Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the modifications in cardiovascular risk in patients seen over two years in adult services for dyslipaemia, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. DESIGN: Observational, retrospective study with repeated measurement tests. SETTING: Two health centres. PATIENTS: 265 patients attended by the above services who were free of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: During the study period, the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular morbidity was 4.2% (1.8-6.6%). Patients, without events, underwent a mean reduction in overall cardiovascular risk of -1.6% (p < 0.001). In patients classified as high-risk at the start of the study, the mean reduction was much greater: -3.7% (p < 0.001). Giving up smoking and controlling dyslipaemia brought about the greatest reductions in cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of cardiovascular risk in patients attended for conditions in the INSALUD portfolio of services, i.e. hypertension, dyslipaemia, diabetes mellitus, enables this risk to be reduced and priority to be given to health care delivery to more vulnerable groups.