The role of specialized prevention clinics for the short term follow-up of acute coronary syndromes

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the effect of specialized prevention clinics and standard clinics follow-ups on secondary protection after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS
A total of 118 patients who received thrombolytic therapy after being diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were followed up for 6 months. After ACS, patients in a specialized prevention clinic (Group 1) (n=67) and those in a standard clinic (Group 2) (n=51) were compared in terms of the change in their lifestyle, management of risk factors, and drug compliance.

RESULTS
No significant difference was found between groups in terms of baseline clinical and laboratory findings except for triglyceride level (Group 1: median 174 mg/dL; Group 2: median 136 mg/dL; p=0.039). Six months after indexing, smoking cessation (72.4% vs. 50%, p=0.037), diet compliance (43% vs.19.6%, p=0.012), and exercise rates (31% vs. 13.7%, p=0.044) were significantly higher in Group 1. Although the weight control rate was higher in Group 1, no significant difference was noted between the groups (27% vs. 15.6%, p=0.219). The rate of systolic and diastolic blood pressures >140/90 mm Hg was significantly higher in Group 2 (23.5% vs. 9%, p=0.029) at 6 months. The median low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) value was significantly lower in Group 1 patients (Group 1: 91 mg/dL; Group 2: 102 mg/dL; p=0.042). Moreover, the rate of LDL-C ≤70 mg/dL or ≥50% reduction compared with baseline was significantly higher in Group 1 (32.8% vs. 13.7%, p=0.016). Although the recommended treatments were similar in both groups, the statin use rate was significantly higher in Group 1 (95.5% vs. 80.3%, p=0.021) at 6 months.

CONCLUSION
The results of the study showed that specialized prevention clinics were more effective during the management of cardiovascular risk factors after ACS.