Frequency of Lipid-Lowering Drug Therapy
Background. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CE) are palliative operations for patients with severe atherosclerosis of the coronary or carotid arteries. Secondary preventive measures after these operations have received little attention.
Methods. We conducted a retrospective observational study to determine the frequency of lipid-lowering drug therapy before and after CABG or CE done in 1997.
Results. Of the 204 patients who had CABG, 56 (27%) were receiving lipid-lowering drug therapy before admission, and 71 (37%) of 192 were discharged receiving it. Of the 59 patients who had CE, only 12 (20%) were taking a lipid-lowering drug before admission, and 8 (14%) upon discharge. Of those 59 patients, 23 (39%) had coronary artery disease.
Conclusion. Secondary prevention after coronary or carotid operations for atherosclerosis has been underemphasized at our institution, prompting the establishment of a postoperative risk reduction program.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CE) are major operations for patients with severe atherosclerosis involving the coronary and carotid arteries. Secondary prevention measures in general and lipid-lowering drug therapy in particular have been recommended in patients with atherosclerotic diseases to avoid the obvious risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. This analysis was undertaken to determine the frequency of lipid-lowering drug therapy before and after CABG or CE during 1 year at a public teaching hospital.
Background. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CE) are palliative operations for patients with severe atherosclerosis of the coronary or carotid arteries. Secondary preventive measures after these operations have received little attention.
Methods. We conducted a retrospective observational study to determine the frequency of lipid-lowering drug therapy before and after CABG or CE done in 1997.
Results. Of the 204 patients who had CABG, 56 (27%) were receiving lipid-lowering drug therapy before admission, and 71 (37%) of 192 were discharged receiving it. Of the 59 patients who had CE, only 12 (20%) were taking a lipid-lowering drug before admission, and 8 (14%) upon discharge. Of those 59 patients, 23 (39%) had coronary artery disease.
Conclusion. Secondary prevention after coronary or carotid operations for atherosclerosis has been underemphasized at our institution, prompting the establishment of a postoperative risk reduction program.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CE) are major operations for patients with severe atherosclerosis involving the coronary and carotid arteries. Secondary prevention measures in general and lipid-lowering drug therapy in particular have been recommended in patients with atherosclerotic diseases to avoid the obvious risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. This analysis was undertaken to determine the frequency of lipid-lowering drug therapy before and after CABG or CE during 1 year at a public teaching hospital.