Despite the availability of the ESC European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention, considerable numbers of cardiovascular-related deaths occur throughout Europe. The European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Daily Practice (EURIKA)(1) investigated the prevalence and degree of control of main cardiovascular risk factors in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The study estimated the proportion of deaths associated with risk factors for CVD, and assessed how well those risk factors are managed. People with one or more risk factors - such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity - have an increased chance of dying from CVD and, worryingly, the study also found that these risk factors may not be managed effectively in daily clinical practice.

Amongst patients being treated for a risk factor for CVD, nearly two-thirds (60%) did not have their risk factor managed to the standards set by European guidelines. Additionally, more than 800 doctors were surveyed to understand their use of risk assessment tools and guidelines; as many as 30 percent of doctors said they did not use risk assessment tools at all and nearly 13 percent of doctors said they did not follow guidelines on the management of cardiovascular risk.

Professor Julian Halcox, Cardiff University, UK, stated this in a related press release: "These systems exist to help doctors identify and manage risk factors well before they become a problem, but we now see that they are widely under-utilized across Europe. It is vital that doctors use these tools effectively to assess and communicate risk whenever they evaluate a patient - in doing so they will help reduce the excessive number of preventable deaths in Europe each year."

(1) Banegas J, et al. Prevalence and control of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and anticipated avoidable coronary mortality in primary prevention in Europe: The EURIKA Study. PCV30. Presented at the ISPOR 13th Annual European Congress, 6-9 Nov 2010, Prague, Czech Republic.

Source:
World Heart Federation