Lifestyle and risk factor management in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease. A report from the European Society of Cardiology European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) IV cross-sectional survey in 14 European regions.
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) IV in primary care was a cross-sectional survey carried out by the European Society of Cardiology, EURObservational Research Programme in 2014–2015 in 71 centres from 14 European countries. The main objective was to determine whether the 2012 Joint European Societies’ guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in people at high CVD risk have been followed in clinical practice.
Methods
Patients without a history of atherosclerotic disease started on either blood pressure and/or lipid and/or glucose-lowering treatments were identified and interviewed at least six months after the start of medication.
Results
Medical notes of 6700 patients were reviewed, and 4579 patients (58.7% women; mean age 58.8 (standard deviation (SD) 11.3) years) interviewed (interview rate 68.3%). Overall, 16.6% were smokers, 39.9% were overweight (body mass index (BMI)≥25 and <30 kg/m2), 43.5% obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and 63.9% centrally obese (waist circumference of ≥88 cm for women, ≥102 cm for men). The medical risk factor control was very poor, with less than half (42.8%) of the patients on blood pressure lowering medication reaching the target of <140/90 mm Hg (<140/80 mm Hg in people with self-reported diabetes). Among treated dyslipidaemic patients only 32.7% attained the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol target of <2.5 mmol/l. Among people treated for type 2 diabetes mellitus, 58.5% achieved the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) target of <7.0%.
Conclusion
The EUROASPIRE IV survey shows that large proportions of patients at high CVD risk have unhealthy lifestyle habits and uncontrolled blood pressure, lipids and diabetes. The present data make it clear that more efforts must be taken to improve cardiovascular prevention in people at high CVD risk.
European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) IV in primary care was a cross-sectional survey carried out by the European Society of Cardiology, EURObservational Research Programme in 2014–2015 in 71 centres from 14 European countries. The main objective was to determine whether the 2012 Joint European Societies’ guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in people at high CVD risk have been followed in clinical practice.
Methods
Patients without a history of atherosclerotic disease started on either blood pressure and/or lipid and/or glucose-lowering treatments were identified and interviewed at least six months after the start of medication.
Results
Medical notes of 6700 patients were reviewed, and 4579 patients (58.7% women; mean age 58.8 (standard deviation (SD) 11.3) years) interviewed (interview rate 68.3%). Overall, 16.6% were smokers, 39.9% were overweight (body mass index (BMI)≥25 and <30 kg/m2), 43.5% obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and 63.9% centrally obese (waist circumference of ≥88 cm for women, ≥102 cm for men). The medical risk factor control was very poor, with less than half (42.8%) of the patients on blood pressure lowering medication reaching the target of <140/90 mm Hg (<140/80 mm Hg in people with self-reported diabetes). Among treated dyslipidaemic patients only 32.7% attained the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol target of <2.5 mmol/l. Among people treated for type 2 diabetes mellitus, 58.5% achieved the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) target of <7.0%.
Conclusion
The EUROASPIRE IV survey shows that large proportions of patients at high CVD risk have unhealthy lifestyle habits and uncontrolled blood pressure, lipids and diabetes. The present data make it clear that more efforts must be taken to improve cardiovascular prevention in people at high CVD risk.
Date Issued
2016-09-16
Date Acceptance
2016-08-16
Citation
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2016, 23 (18), pp.2007-2018
ISSN
2047-4873
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
2007
End Page
2018
Journal / Book Title
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Volume
23
Issue
18
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The European Society of Cardiology. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Vol 23, Issue 18, pp. 2007 - 2018
First Published September 16, 2016 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2047487316667784
First Published September 16, 2016 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2047487316667784
Sponsor
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - CLRN Funding
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - CLRN Funding
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Grant Number
WHCP_P46405
RDLRN
RDLRN
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Cardiovascular System & Cardiology
EUROASPIRE
primary prevention
cardiovascular risk factors
guideline implementation
NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY
CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE
DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL
CLINICAL-PRACTICE
NATIONAL-HEALTH
UNITED-STATES
TASK-FORCE
US ADULTS
COUNTRIES
HYPERTENSION
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-09-16