Health News : Treatment of European coronary patients fails to meet the targets of international guidelines

Treatment of European coronary patients fails to meet the targets of
international guidelines
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admin on 07/05/2010 19:33:00
 
"There is still considerable potential to raise the standard of preventive care
in Europe through preventive cardiology programmes in order to reduce the risk
of recurrent disease."
The EUROASPIRE survey, conducted on behalf of the European Society  of
Cardiology (ESC), analysed medical records and interviewed almost  9000 patients
with coronary heart disease in 22 countries of Europe.  EUROASPIRE III is the
third survey of the series and was carried out in  2006-2007 in patients from 76
coronary care centres in Europe.  Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of
coronary heart disease were  identified and interviewed and examined at least
six months after their  coronary event.
Results reported in Prague from the interviews show that
*56% had blood pressure levels above target (140/90 mmHg, 130/80  mmHg for
patients with diabetes)  	*51% had serum cholesterol levels above target (4.5
mmol/l)  	*35% had diabetes (defined as self-reported or fasting plasma  glucose
≥7 mmol/L)
Lifestyle, risk factor and therapeutic targets for the prevention of 
cardiovascular disease are clearly set out in the Joint European  Societies
Guidelines, and give the highest priority to those with  coronary disease - what
is known as "secondary prevention".(2) Among the  goals of these Clinical
Practice Guidelines are to maintain a maximum  body mass index of 25 kg/m2,
blood pressure no higher than 140/90 mmHg  (130/80 in diabetics) and total
cholesterol no higher than 4.5 mmol/l.
However, Dr Kotseva and her colleagues report that only 44% of patients  using
medication to lower blood pressure were adequately controlled (a  blood pressure
of 140/90 mmHg or less,
AUTHORS:
European Society of Cardiology
Press & Communications
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 94 76 00
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 94 77 52
* More information on this press release and contact information on the  ESC’s
press services in Prague are available at press@escardio.org
NOTES TO EDITOR
* The ESC has performed three surveys as part of its EUROASPIRE  programme
(European Action on Secondary Prevention through  Intervention to Reduce
Events); the first two were published in 1998  (findings from 1995/96) and 2001
(findings from 1999/2000). Dr Kornelia  Kotseva, EURASPIRE III’s first author
and medical co-ordinator of the  study, is a consultant cardiologist at the
National Heart & Lung  Institute, Imperial College, London
* EuroPRevent is the annual meeting of the European  Association for
Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, a  registered branch of the
European Society of Cardiology.
* The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than  62,000
cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its  mission is to
reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.
REFERENCES
1. Kotseva K, Jennings C, De Backer G, et al. Risk factor and  therapeutic
management in patients with coronary heart disease: Results  from EUROASPIRE III
survey in 22 European countries. Presented at  EUROPREVENT 2010, Prague 5th-7th
May.
2. Graham I, Atar D, Borch-Johnsen K, et al. European Guidelines on 
cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice: fourth joint  task force
of the European Society of cardiology and other societies.  Eur J Cardiovasc
Prev Rehabil 2007; 14 (Suppl 2): S1-S113. And at
http://authors.escardio.org/guidelines-surveys/esc-guidelines/Pages/cvd-prevention.aspx