TY - JOUR
T1 - Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction
T2 - A survey in primary care
AU - Filippi, Alessandro
AU - Vanuzzo, Diego
AU - Bignamini, Angelo A.
AU - Mazzaglia, Gianpiero
AU - Brignoli, Ovidio
AU - Sabatini, Andrea
AU - Cricelli, Claudio
AU - Catapano, Alberico L.
PY - 2006/6
Y1 - 2006/6
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To collect information on the major risk factors and secondary prevention among patients with myocardial infarction in Italy. METHODS: Data were obtained from the database of the Italian College of General Practitioners; 3588 patients (mean age 68.7 ± 11.3 years; 2698 men, 888 women; two unrecorded gender), with an average time from event of 6 ± 5.7 years, were identified. RESULTS: Among the major risk factors, data entry ranged from 50.3% for physical activity to 74.9% for blood pressure. Inadequate blood pressure control was present in 49.2% and elevated plasma cholesterol levels (> 5.2 mmol/l) in 57.3%; among the latter group, 65% were on lipid-lowering therapy. Only 47.2% of the treated patients achieved a total cholesterol level of <5.2 mmol/l. Antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were prescribed to 43%, 10.3%, and 57.9% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The preventive attitude of Italian general practitioners is similar to that reported in other European countries with two noticeable exceptions: under-prescription of β-blockers and of antiplatelet drugs. Clearly, secondary prevention requires major improvement.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To collect information on the major risk factors and secondary prevention among patients with myocardial infarction in Italy. METHODS: Data were obtained from the database of the Italian College of General Practitioners; 3588 patients (mean age 68.7 ± 11.3 years; 2698 men, 888 women; two unrecorded gender), with an average time from event of 6 ± 5.7 years, were identified. RESULTS: Among the major risk factors, data entry ranged from 50.3% for physical activity to 74.9% for blood pressure. Inadequate blood pressure control was present in 49.2% and elevated plasma cholesterol levels (> 5.2 mmol/l) in 57.3%; among the latter group, 65% were on lipid-lowering therapy. Only 47.2% of the treated patients achieved a total cholesterol level of <5.2 mmol/l. Antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were prescribed to 43%, 10.3%, and 57.9% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The preventive attitude of Italian general practitioners is similar to that reported in other European countries with two noticeable exceptions: under-prescription of β-blockers and of antiplatelet drugs. Clearly, secondary prevention requires major improvement.
KW - Cholesterol
KW - Myocardial infarction
KW - Risk factors
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U2 - 10.2459/01.JCM.0000228693.07279.a1
DO - 10.2459/01.JCM.0000228693.07279.a1
M3 - Article
C2 - 16721205
AN - SCOPUS:33746587034
VL - 7
SP - 422
EP - 426
JO - Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine
JF - Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine
SN - 1558-2027
IS - 6
ER -