Prevention of Recurrent Myocardial Infarction in an Outpatient Setting

Abstract

The aim was to study the medical and social characteristics of patients with repeated myocardial infarction (MI), features of the course of the disease, as well as the degree of contribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) to its development, in order to optimize secondary prevention measures at the primary health care level. Material and methods. Part of the study was carried out on the basis of a retrospective analysis of the outpatient records of all patients registered at the dispensary who had suffered primary MI and recurrent MI. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental studies were carried out. Results. The study population had both non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors, among which the most common were low levels of physical activity, excess body weight, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The study also revealed gender differences in the prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease, which must be taken into account when conducting secondary prevention at the outpatient stage. Clear correlations were revealed between RF, clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic, and morphological, as well as functional parameters in patients with recurrent MI. The most significant correlations in patients with recurrent MI were between the number of complications and the degree of systolic cardiac dysfunction, as well as lipid metabolism disorders. Effective management of patients who have had an MI on an outpatient basis will reduce the risks of recurrent cardiovascular complications and will positively affect the long-term prognosis and clinical endpoints of MI.