Published online Jul 26, 2023. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v15.i7.342
Peer-review started: March 25, 2023
First decision: June 1, 2023
Revised: June 14, 2023
Accepted: July 3, 2023
Article in press: July 3, 2023
Published online: July 26, 2023
Processing time: 121 Days and 16.6 Hours
Low level of monitoring and control of modifiable risk factors necessitates better structured effort and coordination of health care specialists from various healthcare facilities. The strategic needs for prevention and rehabilitation in Azerbaijan are to increase the number of rehabilitation centers and ensure their adequate geographical distribution, with a particular focus on the country's regions, and to expand indications of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services and programs for primary and secondary prevention for the population with high and very high cardiovascular risk, and to expand indications of CR services and programs for primary and secondary prevention for the population with high and very high cardiovascular risk. It is also proposed that cardiac clinics adopt Standard Operating Procedures. More effort is required to improve and reinforce the process for primary health care provider education in the field of cardiac prevention and rehabilitation.
Previous studies have shown that control of major cardiovascular risk factors is generally inadequate in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) (ASCVD). Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus, a region at very high risk for CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate compliance with the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for secondary prevention of CVD based on the measurement of both modifiable major risk factors and their therapeutic management in patients with confirmed coronary heart disease (CHD) in Azerbaijan. We believe that these results will contribute to the improvement of the situation in secondary prevention of CHD in the country.
This study focused on the national results of the Survey of Risk Factors in CHD (SURF CHD) II study in Azerbaijan.
SURF CHD II study uses a one-page, standard questionnaire that allows rapid data collection. Information on demographics, risk factors, physical and laboratory data, and medications was collected in consecutive outpatients aged ≥ 18 years with established atherosclerotic CHD. Data from 687 patients (mean age 59.6 ± 9.58 years; 24.9% female) were included in the study.
The study results show that the control of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle modification measures indicated by clinical CVD prevention recommendations in patients with CHD are inadequate. The number of patients with CHD enrolled in a CR program is small as well.
The findings of the SURF study can be used to improve processes by changing the techniques for documenting and monitoring CVD risk variables, and re-auditing can provide insight into the effectiveness of these modifications in improving the management of patients with ASCVD.
It is critical to efficiently manage the main cardiovascular risk factors in order to prevent CVD mortality. The international SURF CHD II clinical audit measures modifiable risk factors to assess adherence to ESC recommendations for secondary prevention of CVD in patients with established CHD.