Background: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are at high risk for secondary CV events. Few studies have been performed concerning the physicians' reactions to high BP in patients with manifest CAD.
Aims: To compare the prevalence and management of high BP after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 2011-2012 with that in 2004.
Material and methods: We identified 300 consecutive patients from 2011-2012 and 167 from 2004 with a follow-up visit after PCI at a University hospital in Sweden. Their medical records were reviewed to collect BP values and physicians' actions in response to an elevated BP at the follow-up visit.
Results: The proportion of patients who had their BP documented increased in 2011-2012 (91%) as compared to 2004 (79%). The proportion of patients with a BP ≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic at the follow-up visit decreased from 55% in 2004 to 42% in 2011-2012 (p = 0.014).
Conclusion: BP documentation and control improved from 2004 to 2011-2012 with more patients reaching target BP levels. One of the reasons for the improvements may be the introduction of a secondary preventive unit with cardiovascular specialised nurses who participate in a national quality registry.
Keywords: Blood pressure; coronary artery disease; hypertension; physicians awareness; risk factor control.