Strategies to optimize CAD prevention in modern cardiology - The "Marburg CAD Prevention Project"

In recent years we identified numerous cardiovascular risk factors and had been able to reduce cardiovascular events by a variety of different interve ntions. There is no question that we can improve the course of coronary art ery disease (CAD) in patients with a high-risk profile by modifying these f actors. Despite this knowledge, many patients with known CAD or myocardial infarction are not treated for secondary prevention as recommended by well established guidelines (http://www.chd-taskforce.com). In order to improve secondary prevention in our patients we started a project, the so called "M arburg CAD Prevention Project". By this we combine our computer data base o f the CAD preventional routine laboratory with the computer program CARDDAS (R). Individual risk factors and the angiographic findings were analyzed. P atients as well as local physicians were informed on the need to treat the important risk factors. This approach ensures that at least all of our pati ents with documented CAD receive the appropriate preventional recommendatio ns and treatment.