Hospital discharge treatments after an acute event: evidence for a systems approach to prevention

Hospitalization and rehospitalization for acute coronary syndromes significantly contribute to the rising annual cost of healthcare. Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of early and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors at the time of an acute event, eligible individuals are still not receiving adequate therapy. Inclusion of appropriate coronary artery disease treatments including lipid-lowering therapy at the time of hospitalization can lead to increased long-term compliance and reduced morbidity and mortality.