Quality care in the management of heart failure in a health area. / Calidad asistencial en el manejo de la insuficiencia cardiaca en una zona básica de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the heart failure situation in a health area, as well quality criteria. METHOD: Cross-sectional observational study of patients diagnosed with heart failure by collecting data from their clinical history in the «Turriano¼ computer program. The variables analysed were, comorbidities, control of cardiovascular risk factors, treatments, number of chronic diseases, and admissions. The level of adherence to drugs in relation to heart failure by determining the ratio between the percentage of prescribed drugs and drugs withdrawn from pharmacy is also analysed using the Turriano prescription program. The study consisted of an improvement cycle or evaluative cycle, following the methodology proposed by Palmer to evaluate the quality of ambulatory care. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients were included, with a mean age of 81.24 years, and 54.6% were women. Almost all of them (95%) had disease associated high blood pressure, including diabetes 42.2%, dyslipidaemia 8.9%, obesity 49.1%, and cancer 13.7% Some type of heart disease was diagnosed in 62.2% of patients with 29.2% ischaemic heart disease, 46.6% cardiac arrhythmias, and 20.5% valve diseases. More than 60% had between 4 and 6 concomitant diseases. An acceptable control is observed as regards the cardiovascular risk factors. Diuretic treatment was taken by 70%, with 32% and 35% taking angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. More than 20% have had 1-2 admissions in the last year, with cardiac decompensation being the main cause. There was 16% mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heart failure have a significant number of chronic concomitant diseases, although there is an acceptable cardiovascular risk factors control. There are quality criteria that can be improved.

[Active interventions in hypercholesteroloemia patients with high cardiovascular risk in primary care; estudio ESPROCOL]. / INTERVENCIÓN ACTIVA EN LA HIPERCOLESTEROLEMIA DE PACIENTES CON RIESGO CARDIOVASCULAR ALTO DE ATENCIÓN PRIMARIA; ESTUDIO ESPROCOL.

INTRODUCTION: Hypercholesterolemia is a major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its reduction reduces morbidity and mortality from ischemic heart disease and CVD in general, primary prevention and secondary prevention especially. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a notarized and intensive clinical practice can overcome inertia and achieve the therapeutic goal (OT) LDL-C <100 mg/dL in high-risk patients attended in Primary Care (PC) in our country. METHODOLOGY: Epidemiological, prospective, multicenter study conducted in centers of different ACs By AP consecutive sampling 310 patients at high cardiovascular risk (diabetic or established CVD) previously treated with statins, which did not reach the OT included c-LDL. RESULTS: The study subjects had a mean age of 65.2 years, of which 60.32% were male. The 41.64% had a previous EVC, acute myocardial infarction (20.33%), angina (16.07%), stroke/TIA (9.19%), arthropathy (5.25%), diabetes (70.87%), hypertension (71.01%), and abdominal obesity (69.62%). The 43.57% (95% CI: 37,21; 50,08) of patients who performed the 2nd visit (241) got the OT. 62.50% (95% CI: 55.68, 68.98) of those who took the 3rd (216) got the OT. Finally, 77.56% (95% CI: 72.13, 83.08) patients who performed the last visit (205) got the OT. Throughout the study there was a reduction in LDL-C levels from 135.6 mg/dL at baseline, 107.4 mg dL in the 2nd visit, 97.3 mg/dL in the 3rd visit, up to 90.7 mg/dL at the final visit (p < 0.0001). The increase in HDL-C from baseline (50.9 mg/dL) and final (53.6 mg/dL) was also significant (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The reassessment and intensification of treatment in patients at high cardiovascular risk treated in primary care, applying the indications of the guides, achieves the OT in more than three quarters of the previously uncontrolled within half a year. These results should encourage us to overcome the therapeutic inertia in the control of CVD by early and energetic performance against hypercholesterolemia.

Introducción: la hipercolesterolemia es uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV). Su reducción disminuye la morbimortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica y ECV en general, en prevención primaria y, especialmente, en prevención secundaria. Objetivo: comprobar si una práctica clínica protocolizada e intensiva permite vencer la inercia y alcanzar el objetivo terapéutico (OT) de c-LDL < 100 mg/dL en pacientes de alto riesgo asistidos en Atención Primaria (AP) de nuestro país. Metodología: estudio epidemiológico, prospectivo, multicentrico, realizado en centros de AP de diferentes CC. AA. Mediante muestreo consecutivo se incluyeron 310 pacientes de alto riesgo cardiovascular (diabéticos o con ECV establecida), tratados previamente con estatinas, que no alcanzaban el OT de c-LDL. Resultados: los sujetos del estudio tenían una edad media de 65,2 años, de los que el 60,32 % eran varones. El 41,64 % presentaban un EVC previo, infarto agudo de miocardio (20,33 %), angina (16,07 %), ictus/AIT (9,19 %), artropatía (5,25 %), diabetes (70,87 %), hipertensión (71,01 %) y obesidad abdominal (69,62 %). El 43,57 % (IC95 %: 37,21; 50,08) de los pacientes que realizaron la segunda visita (241) consiguieron el OT. El 62,50 % (IC95 %: 55,68; 68,98) de los que realizaron la tercera (216) consiguieron el OT. Finalmente, el 77,56 % (IC95 %: 72,13; 83,08) de los pacientes que realizaron la última visita (205) consiguieron el OT. A lo largo del estudio hubo una reducción de los niveles de c-LDL desde los 135,6 mg/dL en la visita basal, 107,4 mg/dL en la segunda visita, 97,3 mg/dL en la tercera visita, hasta los 90,7 mg/dL en la visita final (p < 0,0001). El incremento de c-HDL entre la visita basal (50,9 mg/dL) y la final (53,6 mg/dL) también fue significativo (p = 0,013). Conclusiones: la reevaluación e intensificación del tratamiento en pacientes de alto riesgo cardiovascular atendidos en Atención Primaria, aplicando las indicaciones de las guías, permite alcanzar el OT en más de las tres cuartas partes de los previamente no controlados en el plazo de medio año. Estos resultados nos deben estimular a superar la inercia terapéutica en el control de la ECV mediante una actuación precoz y enérgica ante la hipercolesterolemia.

A pharmacoeconomic evaluation of statins in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in the primary care setting in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and it has been shown that primary prevention with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) lipid-lowering drugs can reduce cardiovascular events. Acquisition costs vary between statins and this may be an important consideration in the overall cost effectiveness (CE) of different options. OBJECTIVE: To perform a CE study of the main statins used in Spain for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with high cholesterol levels [corrected] STUDY DESIGN: The CE analysis was based on an open-label, prospective, naturalistic, randomised intervention study under usual care conditions in primary care settings in patients with high cholesterol levels (total cholesterol [TC] >240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] >160 mg/dL) and one or more cardiovascular risk factors. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System; the year of costing was 2001. PATIENTS: A total of 161 patients (49.7% males), mean age 65 +/- 10.3 years, without evidence of cardiovascular disease were included in the study. Of those, 82.1% were hypertensive, 37.1% had diabetes mellitus and 17.9% were smokers. INTERVENTIONS: Forty-eight patients received oral atorvastatin 10 mg/day, 32 received fluvastatin 40 mg/day, 44 received simvastatin 20 mg/day and 37 patients received pravastatin 20 mg/day for 6 months. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: After 6 months, the therapeutic goals of LDL-C control, according to the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis--Consensus-2000, were reached in 62.5%, 43.8%, 45.5% and 40.5% of patients treated with atorvastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin, respectively. The average CE ratio, expressed as the cost in euros (euro) per patient achieving the therapeutic goals, was euros 424.3 for atorvastatin, euros 503.5 for fluvastatin, euros 527.0 for simvastatin and euros 683.4 for pravastatin. The incremental CE ratios for atorvastatin versus fluvastatin and simvastatin were euros 238.9 and euros 149.5, respectively, per additional patient reaching therapeutic goals. Atorvastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin all dominated pravastatin. CONCLUSIONS: All the statins studied have been shown to be effective for reducing both TC and LDL-C levels. In this study, atorvastatin was the most efficient drug, with the best CE ratio (cost per patient reaching therapeutic goals). Atorvastatin was more effective and less costly than pravastatin, and when compared with fluvastatin or simvastatin the additional cost per additional patient achieving therapeutic goals was