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Appalachian perspective on modifiable risk factors in coronary artery disease: how well are we doing?
A K Halperin1, D M Elnicki, H C Palmer
1Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9160, USA.
Insights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) management requires aggressive physician intervention for modifiable risk factors, despite available therapies. Early detection and treatment are crucial to reduce CAD mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death.
- Many individuals have unrecognized or untreated CAD risk factors.
- Effective lifestyle and pharmacologic therapies exist but are underutilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease.
- To identify physician interventions for managing these risk factors.
- To emphasize the need for aggressive management of CAD risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of MEDLINE for review articles and clinical trials.
- Focused on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, physical activity, obesity, and psychologic factors.
- Reviewed statistics and physician interventions for modifiable risk factors.
Main Results:
- Extensive information exists on CAD and its modifiable risk factors.
- Current data often emphasizes diagnosis and treatment to achieve specific goals.
- Physician interventions for modifiable risk factors were identified.
Conclusions:
- Coronary artery disease remains the primary cause of death in the US and West Virginia.
- Established guidelines for CAD detection and treatment exist.
- The medical community must adopt a more aggressive approach to managing modifiable risk factors.
Background:
Despite recognition of modifiable risk factors and available and effective life-style and pharmacologic therapies, many individuals have unrecognized or untreated risk factors for coronary artery disease.
Methods:
Using MEDLINE, we searched for relevant review articles and clinical trials related to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, physical activity, obesity, and psychologic risk factors for coronary artery disease. We carefully reviewed the literature and statistics on modifiable risk factors and identified appropriate physician interventions.
Results:
A large amount of information is available on coronary artery disease and modifiable risk factors. Much of the data focuses on diagnosis and treatment to goal.
Conclusions:
Coronary artery disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States and West Virginia, even though specific guidelines have been established for detection and treatment. The medical community needs to be more aggressive in managing modifiable risk factors.