Assessment of risk factors in coronary patients being followed by cardiologists: control of risk factors in coronary patients.

Abstract

Control of risk factors for coronary heart disease secondary prevention is still very unsatisfactory. This study assessed 104 patients referred by cardiologists to discover how carefully National Cholesterol Education Program II recommendations were being followed. Average age of the cohort was 60.9+/-10.8 years, and 67.3% were men. A total of 57(54.8%) experienced a previous myocardial infarction and 83 (80.3%) a revascularization procedure. They saw their doctors 4.4+/-2.9 times a year and had blood tests 2.8+/-1.7 times a year. Blood pressure was >/=140/90 mm Hg in 57.8%, body mass index >/=25 kg/m2 in 62.5%, and the weight-to-hip ratio >/=0.95 in 42.9% of men, and >/=0.85 in 47.0% of women. Total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride values were 222.9+/-47.3 mg/dL, 144.9 mg/dL, 44.8+/-11.5 mg/dL, and 176+/-119.41 mg/dL, respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was <100 mg/dL in 8.1%, and <130 mg/dL in 47.1%; the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio was 5.1+/-1.5 (>/=5 in 51%). In these patients, the control of major risk factors like high blood pressure, overweight, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was poor.