Cardiovascular risk factor control is insufficient in young patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Control of cardiovascular risk factor is important in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) but it is unknown whether treatment targets are achieved in young patients. We aimed to examine the prevalence and control of risk factors in this subset of patients.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional, single-center study on patients with documented CAD before age 40. All patients treated between 2002 and 2014 were invited to participate at least 6 months after the last coronary intervention. We included 143 patients and recorded the family history of cardiovascular disease, physical activity level, smoking status, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, metabolic status, and current medical therapy. Risk factor control and treatment targets were evaluated according to the shared guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology.


RESULTS
The most common insufficiently controlled risk factors were overweight (113 [79.0%]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol above target (77 [57.9%]), low physical activity level (78 [54.6%]), hypertriglyceridemia (67 [46.9%]), and current smoking (53 [37.1%]). Almost one-half of the patients fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. The median (interquartile range) number of uncontrolled modifiable risk factors was 2 (2;4) and only seven (4.9%) patients fulfilled all modifiable health measure targets.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the youngest patients with CAD, there remains a potential to improve the cardiovascular risk profile.
Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Morten Krogh
MK
Christiansen
Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Jesper Møller
JM
Jensen
Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Anders Krogh
AK
Brøndberg
Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Hans Erik
HE
Bøtker
Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Henrik Kjærulf
HK
Jensen
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008049:Lipase
cardiovascular diseases/prevention and control; coronary artery disease; health behavior; middle aged; risk factors; young adult