NYMC Faculty Publications

Prevalence of Use of Antiplatelet Drugs, Beta Blockers, Statins, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Older Patients With Coronary Artery Disease in an Academic Nursing Home

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

First Page

124

Last Page

127

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2008

Department

Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in older persons with coronary artery disease (CAD) in an academic nursing home.

DESIGN: We investigated in all older persons with documented CAD who were not terminally ill in an academic nursing home the prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs. The physicians taking care of these persons were taught by one of the authors to treat persons with CAD with these drugs to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

SETTING: An academic nursing home.

PARTICIPANTS: Of 202 persons, 54 (27%) had documented CAD. The 54 persons with CAD included 27 women and 27 men, mean age 76 +/- 8 years.

MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence of use of antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, statins, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

RESULTS: In 54 persons with CAD, aspirin or clopidogrel was used in 53 persons (98%), beta-blockers in 52 persons (96%), statins in 47 persons (87%), and ACE inhibitors or ARBs in 46 persons (85%). The serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was less than 100 mg/dL in 51 persons (94%).

CONCLUSION: As recommended by evidence-based guidelines, the prevalence of use of aspirin or clopidogrel was 98%, of beta-blockers was 96%, of statins was 87%, and of ACE inhibitors or ARBs was 85% in an academic nursing home.

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