To What Extent are National Cardiovascular Disease Preventive Guidelines Accomplished in Hungary? The Goal Attainment Program (GAP)

Abstract

Purpose: Improving the management of cardiovascular disease in Hungary represents an important clinical challenge. This article assesses the achievement of national consensus total cholesterol goals among Hungarian patients of physicians educated about the consensus guidelines and assisted in cardiovascular risk assessment. Methods and results: A total of 320 general practitioners provided data on 15,404 eligible patients. Among these individuals, 14,018 (91%) had documented atherosclerosis and the remaining 9% had ≥ 2 risk factors. Despite this, less than half of all patients received lipid-lowering therapy. Only 12% of high-risk patients attained the consensus total cholesterol target of < 4.5 mmol/L (< 175 mg/dL) and 31% of individuals at low-moderate risk achieved the consensus goal of < 5.0 mmol/L (< 194 mg/dL) at the first visit. Among patients in the high-risk group whose total cholesterol levels were above the consensus goal at the first visit, 54% received no lipid-lowering therapy and 46% receiv...