Cardiovascular secondary prevention in high-risk patients : a randomized controlled trial sub-study

• Background: Enhanced cardiovascular secondary preventive follow-up is needed to improve adherence to recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood pressure (BP) levels. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high risk of recurrent events. Secondary prevention is therefore essential in these patients.Methods: Patients with acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or transient ischemic attack were randomized to nurse-based telephone follow-up (intervention) or usual care (control). LDL-C and BP were measured at 1 month (baseline) and 12 months post-discharge. Intervention patients with above-target values at baseline received medication titration to achieve treatment goals. Values measured for control patients were given to the patient’s general practitioner for assessment.Results: The final analyses included 225 intervention and 215 control patients with DM or CKD. Among patients with above-target baseline values, the following 12-month values were recorded for intervention and control patients, respectively: LDL-C, 2.2 versus 3.0 mmol/L (p < 0.001); and median systolic BP (SBP), 140 versus 145 mmHg (p = 0.26). Among patients with above-target values at baseline, 52.3% of intervention patients reached target LDL-C values at 12 months versus 21.3% of control patients (absolute difference of 30.9%, 95% CI 16.1 to 43.8%), and there was a non-significant trend of more intervention patients reaching target SBP (49.4% versus 36.8%; absolute difference of 12.6%, 95% CI -1.7 to 26.2%).Conclusions: Cardiovascular secondary prevention with nurse-based telephone follow-up was more effective than usual care in improving LDL-C levels 12 months after discharge for patients with DM or CKD. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

acute coronary syndrome

myocardial infarction

stroke

transient ischemic attack

diabetes mellitus

chronic renal insufficiency

secondary prevention

cardiovascular disease

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)