Comparison of secondary prevention care after myocardial infarction and stroke.
BACKGROUND
Whether secondary prevention of atherosclerosis is performed as frequently after cerebrovascular events (stroke or transient ischemic attack) as after cardiac events (myocardial infarction or angina) is unknown.


METHODS
We compared the receipt of six secondary preventive care processes among 943 persons with a prior cardiac event to that among 523 persons with a prior cerebrovascular event using a representative sample of the US population.


RESULTS
The cardiac event group had higher rates for three care processes: antithrombotic medication use in the past year (83-77%, p = 0.01), ever advised to exercise more (66-52%, p < 0.001), and ever advised to eat fewer high-fat or high-cholesterol foods (70-54%, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the cardiac event group, the quality of care of the cerebrovascular event group is lower and should be improved.
Cheng
Eric
E
Department of Neurology, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 90073, USA. eric.cheng@med.va.gov
Chen
Alex
A
Vassar
Stefanie
S
Lee
Martin
M
Cohen
Stanley N
SN
Vickrey
Barbara
B
D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents