Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Cardiovascular medicine
Optimal medical management of coronary artery disease
Recent articles on:
Heart diseases
Heart diseases
Abstract
Coronary artery disease is the largest single cause of death in Australia. GPs have a key role in providing long term management and support to patients who have the disease and to those who are at risk of developing it.
Key Points
- The goals of management for coronary artery disease are two-fold: to reduce the risk of death and myocardial infarction, and to reduce symptoms of angina and the occurrence of ischaemia.
- All patients with coronary artery disease should be screened for diabetes, which is often unmasked during a presentation with an acute coronary syndrome. All diabetic patients with proteinuria should be treated with an ACE inhibitor.
- Antiplatelet agents have unequivocal benefits in coronary artery disease. Unless contraindicated, aspirin should be used indefinitely by most patients who have known cardiovascular disease.
- ACE inhibition should be considered in all coronary artery disease patients.
- Patient education is often neglected in the management of patients with coronary artery disease. Explanations about recognising symptoms that can be suggestive of acute myocardial infarction are particularly important.
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