title: Risk factor reduction in progression of angiographic coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate differences between outpatients with progressive and nonprogressive coronary artery disease (CAD) measured by coronary angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart reviews were performed in patients in an outpatient cardiology practice having ≥ 2 coronary angiographies ≥ 1 year apart. Progressive CAD was defined as 1) new non-obstructive or obstructive CAD in a previously disease-free vessel; or 2) new obstruction in a previously non-obstructive vessel. Coronary risk factors, comorbidities, cardiovascular events, medication use, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure were used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 183 patients, mean age 71 years. Mean follow-up duration was 11 years. Mean follow-up between coronary angiographies was 58 months. Of 183 patients, 108 (59%) had progressive CAD, and 75 (41%) had nonprogressive CAD. The use of statins, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and aspirin was not significantly different in patient with progressive CAD or nonprogressive CAD Mean arterial pressure was higher in patients with progressive CAD than in patients with nonprogressive CAD (97±13 mm Hg vs. 92±12 mm Hg) (p<0.05). Serum LDL-C was insignificantly higher in patients with progressive CAD (94±40 mg/dl) than in patients with nonprogressive CAD (81±34 mg/dl) (p=0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that in addition to using appropriate medical therapy, control of blood pressure and serum LDL-C level may reduce progression of CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Hoang M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mercando
authors.forename: Phoenix
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalen
authors.forename: Harit V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Kaushang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Harshad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Trung M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lai