BMJ 1998;316:1430-1434 ( 9 May )

General Practice

Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease: baseline survey of provision in general practice

Editorialby van der Weijden and Grol and p 1434

Neil C Campbell, clinical research fellowa Joan Thain, health visitorb H George Deans, lecturer in clinical psychologya Lewis D Ritchie, Mackenzie professor of general practicea John M Rawles, honorary senior lecturerc

a Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill Health Centre, Aberdeen AB25 2AY, b Grampian Healthcare, Denburn Health Centre, Aberdeen AB25 1QB, c Medicines Assessment Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD

Correspondence to: Dr Campbell n.campbell{at}abdn.ac.uk

Objective: To determine secondary preventive treatment and habits among patients with coronary heart disease in general practice.
Design: Process of care data on a random sample of patients were collected from medical records. Health and lifestyle data were collected by postal questionnaire (response rate 71%).
Setting: Stratified, random sample of general practices in Grampian.
Subjects: 1921 patients aged under 80 years with coronary heart disease identified from pre-existing registers of coronary heart disease and nitrate prescriptions.
Main outcome measures: Treatment with aspirin, beta  blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Management of lipid concentrations and hypertension according to local guidelines. Dietary habits (dietary instrument for nutritional evaluation score), physical activity (health practice indices), smoking, and body mass index.
Results: 825/1319 (63%) patients took aspirin. Of 414 patients with recent myocardial infarction, 131 (32%) took beta blockers, and of 257 with heart failure, 102 (40%) took angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Blood pressure was managed according to current guidelines for 1566 (82%) patients but lipid concentrations for only 133 (17%). 673 of 1327 patients (51%) took little or no exercise, 245 of 1333 (18%) were current smokers, 808 of 1264 (64%) were overweight, and 627 of 1213 (52%) ate more fat than recommended.
Conclusion: In terms of secondary prevention, half of patients had at least two aspects of their medical management that were suboptimal and nearly two thirds had at least two aspects of their health behaviour that would benefit from change. There seems to be considerable potential to increase secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in general practice.

Key messages

  • Patients with coronary heart disease can benefit from both medical and lifestyle secondary prevention measures

  • This study found that half of patients with coronary heart disease in general practice had at least two missed opportunities for effective medical interventions

  • Nearly two thirds of patients with coronary heart disease in general practice had two or more high risk lifestyle factors that would benefit from change

  • There seems to be plenty of opportunity for improving secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in general practice




© BMJ 1998

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease
Jonathan Morrell and R E Ferner
BMJ 1999 318: 1419. [Extract] [Full Text]

Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease
R E Ferner and Hugh J N Bethell
BMJ 1998 317: 1592. [Extract] [Full Text]

Increased secondary prevention of coronary heart disease benefits general practice patients
BMJ 1998 316: 0. [Full Text]

Preventing recurrent coronary heart disease
Trudy van der Weijden and Richard Grol
BMJ 1998 316: 1400-1401. [Extract] [Full Text]

Secondary prevention clinics for coronary heart disease: randomised trial of effect on health
Neil C Campbell, Joan Thain, H George Deans, Lewis D Ritchie, John M Rawles, and Janet L Squair
BMJ 1998 316: 1434-1437. [Abstract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Murray, R. L., Bauld, L., Hackshaw, L. E., McNeill, A. (2009). Improving access to smoking cessation services for disadvantaged groups: a systematic review. J Public Health (Oxf) 31: 258-277 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Buckley, B, Murphy, A W (2009). Do patients with angina alone have a more benign prognosis than patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction, revascularisation or both? Findings from a community cohort study. Heart 95: 461-467 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Turner, D A, Paul, S, Stone, M A, Juarez-Garcia, A, Squire, I, Khunti, K (2008). Cost-effectiveness of a disease management programme for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and heart failure in primary care. Heart 94: 1601-1606 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Delaney, E K, Murchie, P, Lee, A J, Ritchie, L D, Campbell, N C (2008). Secondary prevention clinics for coronary heart disease: a 10-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial in primary care. Heart 94: 1419-1423 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Himmelstein, D. U., Woolhandler, S., Goodman, J. C., Sade, R. M. (2007). Our Health Care System at the Crossroads: Single Payer or Market Reform?. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 84: 1435-1446 [Full text]  
  • Khunti, K., Stone, M., Paul, S., Baines, J., Gisborne, L., Farooqi, A., Luan, X., Squire, I. (2007). Disease management programme for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and heart failure in primary care: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Heart 93: 1398-1405 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Dunkley, A., Stone, M., Sayers, R., Farooqi, A., Khunti, K. (2007). A cross sectional survey of secondary prevention measures in patients with peripheral arterial disease in primary care. Postgrad. Med. J. 83: 602-605 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Byrne, M., Murphy, A. W, Walsh, J. C, Shryane, E., McGroarty, M., Kelleher, C. C (2006). A cross-sectional study of secondary cardiac care in general practice: impact of personal and practice characteristics. Fam Pract 23: 295-302 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Gemmell, I, Heller, R F, McElduff, P, Payne, K, Butler, G, Edwards, R, Roland, M, Durrington, P (2005). Population impact of stricter adherence to recommendations for pharmacological and lifestyle interventions over one year in patients with coronary heart disease. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 59: 1041-1046 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Ramsay, S. E., Morris, R. W., Papacosta, O., Lennon, L. T., Thomas, M. C., Whincup, P. H. (2005). Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in older British men: extent of inequalities before and after implementation of the National Service Framework. J Public Health (Oxf) 27: 338-343 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • McLeod, A.L., Brooks, L., Taylor, V., Currie, P.F., Dewhurst, N.G. (2004). Secondary prevention for coronary artery disease. QJM 97: 127-131 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Fahey, T., Montgomery, A. A, Barnes, J., Protheroe, J. (2003). Quality of care for elderly residents in nursing homes and elderly people living at home: controlled observational study. BMJ 326: 580-580 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Maggioni, A P, Sinagra, G, Opasich, C, Geraci, E, Gorini, M, Gronda, E, Lucci, D, Tognoni, G, Balli, E, Tavazzi, L (2003). Treatment of chronic heart failure with {beta} adrenergic blockade beyond controlled clinical trials: the BRING-UP experience. Heart 89: 299-305 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Murchie, P., Campbell, N. C, Ritchie, L. D, Simpson, J. A, Thain, J. (2003). Secondary prevention clinics for coronary heart disease: four year follow up of a randomised controlled trial in primary care. BMJ 326: 84-84 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Hobbs, F. R., Erhardt, L. (2002). Acceptance of guideline recommendations and perceived implementation of coronary heart disease prevention among primary care physicians in five European countries: the Reassessing European Attitudes about Cardiovascular Treatment (REACT) survey. Fam Pract 19: 596-604 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Summerskill, W. S., Pope, C. (2002). 'I saw the panic rise in her eyes, and evidence-based medicine went out of the door.' An exploratory qualitative study of the barriers to secondary prevention in the management of coronary heart disease. Fam Pract 19: 605-610 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Law, M. R., Watt, H. C., Wald, N. J. (2002). The Underlying Risk of Death After Myocardial Infarction in the Absence of Treatment. Arch Intern Med 162: 2405-2410 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Underwood, P, Beck, P (2002). Secondary prevention following myocardial infarction: evidence from an audit in South Wales that the National Service Framework for coronary heart disease does not address all the issues. Qual Saf Health Care 11: 230-232 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Whincup, P H, Emberson, J R, Lennon, L, Walker, M, Papacosta, O, Thomson, A (2002). Low prevalence of lipid lowering drug use in older men with established coronary heart disease. Heart 88: 25-29 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Stewart, A, Rao, J, Osho-Williams, G, Fairfield, M, Ahmad, R (2002). Audit of primary care angina management in Sandwell, England. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 122: 112-117 [Abstract]  
  • Collaboration, A. T. (2002). Collaborative meta-analysis of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy for prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. BMJ 324: 71-86 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Campbell, S M, Hann, M, Hacker, J, Burns, C, Oliver, D, Thapar, A, Mead, N, Safran, D G., Roland, M O (2001). Identifying predictors of high quality care in English general practice: observational study. BMJ 323: 784-784 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Hippisley-Cox, J., Pringle, M., Hammersley, V., Crown, N., Wynn, A., Meal, A., Coupland, C. (2001). Antidepressants as risk factor for ischaemic heart disease: case-control study in primary care. BMJ 323: 666-669 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Seddon, M E, Marshall, M N, Campbell, S M, Roland, M O (2001). Systematic review of studies of quality of clinical care in general practice in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Qual Saf Health Care 10: 152-158 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Hippisley-Cox, J., Pringle, M. (2001). General practice workload implications of the national service framework for coronary heart disease: cross sectional survey. BMJ 323: 269-270 [Full text]  
  • Foy, R., Eccles, M., Grimshaw, J. (2001). Why does primary care need more implementation research?. Fam Pract 18: 353-355 [Full text]  
  • Brady, A J B, Oliver, M A, Pittard, J B (2001). Secondary prevention in 24 431 patients with coronary heart disease: survey in primary care. BMJ 322: 1463-1463 [Full text]  
  • Moher, M., Yudkin, P., Wright, L., Turner, R., Fuller, A., Schofield, T., Mant, D. (2001). Cluster randomised controlled trial to compare three methods of promoting secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care. BMJ 322: 1338-1338 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Hippisley-Cox, J., Pringle, M., Crown, N., Meal, A., Wynn, A. (2001). Sex inequalities in ischaemic heart disease in general practice: cross sectional survey. BMJ 322: 832-832 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • (2001). Lifestyle and risk factor management and use of drug therapies in coronary patients from 15 countries. Principal results from EUROASPIRE II Euro Heart Survey Programme. Eur Heart J 22: 554-572 [Abstract]  
  • (2001). Lifestyle measures to tackle atherosclerotic disease. DTB 39: 21-24 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Monkman, D (2000). Treating dyslipidaemia in primary care. BMJ 321: 1299-1300 [Full text]  
  • Montaye, M., De Bacquer, D., De Backer, G., Amouyel, P. (2000). Overweight and obesity: a major challenge for coronary heart disease secondary prevention in clinical practice in Europe. Eur Heart J 21: 808-813 [Abstract]  
  • Stafford, R. S. (2000). Aspirin Use Is Low Among United States Outpatients With Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation 101: 1097-1101 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Zijlstra, F., Hoorntje, J. C.A., de Boer, M.-J., Reiffers, S., Miedema, K., Ottervanger, J. P., van 't Hof, A. W.J., Suryapranata, H. (1999). Long-Term Benefit of Primary Angioplasty as Compared with Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction. NEJM 341: 1413-1419 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • JOHNSTON, D W (1999). Lifestyle changes after a myocardial infarction. Heart 82: 543-544 [Full text]  
  • Turner, B. J., Newschaffer, C. J., Zhang, D., Fanning, T., Hauck, W. W. (1999). Translating Clinical Trial Results into Practice: The Effect of an AIDS Clinical Trial on Prescribed Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-Infected Pregnant Women. ANN INTERN MED 130: 979-986 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Bradley, F., Cupples, M. E (1999). Reducing the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease. BMJ 318: 1499-1500 [Full text]  
  • Feder, G., Griffiths, C., Eldridge, S., Spence, M. (1999). Effect of postal prompts to patients and general practitioners on the quality of primary care after a coronary event (POST): randomised controlled trial. BMJ 318: 1522-1526 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Morrell, J., Ferner, R E (1999). Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease. BMJ 318: 1419-1419 [Full text]  
  • Flanagan, D.E.H., Cox, P., Paine, D., Davies, J., Armitage, M. (1999). Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care: a healthy heart initiative. QJM 92: 245-250 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Ferner, R E, Bethell, H. J N (1998). Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease. BMJ 317: 1592-1592 [Full text]  
  • McColl, A., Roderick, P., Gabbay, J., Smith, H., Moore, M. (1998). Performance indicators for primary care groups: an evidence based approach. BMJ 317: 1354-1360 [Full text]  
  • Campbell, N C, Ritchie, L D, Thain, J, Deans, H G, Rawles, J M, Squair, J L (1998). Secondary prevention in coronary heart disease: a randomised trial of nurse led clinics in primary care. Heart 80: 447-452 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Haines, A., Donald, A. (1998). Getting research findings into practice: Making better use of research findings. BMJ 317: 72-75 [Full text]  
  • Campbell, N. C, Thain, J., Deans, H G., Ritchie, L. D, Rawles, J. M, Squair, J. L (1998). Secondary prevention clinics for coronary heart disease: randomised trial of effect on health. BMJ 316: 1434-1437 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Age limit for introducing lipid lowering agents
M Ramsay
bmj.com, 14 May 1998 [Full text]



Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student 

BMJ