title: The CAPITAL study (CArdiovascular Prevention wIth Telecardiology in ApuLia): preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The CArdiovascular Prevention wIth Telecardiology in ApuLia (CAPITAL) study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, the status of cardiovascular prevention, and the compliance to international scientific societies' guidelines on cardiovascular prevention in a Mediterranean region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CAPITAL study was based on the assessment of cardiovascular risk and compliance to guidelines on cardiovascular prevention, and on an electrocardiogram screening with remote telemedicine support performed in pharmacies of Apulia (Italy); the study was expected to enroll 10 000 consecutive patients accessing their usual pharmacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first 1000 patients enrolled, 16% were smokers, 9% diabetic, 26% hypertensive, 43% overweight, and 23% obese; 37% of the patients treated with antihypertensive drugs did not achieve the target levels, regardless of the number of antihypertensive drugs given, and 60% of subjects treated with lipid-lowering drugs did not achieve the target levels.Twenty-two per cent of the patients subjected to the lipid-lowering drugs did not check their cholesterol levels in the past 12 months, and 21% of those taking antihypertensive drugs did not check their blood pressure levels.Left ventricular hypertrophy was detected at electrocardiogram examination in 3.4% of the cases, and in 2.6% of the patients with unknown hypertension: 52% of the hypertensive patients were not checked with an electrocardiogram in the past 12 months, 44% of the diabetic patients, and 44% of subjects treated with lipid-lowering drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The awareness, therapy, and control of cardiovascular risk factors in a Mediterranean real-world population are unsatisfactory. There is a large scope of an improvement in the control of cardiovascular risk factors. Telemedicine support and pharmacy-based assessment may be helpful in implementing strategies aimed at the improvement of cardiovascular prevention.
authors: aCardiology Department, University of Foggia, Foggia bCardiology Departement, Ospedale Di Venere cCardio-on-line Europe dOspedale San Paolo eFar.P.As, Bari, Italy.
authors: Natale Daniele
authors: ND
authors: Brunetti
authors: Saverio
authors: S
authors: Lanzone
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Dellegrottaglie
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Di Giuseppe
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: De Gennaro
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Novielli
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Straziota
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Loiacono
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Di Biase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017216:Telemedicine; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents