skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8838

ACE up the sleeve – are vascular patients medically optimized

Original Research

(2143) Views  (506) Full article downloads

Authors: AP Coveney, GC O'Brien, GJ Fulton

Published Date January 2011 Volume 2011:7 Pages 15 - 21
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S15484

AP Coveney, GC O’Brien, GJ Fulton
Department of Vascular Surgery, Cork University Hospital and National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland

Objective: To examine the current medical management of arteriopathic patients attending a vascular surgical service at a university teaching hospital over a 6-month period. The prescribing of antiplatelets, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers was specifically examined. Vascular patients are often under the care of multiple specialties, and therefore the influence of different medical specialties on the patients’ medical management was also examined.
Design: Between January and June 2009, data were recorded on sequential patients with arterial disease attending the vascular surgical service. Patients’ demographics, type of arterial disease, medical consultations within the previous 12 months, and current medications were recorded.
Results: The study included 180 patients with a mean age of 69 years (39–88 years). All but 4% were taking an antiplatelet or anticoagulant, predominantly aspirin. There were 86% taking a statin, 44% taking a beta-blocker, and 51% taking an ACE inhibitor. Suboptimal prescription of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers was evident regardless of the type of medical consultations in the previous year. No specialty group differed significantly from vascular surgeons in their prescribing pattern.
Conclusions: While almost all arteriopaths receive some form of antiplatelet and statin in line with clinical evidence, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers appear to be under-prescribed in this arteriopathic population. We conclude that opportunity exists for vascular surgeons to embrace recent guidelines and lead the way in both surgical and medical optimization of arteriopathic patients through improving links with primary care physicians or taking greater responsibility themselves for the medical as well as the surgical care of their arteriopathic patients.

Keywords: ACE inhibitors, arteriopathic disease, vascular disease, statins, beta-blockers






Readers of this article also read:

Role of aliskiren in cardio-renal protection and use in hypertensives with multiple risk factors
Management of hypertension with fixed dose combinations of candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide: patient perspectives and clinical utility
Combination therapy of statin and ezetimibe for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia
Considering statins for cholesterol-reduction in children if lifestyle and diet changes do not improve their health: a review of the risks and benefits
Antiplatelet combinations for prevention of atherothrombotic events
Treatment options for hypertension in high-risk patients
Improvement of adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer to airway epithelia by folate-modified anionic liposomes
Lipid-lowering therapy: who can benefit
Primary care for diabetes mellitus: perspective from older patients
Current state of cardiac rehabilitation in Germany: patient characteristics, risk factor management and control status, by education level
  • Join ISVH

    Be part of the World's leading experts in vascular health by joining the International Society of Vascular Health (ISVH)

  • Testimonials

    "... I was impressed at the rapidity of publication from submission to final acceptance." Dr Edwin Thrower, PhD, Yale University