Integrated cardiovascular risk management programme versus usual care in patients at high cardiovascular risk: an observational study in general practice

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the impact of CVDs, risk factors are often insufficiently controlled in patients at high risk. Recently, integrated multidisciplinary cardiovascular risk management (CVRM) programmes have been introduced in primary care.

Aim: To investigate the effects of a CVRM programme on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol.

Design & setting: A prospective observational study was undertaken in patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk who were aged 40-80 years. Integrated CVRM care was compared with usual care in general practice in the Netherlands.

Method: Intervention and usual care patients were matched at baseline on age, sex, and presence of CVD. During 1 year of follow-up, patients received integrated or usual CVRM care in general practice. Primary outcomes were SBP and LDL-cholesterol. Secondary outcomes included calculated 10-year CV risk, body mass index (BMI), lifestyle (smoking, physical activity, and dietary habits), medication use, patient satisfaction, healthcare consumption, morbidity, comorbidity, and mortality. Mixed-model analyses were used to assess the outcomes.

Results: Totals of 372 and 317 patients were included in the intervention and usual care group, respectively. Mean age at baseline was 65.1 years and 66.2 years, respectively, and 42% were female in both groups. After 1 year, no differences were observed in: SBP (137.2 mmHg versus 139.0 mmHg in the intervention and usual care group, respectively); LDL-cholesterol (2.6 mmol/l in both groups); or in any of the secondary outcomes.

Conclusion: Integrated CVRM care in general practice did not lead to a lower SBP or LDL-cholesterol in patients at high CV risk. Further research is needed to improve CVRM.