Newswise — PHILADELPHIA - Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University discovered that nearly half of coronary artery bypass patients are not taking statins and aspirin together when they are referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization at least three years after their initial bypass. Their results are currently in press online in the American Journal of Cardiology.
“It is important for patients to understand that bypass surgery is a second chance, not a cure for their disease,” said Michael P. Savage, M.D., the Ralph J. Roberts Professor of Cardiology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and the Director of the Angioplasty Center and Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.
If untreated, about half of bypass vein grafts become occluded within 10 years of surgery and aspirin and statins have been shown to keep grafts open over the long term. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend both medications unless they are unsafe for the individual patient.
“Our study confirms the significant under-utilization of both aspirin and statins in patients during long-term follow up after bypass surgery. This suggests complacency, not only among patients, but also among health care providers regarding the need to continue appropriate prevention measures after successful heart surgery,” Dr. Savage said.
The researchers reviewed the electronic health records of 381 consecutive diagnostic cardiac catheterization patients who had a previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) a minimum of three years prior. Their goal was to identify the long-term trends with medication adherence in this high risk population. Only 52 percent of patients were taking both aspirin and a statin medication; 75 percent were taking aspirin and 67 percent were taking a statin. In addition, patients not taking a statin had higher (22 percent) low-density lipid or “bad” cholesterol.
“Our findings highlight the need for coordinated efforts in educating healthcare providers and patients to improve long-term medication usage in this high risk population,” said first author Kevin Curl, M.D.
Other researchers who contributed to this study include Bryan LeBude, M.D., Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital; Nicholas Ruggiero, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; David Fischman, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Andrew Rose, M.D., Pottstown Medical Associates; Sulay Patel, M.D., Emory University; David Ogilby, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Paul Walinsky, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; and Babu Jasti, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Citation: Curl K., et al. Frequency of Use of Statins and Aspirin in Patients with Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, The American Journal of Cardiology (2016), doi: 10.1016/ j.amjcard.2016.04.006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.04.006
About Jefferson Our newly formed organization, Jefferson, encompasses Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, representing our academic and clinical entities. Together, the people of Jefferson, 19,000 strong, provide the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educate the health professionals of tomorrow, and discover new treatments and therapies that will define the future of health care.
Jefferson Health comprises five hospitals, 17 outpatient and urgent care locations, as well as physician practices and everywhere we deliver care throughout the city and suburbs across Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pa., and Camden County in New Jersey. Together, these facilities serve nearly 73,000 inpatients, 239,000 emergency patients and 1.7 million outpatient visits annually. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the largest freestanding academic medical center in Philadelphia. Abington Hospital is the largest community teaching hospital in Montgomery or Bucks counties. Other hospitals include Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Center City Philadelphia; Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia; and Abington-Lansdale Hospital in Hatfield Township.
Thomas Jefferson University enrolls more than 3,800 future physicians, scientists, nurses and healthcare professionals in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC), Jefferson Colleges of Biomedical Sciences, Health Professions, Nursing, Pharmacy, Population Health and is home of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.
For more information and a complete listing of Jefferson services and locations, visit www.jefferson.edu.
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