Prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in older patients with coronary artery disease in an academic nursing home.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in older persons with coronary artery disease (CAD) in an academic nursing home.


METHODS
We investigated in all older persons with documented CAD who were not terminally ill in an academic nursing home the prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs. The physicians taking care of these persons were taught by one of the authors to treat persons with CAD with these drugs to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
An academic nursing home.


METHODS
Of 202 persons, 54 (27%) had documented CAD. The 54 persons with CAD included 27 women and 27 men, mean age 76 +/- 8 years.


METHODS
Prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs.


RESULTS
In 54 persons with CAD, aspirin or clopidogrel was used in 53 persons (98%), beta-blockers in 52 persons (96%), statins in 47 persons (87%), and ACE inhibitors or ARBs in 46 persons (85%). The serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was less than 100 mg/dL in 51 persons (94%).


CONCLUSIONS
As recommended by evidence-based guidelines, the prevalence of use of aspirin or clopidogrel was 98%, of beta-blockers was 96%, of statins was 87%, and of ACE inhibitors or ARBs was 85% in an academic nursing home.
Joseph
Julie
J
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Geriatrics and Cardiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Koka
Madhavi
M
Aronow
Wilbert S
WS
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors