Volume 9, Number 8, September 2002

Secondary prevention in patients awaiting CABG in the North West of England
This study looks at how well cardiovascular risk factors were being controlled in a high-risk group of patients awaiting coronary artery bypass surgery. It shows significant short falls in the implementation of currently advocated strategies.

Recent guidelines emphasise the importance of cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes control in the progression of coronary artery disease. In this study, the implementation of therapies to control such cardiovascular risk factors was assessed in patients with established coronary artery disease awaiting coronary artery bypass surgery. Some 15% of patients continued to smoke and a significant proportion of patients did not achieve target levels for total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and blood pressure control. Amongst the diabetic patients, 88% demonstrated a HbA_1C above 7%.

Br J Cardiol 2002;9:488-490.

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