Risk factors in cardiovascular patients: Challenges and opportunities to improve secondary prevention

Effective management of major cardiovascular risk factors is of great importance to reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Survey of Risk Factors in Coronary Heart Disease (SURF CHD) II study is a clinical audit of the recording and management of CHD risk factors. It was developed in collaboration with the European Association of Preventive Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Previous studies have shown that control of major cardiovascular risk factors in patients with established atherosclerotic CVD is generally inadequate. Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus, a region at a very high risk for CVD.

To assess adherence to ESC recommendations for secondary prevention of CVD based on the measurement of both modifiable major risk factors and their therapeutic management in patients with confirmed CHD at different hospitals in Baku (Azerbaijan).

Six tertiary health care centers participated in the SURF CHD II study between 2019 and 2021. Information on demographics, risk factors, physical and laboratory data, and medications was collected using a standard questionnaire in consecutive patients aged ≥ 18 years with established CHD during outpatient visits. Data from 687 patients (mean age 59.6 ± 9.58 years; 24.9% female) were included in the study.

Only 15.1% of participants were involved in cardiac rehabilitation programs. The rate of uncontrolled risk factors was high: Systolic blood pressure (BP) (SBP) (54.6%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (86.8%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (60.6%), as well as overweight (66.6%) and obesity (25%). In addition, significant differences in the prevalence and control of some risk factors [smoking, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood glucose (BG), and SBP] between female and male participants were found. The cardiovascular health index score (CHIS) was calculated from the six risk factors: Non- or ex-smoker, BMI < 25 kg/m², moderate/vigorous physical activity, controlled BP (< 140/90 mmHg; 140/80 mmHg for patients with DM), controlled LDL-C (< 70 mg/dL), and controlled BG (glycohemoglobin < 7% or BG < 126 mg/dL). Good, intermediate, and poor categories of CHIS were identified in 6%, 58.3%, and 35.7% of patients, respectively (without statistical differences between female and male patients).

Implementation of the current ESC recommendations for CHD secondary prevention and, in particular, the control rate of BP, are insufficient. Given the fact that patients with different comorbid pathologies are at a very high risk, this is of great importance in the management of such patients. This should be taken into account by healthcare organizers when planning secondary prevention activities and public health protection measures, especially in the regions at a high risk for CVD. A wide range of educational products based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines should be used to improve the adherence of healthcare professionals and patients to the management of CVD risk factors.