Effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention targeting cardiovascular risk factors: are patients responsive to information and encouragement by mail or post?

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics, concomitant diseases, and medications

	Advanced care (n = 26)	Usual care (n = 26)	P value
Baseline characteristics
Mean age, in years (SD)	62 (10)	63 (9)	0.84
Men, n (%)	17 (65)	13 (50)	0.26
Women, n (%)	9 (35)	13 (50)	0.40*
Women aged over 50, n (%)	9 (100)	11 (85)	0.68*
TC, in mg/dL (SD)	202 (38)	198 (30)	0.68
HDL-C, in mg/dL (SD)	60 (26)	63 (12)	0.60
TC/HDL-C, in mg/dL (SD)	4.2 (3.1)	3.3 (0.9)	0.16
Concomitant diseases, n (%)
Myocardial infarction	0 (0.0)	1 (3.8)	1.00*
Stroke	2 (7.7)	1 (3.8)	1.00*
TIA	1 (3.8)	2 (7.7)	1.00*
Vascular disease	0 (0.0)	1 (3.8)	1.00*
Diabetes	2 (7.7)	4 (15)	0.66*
Angor	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1.00*
CABG	2 (7.7)	1 (3.8)	1.00*
PTCA	1 (3.7)	1 (3.8)	1.00*
Medication at baseline, n (%)
Aspirin	7 (27)	7 (27)	1.00*
Antidiabetic drugs	2 (7.7)	4 (15)	0.66*
Lipid-lowering drugs	12 (46)	9 (35)	0.29*
Antihypertensive drugs	15 (58)	16 (62)	0.78

Note:

* Fisher’s exact test was used for subgroups of <10 members.

Abbreviations: CABG, coronary artery bypass graft; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; PTCA, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; SD, standard deviation; TC, total cholesterol; TIA, transient ischemic attack.

Table 2 Patient outcome parameters

	Advanced care (n = 26)	Usual care (n = 26)	P value
Smokers, n (%)
0 months	3 (12)	4 (15)	1.00*
3 months	3 (12)	4 (15)	1.00*
6 months	3 (12)	4 (15)	1.00*
Mean weight, kg (SD)
0 months	84.5 (20.4)	80.8 (15.3)	0.46
3 months	83.9 (20.6)	80.3 (16.0)	0.48
6 months	83.8 (21.1)	80.4 (16.1)	0.52
Body mass index, kg/m^2(SD)
0 months	28.4 (5.7)	28.1 (4.2)	0.83
3 months	28.2 (5.9)	28.0 (4.4)	0.94
6 months	28.1 (6.1)	28.0 (4.5)	0.97
Waist circumference, cm (SD)
0 months	102.6 (16.3)	99.6 (14.8)	0.50
3 months	100.8 (16.2)	99.0 (14.9)	0.68
6 months	99.7 (17.0)	97.4 (14.5)	0.59
Systolic blood pressure, mmHg (SD)
0 months	153 (12)	153 (13)	1.00
3 months	141 (14)	142 (15)	0.87
6 months	139 (15)	139 (14)	1.00
Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg (SD)
0 months	85 (8)	88 (10)	0.24
3 months	77 (8)	81 (10)	0.12
6 months	77 (9)	80 (9)	0.24
Heart rate, bpm (SD)
0 months	70 (9)	70 (6)	1.00
3 months	69 (9)	66 (7)	0.19
6 months	67 (8)	69 (11)	0.46

Note:

* Fisher’s exact test was used for subgroups of <10 members.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Evolution of the average systolic blood pressure in both groups at month 0, 3, and 6.

Figure 2 Evolution of the average diastolic blood pressure in both groups at month 0, 3, and 6.

Table 4 Blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference target level attainment at month 0, 3, and 6

	Advanced care (n = 26)	Usual care (n = 26)	P value
Systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg (130 mmHg for diabetics), n (%)
Month 0	1 (4)	0 (0)	1.00*
Month 3	9 (35)	3 (12)	0.10*
Month 6	12 (46)	10 (39)	0.57
Diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg (80 mmHg for diabetics), n (%)
Month 0	12 (46)	8 (31)	0.39*
Month 3	19 (73)	18 (69)	0.76
Month 6	23 (89)	18 (69)	0.09
Blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg (130/80 mmHg for diabetics), n (%)
Month 0	1 (4)	0 (0)	1.00*
Month 3	9 (35)	2 (8)	0.05*
Month 6	12 (46)	9 (35)	0.57*
Body mass index < 25 m/kg, n (%)
Month 0	6 (23)	7 (27)	1.00*
Month 3	7 (27)	7 (27)	0.75*
Month 6	7 (27)	9 (35)	0.76*
Body mass index < 30 m/kg, n (%)
Month 0	17 (65)	16 (62)	0.77
Month 3	17 (65)	16 (62)	0.77
Month 6	17 (65)	16 (62)	0.77
Waist circumference < 102 cm for men or < 88 cm for women, n (%)
Month 0	7 (27)	9 (35)	0.76*
Month 3	10 (39)	10 (39)	1.00
Month 6	12 (46)	10 (39)	0.78

Note:

* Fisher’s exact test was used for subgroups of <10 members.

Table 3 Proportion of patients with a low (<5%), moderate (5%–10%) and high (≥10%) cardiovascular risk Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE)a at month 0, 3, and 6

	Advanced care (n = 26)	Usual care (n = 26)	P value
SCORE at month 0, n (%)
Low (<5%)	12 (43)	10 (39)	0.57
Moderate (5%–10%)	5 (19)	7 (27)	0.74*
High (>10%)	9 (35)	9 (35)	0.77*
SCORE at month 3, n (%)
Low (<5%)	14 (54)	13 (50)	1.00
Moderate (5%–10%)	5 (19)	8 (31)	0.52*
High (>10%)	7 (27)	5 (19)	0.74*
SCORE at month 6, n (%)
Low (<5%)	16 (62)	12 (46)	0.26
Moderate (5%–10%)	3 (12)	10 (39)	0.06*
High (>10%)	7 (27)	4 (15)	0.49*

Notes:

a According to the European SCORE Risk Charts for Belgium;

* Fisher’s exact test was used for subgroups of <10 members.