PQA retires 'Diabetes: Appropriate Treatment of Hypertension' performance measure
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — The Pharmacy Quality Alliance on Monday announced the retirement of the performance measure, "Diabetes: Appropriate Treatment of Hypertension." PQA member organizations had the opportunity to comment on this measure prior to the official vote. As many as 83% of member respondents voted to retire the performance measure.
Key points of the rationale supporting retirement of the measure include:
The PQA-endorsed measure looked for either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, or angiotensin receptor blocker, or direct renin inhibitor to be prescribed in a population with diabetes and hypertension; and
Recommendations from the Eighth Joint National Committee (2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults) indicate that first line antihypertensive treatment can include other medications (i.e., calcium channel blockers or thiazide diuretics) as well as ACEIs or ARBs.
PQA is aware that many members and government programs continue to have this measure in place as part of their performance measurement programs. As such, PQA will work with these organizations and continue to maintain the measure for a reasonable time while decisions are made regarding continued use of the measure within their programs.