021, cilazapril will no longer be funded for new patients. Prescribers considering initiation of an
ACE inhibitor will need to select an alternative ACE inhibitor or an ARB. This audit may also assist with identification
of patients currently taking cilazapril who will need their prescriptions for cilazapril endorsed from 1 May, 2021, or to
be changed to an alternative ACE inhibitor or an ARB.
For further information on prescribing ACE inhibitors and ARBs and the recent funding changes for cilazapril
see: “Prescribing ACE inhibitors: time to reconsider old habits”, available from
https://bpac.org.nz/2021/ace.aspx
Cautions prior to use of ACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors and ARBs should be used with caution in a range of situations due to the increased risk of adverse effects
or interactions with a patient’s existing medicines. Precautions include the following:
- Renal impairment and contraindicated in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis
- Hyponatraemia, hypovolaemia and dehydration
- Concomitant high dose diuretics due to the risk of hypotension
- Peripheral vascular disease and renovascular disease
- Hyperkalaemia
- Hypotension
- Severe heart failure
- Concomitant use of NSAIDs due to the risk of renal impairment, potassium sparing agents due to the risk of hyperkalaemia.
There is also potential for other medicine interactions including lithium.
For further information on avoiding the risk of acute kidney injury when prescribing ACE inhibitors or ARBs,
see: “Avoiding the triple whammy in primary care: ACE inhibitor/ARB + diuretic + NSAID”, available from:
www.bpac.org.nz/2018/triple-whammy.aspx
Recommendations
For patients taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB there should be documented evidence of measurement of creatinine, electrolytes
and blood pressure within the three months prior to starting treatment.*
*Three months is an arbitrary period suggested to capture most clinical situations. For example,
for most patients it will be appropriate to measure blood pressure immediately before starting treatment whereas a less
recent electrolyte or creatinine measurement may be appropriate, unless the patient is clinically unstable or at increased
risk of an adverse effect.
Summary
This audit focuses on the measurement of serum creatinine (to estimate glomerular filtration), electrolytes and
blood pressure prior to starting a patient on an ACE inhibitor or ARB.
Recommended audit standards
For the purposes of this audit, 80% of patients taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB should have documented values of serum creatinine and
electrolytes and 100% for blood pressure within the three months prior to starting treatment.
Eligible people
Any patient that has received a prescription for an ACE inhibitor or ARB in the last 12 months is eligible for this audit.*
*In some cases where patients have been taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB for some years it may be difficult or too time consuming
to search the clinical notes for the data required for the audit. However, it may help identify patients on cilazapril who can be flagged for review. Patients
who were initiated on an ACE inhibitor or ARB in secondary care may also not have the monitoring requirements documented in their primary care clinical record.
Identifying patients
You will need to have a system in place that allows you to identify eligible patients who have been prescribed an
ACE inhibitor or ARB and audit their clinical notes. Many practices will be able to identify patients by running a “query” through their PMS system.
Sample size
The number of eligible patients will vary according to your practice demographic. If you identify a large number of patients, take a random sample
of 20–30 patients whose notes you will audit.
Criteria for a positive result
A positive audit result is for 80% of patients to have documented baseline serum creatinine (eGFR) and electrolytes, and 100% of patients have a
documented baseline blood pressure.
The first step to improving medical practice is to identify the criteria where gaps exist between expected and actual performance and then to decide how to change practice.
Once a set of priorities for change have been decided on, an action plan should be developed to implement any changes.
Taking action
It may be useful to consider the following points when developing a plan for action (RNZCGP 2002).
Problem solving process
- What is the problem or underlying problem(s)?
- Change it to an aim
- What are the solutions or options?
- What are the barriers?
- How can you overcome them?
Overcoming barriers to promote change
- Identifying barriers can provide a basis for change
- What is achievable – find out what the external pressures on the practice are and discuss ways of wdealing with them
in the practice setting
- Identify the barriers
- Develop a priority list
- Choose one or two achievable goals
Effective interventions
- No single strategy or intervention is more effective than another, and sometimes a variety of methods are needed to
bring about lasting change
- Interventions should be directed at existing barriers or problems, knowledge, skills and attitudes, as well as performance
and behaviour
Monitoring change and progress
It is important to review the action plan developed previously at regular intervals. It may be helpful to review
the following questions:
- Is the process working?
- Are the goals for improvement being achieved?
- Are the goals still appropriate?
- Do you need to develop new tools to achieve the goals you have set?
Following the completion of the first cycle, it is recommended that practitioners complete the first part of the
CQI
activity summary sheet (Appendix 1).
Undertaking a second cycle
In addition to regular reviews of progress with the practice team, a second audit cycle should be completed in order to quantify progress on
closing the gaps in performance.
It is recommended that the second cycle be completed within 12 months of completing the first cycle. The second cycle
should begin at the data collection stage.
Following the completion of the second cycle it is recommended that practices complete the remainder of the
Audit of Medical Practice summary sheet.
Claiming credits for Te Whanake CPD programme requirements
Practice or clinical audits are useful tools for improving clinical practice and credits can be claimed towards the Patient Outcomes (Improving Patient Care and Health Outcomes) learning category of the Te Whanake CPD programme, on a two credit per learning hour basis. A minimum of 12 credits is required in the Patient Outcomes category over a triennium (three years).
Any data driven activity that assesses the outcomes and quality of general practice work can be used to gain credits in the Patient Outcomes learning category. Under the refreshed Te Whanake CPD programme, audits are not compulsory and the RNZCGP also no longer requires that clinical audits are approved prior to use. The college recommends the PDSA format for developing and checking the relevance of a clinical audit.
To claim points go to the RNZCGP website: www.rnzcgp.org.nz
If a clinical audit is completed as part of Te Whanake requirements, the RNZCGP continues to encourage that evidence of participation in the audit be attached to your recorded activity. Evidence can include:
- A summary of the data collected
- An Audit of Medical Practice (CQI) Activity summary sheet (Appendix 1 in this audit or available on the
RNZCGP website).
N.B. Audits can also be completed by other health professionals working in primary care (particularly prescribers), if relevant. Check with your accrediting authority as to documentation requirements.
