title: Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction: a survey in primary care.
abstract: 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, beta-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 beta-blockers and of antiplatelet drugs. Clearly, secondary prevention requires major improvement.
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanuzzo
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bignamini
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzaglia
authors.forename: Ovidio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brignoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cricelli
authors.forename: Alberico L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Catapano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D008055:Lipids; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors