title: Management of atherothrombotic risk factors in high-risk Canadian outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry is an international, prospective cohort of 68,236 patients with established coronary artery, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease, or three or more atherothrombotic risk factors. Baseline data from the 1976 Canadian patients in the REACH Registry provide opportunities to assess atherothrombotic risk and treatment in a real-world Canadian setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present baseline characteristics of Canadian REACH Registry patients, and to compare cardiovascular risk and treatment among Canadian, United States (USA) and global patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients 45 years of age or older with established atherosclerotic vascular disease or three or more cardiovascular risk factors were enrolled during 2004. Baseline data were used in analyses of risk factor prevalence and control and medication use. Comparisons between the Canadian and USA populations, Canadian and global populations, and the Canadian regions were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1976 Canadian REACH patients, 82.5% had documented vascular disease, 12.6% of whom had manifestations in more than one vascular bed (polyvascular disease). A high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (84.4%), hypertension (76.6%) and diabetes mellitus (43.7%) were noted, and 75.1% of patients were overweight or obese. Of the 1976 Canadian REACH patients, 75.1% were at target cholesterol levels, 67.4% were at target fasting blood glucose levels and 60.6% were at target blood pressure levels. Significant differences existed in the prevalence of risk factors and their management among Canadian, USA and global REACH populations, as well as within Canada.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Canada compared favourably with USA and global REACH populations in the use of proven risk-reducing medications.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. alan.bell@rogers.com
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002170:Canada; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States