Preventive therapy in patients with insignificantly narrowed coronary arteries: evaluation of physician attitude and practice.

Background: Although the outcome of patients with angiographically insignificantly narrowed coronary arteries (INCA) is not clearly defined, such lesions can progress or rupture, thus causing cardiovascular morbidity. Preventive therapy with aspirin and lipid-lowering drugs therefore seems warranted in these patients.

Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to evaluate the attitude and practice of physicians toward the provision of preventive treatment to patients with INCA.

Risk factor profile and achievement of treatment goals among hypertensive patients in general practice in Israel: baseline results from the Israeli Blood Pressure Control (IBPC) program.

Background: The Israeli Blood Pressure Control program was initiated to enhance the control of modifiable risk factors among high risk hypertensive patients followed by general practitioners in Israel.

Objective: To report the baseline results of the state of the treatment regarding blood pressure management, lipid and glucose control as well as obesity and smoking cessation among the patients.

Methods: Hypertensive patients were screened in 30 general practice clinics supervised by family medicine specialists seeing 1,000-5,000 patients each.