Cardiology management improves secondary prevention measures among patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine if cardiology subspecialty involvement improves the attainment of recommended low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) targets in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.


BACKGROUND
The impact of physician specialty on secondary prevention measures for CAD in ambulatory care is unknown.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of 13,995 patients with CAD seen at eight ambulatory care Veteran Affairs facilities from 1998 to 2000. Patients with cardiology involvement were defined as those seen in cardiology clinic in addition to primary care. The main outcomes of interest were LDL cholesterol < or =100 mg/dl and BP < or =130/85 mm Hg. Multivariable hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine the independent association of cardiology involvement with improved LDL cholesterol and BP control.


RESULTS
Overall, 3,771 (27.0%) patients had cardiology involvement. A higher proportion of patients with cardiology involvement achieved LDL cholesterol (55.6% vs. 45.6%; p < 0.01) and BP (45.3% vs. 35.9%; p < 0.01) goals. In multivariable hierarchical regression analysis, cardiology involvement was independently associated with better LDL cholesterol (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40 to 1.82) and BP (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.77) control. The benefit of cardiology involvement was consistent across a range of LDL and BP targets, in analysis of LDL and BP as continuous outcomes, and among subgroups of high-risk patients, including diabetic patients, the elderly, and those with prior revascularization.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiology involvement is associated with better LDL cholesterol and BP control among CAD patients. However, significant room for improvement in secondary prevention measures remains, irrespective of physician specialty.
Ho
P Michael
PM
Health Services Research, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 80220, USA. Michael.ho@uchsc.edu
Masoudi
Frederick A
FA
Peterson
Eric D
ED
Grunwald
Gary K
GK
Sales
Anne E
AE
Hammermeister
Karl E
KE
Rumsfeld
John S
JS
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002309:Cardiology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL