Key result
Over ~33% of CAD patients miss optimal secondary prevention, with wide practice-level variation.
Why the study?
Little is known about current prescription patterns and variation in the use of guideline-recommended secondary prevention medications among outpatient cardiology clinics.
Observational (n=156,145)
Yes
Relative Risk: 1.25 (95% CI 1.2–1.32)
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Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“Among a national registry of CAD patients treated in outpatient cardiology practices, over one-third of patients failed to receive their optimal combination of secondary prevention medications. Significant variation was observed across practices, even after adjusting for patient characteristics, suggesting that quality improvement efforts may be needed to support more uniform practice.”
Over one-third of CAD patients in US outpatient cardiology practices do not receive optimal secondary prevention medical therapy, with significant variation in prescribing patterns across different practices.
Maddox et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Coronary artery disease (n=156,145). Outpatient cardiology practice site vs. Other practices was evaluated on Optimal combined prescription of eligible secondary prevention medications (MRR 1.25, 95% CI 1.2-1.32). Over one-third of CAD patients failed to receive their optimal combination of secondary prevention medications, with significant variation observed across outpatient cardiology practices (MRR 1.25).