National survey on prescription of cardiovascular drugs among outpatients with coronary artery disease in Switzerland.

Background: Secondary prevention of coronary artery disease markedly reduces cardiovascular mortality and non-fatal endpoints. Outpatient care of subjects with coronary artery disease has been assessed in several European countries, but no current data is available for Switzerland.

Methods: A random sample of office-based physicians across Switzerland recorded current drug prescription of outpatients with coronary artery disease in the years 2000/2001 by means of a mail questionnaire.