Falling numbers of smokers with coronary heart disease or at high risk of cardiovascular disease are making plans to quit, a European conference heard yesterday.
As many as a third of these patients do not report an intention of ceasing to smoke, according to the latest surveys.
A series of four surveys were undertaken in 2006-2008 and 2014-2015 in 14 European countries.
Professor Kornelia Kotseva of Imperial College London, UK, led the project. A total of 5,890 patients were included.
She said: "We wanted to see whether there had been any change in lifestyles or risk factors between the two surveys and whether the practice of preventive cardiology in patients at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease had improved over time."
Smoking rates stayed the same – 17% in both surveys – and at both time-points were highest in patients over 50 years of age.
A drop of 11% was seen in the proportion hoping to quit (77% to 66%).
"The highest levels of smoking are still in the youngest patients who have the most to gain from quitting," said Professor Kotseva. "But the use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation remained very low over the seven years so more emphasis is needed in this area."
The rate of overweight, obesity and physical activity were unchanged. At both time points, below 20% of patients took vigorous physical activity outside work for 20 minutes at least three times a week.
Blood pressure control using medication improved slightly, as did cholesterol targets using lipid-lowering medication. But many diabetic patients are still not reaching glycaemic control targets.
Details were presented yesterday (1 September) at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2015.
Professor Kotseva warned: "Lifestyle trends are not moving in the right direction. The vast majority of patients do not reach the targets defined in the guidelines. Health care systems that invest in prevention are urgently needed."
Abstract: Clinical reality of primary prevention in people at high cardiovascular risk in Europe: a comparison of EUROASPIRE III and IV surveys in general practice. Presented by Professor Kotseva on 1 September at the ESC Congress 2015, held from 29 August to 2 September in London, UK.
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