Evaluating the adequacy of cardiovascular risk factor control after myocardial revascularization surgery.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular risk factors (RF) for coronary artery disease (CAD) are responsible for the occurrence of cardiovascular events.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the percentage of patients submitted to myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) that attains adequate control of modifiable RF at least six months after the surgery.


METHODS
Data collection was based on the review of medical records and a clinical interview of 88 patients submitted to MRS between January and December of 2004 at a reference hospital for cardiovascular diseases. The patients were interviewed in the follow-up period, between six and twelve months after the surgical revascularization.


RESULTS
Mean age was 63.1 +/- 9.9 years; 51 patients (58%) were males, 86 (97.7%) were hypertensive, 38 (43.2%) were diabetic, 85 (96.6%) had hypercholesterolemia and 10 (11.4%) were smokers. Hypertension control (PA < 140 x 90 mmHg) was attained by 24.4% of the patients; cholesterol (LDL cholesterol < 100 mg/dl) and diabetes control (blood glucose levels < 110 mg/dl) levels were 30.6% and 31.6%, respectively. The use of antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic agents and statins, when indicated, were 96.5%, 92.1% and 78.8%, respectively. However, only 14.8% patients had their blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels within the limits accepted as adequate control.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the frequent use of drugs to control hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, a high proportion of patients still do not achieve the target levels of risk factor control recommended by current guidelines at least six months after revascularization surgery, which suggests there is a great potential for improvement in clinical practice.
Barbosa
Andrea Cristina Costa
AC
Hospital Português, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Bahia, BA, Brasil. andreabarbosa@cardiol.br
Passos
Luiz Carlos Santana
LC
Lopes
Antônio Alberto
AA
Andrade
Wanewman Lins Guedes de
WL
Souza
Luciano Rapold
LR
Nunes
Maurício Batista
MB
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL