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Suboptimal management of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary heart disease patients in primary care occurs particularly in women
journal contribution
posted on 2011-10-01, 00:00 authored by Andrea DriscollAndrea Driscoll, Alison Beauchamp, G Lyubomirsky, L Demos, J McNeil, A TonkinBackground: Patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD) are at the highest risk of further events. Despite proven therapies, secondary prevention is often suboptimal. General practitioners (GPs) are in an ideal position to improve secondary prevention.
Aim: To contrast management of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with established CHD in primary care to those in clinical guidelines and according to gender.
Methods: GPs throughout Australia were approached to participate in a programme incorporating a disease management software (mdCare) program. Participating practitioners (1258 GPs) recruited individual patients whose cardiovascular risk factor levels were measured.
Results: The mdCare programme included 12 509 patients (58% male) diagnosed with CHD. Their mean age was 71.7 years (intra-quartile range 66–78) for men and 74 years (intra-quartile range 68–80) for women. Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was above target levels in 69% (2032) of women compared with 58% (2487) in men (P < 0.0001). There was also a higher proportion of women with total cholesterol above target levels (76%, 3592) compared with men (57%, 3787) (P < 0.0001). In patients who were prescribed lipid-lowering medication, 53% (2504) of men and 72% (2285) of women continued to have a total cholesterol higher than recommended target levels (P < 0.0001). Overall, over half (52%, 6538) had at least five cardiovascular risk factors (55% (2914) in women and 50% (3624) in men, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: This study found less intensive management of cardiovascular risk factors in CHD patients, particularly among women, despite equivalent cardiovascular risk. This study has shown that these patients have multiple risk factors where gender also plays a role.
Aim: To contrast management of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with established CHD in primary care to those in clinical guidelines and according to gender.
Methods: GPs throughout Australia were approached to participate in a programme incorporating a disease management software (mdCare) program. Participating practitioners (1258 GPs) recruited individual patients whose cardiovascular risk factor levels were measured.
Results: The mdCare programme included 12 509 patients (58% male) diagnosed with CHD. Their mean age was 71.7 years (intra-quartile range 66–78) for men and 74 years (intra-quartile range 68–80) for women. Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was above target levels in 69% (2032) of women compared with 58% (2487) in men (P < 0.0001). There was also a higher proportion of women with total cholesterol above target levels (76%, 3592) compared with men (57%, 3787) (P < 0.0001). In patients who were prescribed lipid-lowering medication, 53% (2504) of men and 72% (2285) of women continued to have a total cholesterol higher than recommended target levels (P < 0.0001). Overall, over half (52%, 6538) had at least five cardiovascular risk factors (55% (2914) in women and 50% (3624) in men, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: This study found less intensive management of cardiovascular risk factors in CHD patients, particularly among women, despite equivalent cardiovascular risk. This study has shown that these patients have multiple risk factors where gender also plays a role.
History
Journal
Internal medicine journalVolume
41Issue
10Pagination
730 - 736Publisher
Wiley - Blackwell Publishing AsiaLocation
Richmond, Vic.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1444-0903eISSN
1445-5994Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing AsiaUsage metrics
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