title: Cardiovascular protection paradigms: is change on the horizon?
abstract: Recent trials of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have provided a wealth of data regarding diagnosis, risk factors, and treatment. Aggressive risk factor management has been shown to improve patient survival, reduce recurrent events and the need for interventional procedures, and improve the quality of life in patients with known CVD. There have been impressive reductions in blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and improved diabetes control. Medical therapy with options such as angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and aspirin has been shown to have positive effects. Patients in current trials are more likely to be receiving appropriate treatment upon study entry than were patients in older trials. Changes in the risk profile of high-risk patients have reduced the overall rates of cardiovascular events and will continue to affect outcomes in randomized clinical trials. Such changes should be considered in the design of new clinical trials and in the interpretation of current data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Georgetown University Medical Centers, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papademetriou
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors