Maintenance of cardiovascular risk goals in veterans with diabetes after discharge from a cardiovascular risk reduction clinic

Prev Cardiol. 2009 Winter;12(1):3-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7141.2008.00017.x.

Abstract

The authors evaluated maintenance of achieved cardiovascular risk control after discharge from a pharmacist-coordinated cardiovascular risk reduction clinic. Using data from 2001 to 2004 divided by financial quarters (ie, 3-month periods), the authors performed survival analysis of diabetic patients who had attained at least one cardiovascular risk goal in the clinic. Mean times to failure were 7.1 +/- 0.21 quarters for hemoglobin A1c, 7.6 +/- 0.29 quarters for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and 2.5 +/- 0.24 quarters for systolic blood pressure (SBP). Body mass index predicted glycemic control failure (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.15; P = .02), insulin use predicted LDL-C control failure (HR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.15-8.22; P = .03), and baseline SBP predicted SBP control failure (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; P = .0003). The authors found good durability of effect for most cardiovascular risk targets. Worse control at entry predicted failure after successful attainment of a cardiovascular goal. More sustained attention or booster interventions for patients with worse control at entry may be necessary.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Veterans*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods*
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Survival Rate
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Veterans*