How well are patients with atherosclerotic disease treated? Secondary prevention in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changing trends in the field of secondary prevention of atherosclerotic disease in Norwegian general practice.


METHODS
A multipractice survey of consecutive patients with atherosclerotic disease consulting general practitioners in 1994/95 compared with a similar survey in 1996/97.


METHODS
Primary health care.


METHODS
707 patients attending 31 general practitioners in 1994/95 and 1353 patients attending 63 general practitioners in 1996/97.


METHODS
The patients were examined and interviewed for risk factors and pharmacological treatment.


RESULTS
In 1994/95, 18% of the patients had been prescribed a lipid-lowering agent as opposed to 55% in the later survey. Consequently, the average level of LDL cholesterol in the 1996/97 population was 19% lower than in the 1994/95 population (3.8 mmol/l vs 4.7 mmol/l), which may imply a marked risk reduction. Aspirin and beta-blockers were prescribed to approximately 50% of the patients in both surveys. Diabetic patients had the same drug prescription rate and lipid profile as non-diabetics. In both surveys, about 25% of the patients were smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Secondary prevention in the majority of patients with atherosclerotic disease though ameliorating is still unsatisfactory. More attention is needed to achieve and sustain treatment goals.
Svilaas
A
A
Nymoen legekontor, Kongsberg, Norway. asvilaas@online.no
Thoresen
M
M
Kristoffersen
J E
JE
Hjartaaker
J
J
Westheim
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol