title: Ambulatory cardiology network in Greece: Clinical and therapeutic implications in the outpatient setting. The TEVE-SSF study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community based registries are particularly valuable tools to Preventive Cardiology as they summarize epidemiological data of ischemic heart disease risk factors, medications and lifestyle characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 1191 patients, from an outpatient community based cardiology network, dedicated to cover medically, office based professionals. We recorded demographic and lifestyle characteristics, risk factors for ischemic heart disease, all clinical entities diagnosed and therapies which were prescribed for hypertension and lipid disorders specifically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our population consisted of 659 males (55%) and 532 females (45%), (mean age 46±14). A sedentary lifestyle was almost universal (92%), followed by smoking (44%) and overweight body composition (38%). Unhealthy lifestyle increased significantly during the third decade of life, while multimorbidity ascended during the fifth. Cardiovascular morbidity was present in 611 patients (51%), while 289 patients (24%) were found negative for cardiovascular disease and positive for a different system diagnosis. Lipid disorders (32%) and hypertension (31%) were the most frequent cardiovascular entities. β-Blockers and statins were the most frequently prescribed medications for hypertension and lipid disorders respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiovascular morbidity was frequent in this ambulatory middle aged population, whereas multimorbidity (mainly from gastrointestinal and endocrine system) was a significant coexisting problem, even for a cardiology oriented outpatient population. Unhealthy lifestyle is of major importance because it was present in the majority of our patients early in their life and because it was statistically related to hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Preventive Cardiology must introduce special interventions to deescalate the presence of unhealthy lifestyle in young populations.
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece. Electronic address: kardiologiko.argos@gmail.com.
authors: Konstantinos E
authors: KE
authors: Panagiotopoulos
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece.
authors: Eleni E
authors: EE
authors: Panagiotopoulou
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Katsaros
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece.
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Noikokirakis
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Mpouziou
authors: TEVE Medical Network, Argos, 15 Atreos str, 21231, Greece.
authors: Angeliki
authors: A
authors: Stamelou
authors: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens Medical School, "Alexandra" Hospital, 80 Vasilisis Sofias Avenue & Lourou Street, Athens 11528, Greece.
authors: Savvas
authors: S
authors: Toumanidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019058:Community Networks; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hypertension; Lifestyle; Lipid disorders; Multimorbidity; Prevention; Risk factors