Published online Aug 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i8.288
Revised: May 5, 2013
Accepted: August 4, 2013
Published online: August 26, 2013
Processing time: 171 Days and 9.8 Hours
AIM: To describe current profile of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and assessing changes through last decade.
METHODS: Comparison of patients with established CVD from two similar cross-sectional registries performed in 1999 (n = 6194) and 2009 (n = 4639). The types of CVD were coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients were collected from outpatient clinics. Investigators were 80% cardiologist and 20% primary care practitioners. Clinical antecedents, major diagnosis, blood test results and medical treatments were collected from all patients.
RESULTS: An increase in all risk factors, except for smoking, was observed; a 54.4% relative increase in BP control was noted. CHD was the most prevalent CVD but HF and AF increased significantly, 41.5% and 33.7%, respectively. A significant reduction in serum lipid levels was observed. The use of statins increased by 141.1% as did all cardiovascular treatments. Moreover, the use of angiotensin-renin system inhibitors in patients with HF, beta-blockers in CHD patients or oral anticoagulants in AF patients increased by 83.0%, 80.3% and 156.0%, respectively (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of all cardiovascular risk factors has increased in patients with CVD through last decade. HF and AF have experienced the largest increases.
Core tip: Reduction in acute phase of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has lead to a progressive increase in patients with chronic CVD that are considered high-risk patients and mostly attended in outpatient clinics. The prevalence of all cardiovascular risk factors has increased in patients with CVD through last decade. Heart failure and atrial fibrillation have experienced the largest increases.