UCLA Cardiovascular Hospitalization Atherosclerosis Management Program (CHAMP)

In 1994, the UCLA Division of Cardiology initiated the Cardiovascular Hospitalization Atherosclerosis Management Program (CHAMP) as a way to promote the utilization of effective cardiovascular protective therapies in the hospital setting and during follow-up care. The program targets all inpatients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and attempts to reduce the risk of consequences of the disease by greater use of secondary prevention treatments.

Under CHAMP, prior to discharge, hospital patients who are diagnosed with CAD are initiated on cholesterol lowering drugs or other cardiovascular protective medicines in conjunction with diet and exercise counseling. The program utilizes not only medication therapies and cholesterol lowering medications but also educational materials including guidelines, pocket cards and lectures supporting awareness of the program. Following discharge, patient prescription therapies are reviewed at each outpatient visit. In addition, protocols require a fasting lipid panel in 6 weeks to assess the effectiveness of current therapy and to allow for dosing adjustments.

CHAMP is managed by a collaboration of cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, cardiothoracic surgeons, primary care physicians, nurses and pharmacists using treatment guidelines.

UCLA partnered with the American Heart Association and further enhanced the CHAMP model, under the program Get with the Guidelines. The program has expanded to include not just CAD but stroke and heart failure as three separate modules. Get with the Guidelines developed an internet-based data management system to be used with the CHAMP model called Outcomes Sciences. It allows hospitals to track a patient’s care during the course of their hospital stay and make sure they are getting the interventions recommended by the guidelines. Currently over 1,000 US hospitals are participating in Get with the Guidelines.

Results

• Death or recurrent MI was 6.4% in patients enrolled in CHAMP vs. 14.8% for patients pre-CHAMP.
• Statin treatment rate of 86% seen with CHAMP is 2 to 3 times higher than the national average. Two-year period studies show that in the pre- and Post-Champ patient groups:
  • Aspirin use at discharge improved from 68% to 92% (p < 0.1).
  • Beta blocker use improved from 12% to 62% (p < 0.1) .
  • ACE inhibitor use increased from 6% to 58% (p < 0.1).
  • Statin use increased from 6% to 86% .
  • Increased use of treatment persisted during subsequent follow-up achieving an LDL cholesterol £ 100 mg/dl (6% vs. 58%, p < 0.1)

***For further information, please visit, http://www.med.ucla.edu/champ/.

Published: January 26, 2009