Al-Omran Mohammed
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2012;8:349-55. doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S32783. Epub 2012 May 28.
Atherosclerotic disease (AD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and in Saudi Arabia. Intensive risk reduction therapy plays a major role in reducing adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AD. The level of awareness of this important fact amongst physicians (family physicians, general internists, cardiologists and vascular surgeons) in managing these patients in Saudi Arabia is not currently known. This study was conducted to examine the perceptions and knowledge of risk reduction therapy in patients with AD amongst physicians in Saudi Arabia in two clinical presentations; coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
We conducted a cross-sectional self-administered survey of 897 physicians at different hospitals in four provinces in Saudi Arabia.
The recommended targets of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), blood glucose, and blood pressure in patients with CAD and PAD were known as 40% and 36%; 70% and 66%; and 32% and 28% of physicians, respectively. The initiation of antiplatelet medications, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, statins, and nicotine replacement therapy for smokers in patients with CAD and PAD were recommended by 98% and 97%; 52% and 34%; 61% and 56%; and 50% and 43% of physicians, respectively. Compared to other specialties, cardiologists had the lowest threshold for initiating risk reduction therapy, whereas vascular surgeons had the highest threshold.
The level of physician awareness of atherosclerosis risk reduction therapy across Saudi Arabia has revealed knowledge and action gaps. A call to action to implement effective strategies to encourage health professionals to use risk reduction therapy and increase public awareness is needed.
动脉粥样硬化疾病（AD）是全球及沙特阿拉伯的主要死因。强化风险降低治疗在降低AD患者不良心血管结局方面发挥着重要作用。目前尚不清楚沙特阿拉伯的医生（家庭医生、普通内科医生、心脏病专家和血管外科医生）在管理这些患者时对这一重要事实的认知水平。本研究旨在探讨沙特阿拉伯医生对AD患者风险降低治疗的认知和知识，涉及两种临床表现：冠状动脉疾病（CAD）和外周动脉疾病（PAD）。
我们对沙特阿拉伯四个省份不同医院的897名医生进行了一项横断面自填式调查。
CAD和PAD患者中，分别有40%和36%的医生知晓低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、血糖和血压的推荐目标；分别有70%和66%的医生推荐对CAD和PAD患者启动抗血小板药物、血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）抑制剂、他汀类药物治疗，以及对吸烟者进行尼古丁替代治疗的比例分别为61%和56%；50%和43%。与其他专科相比，心脏病专家启动风险降低治疗的阈值最低，而血管外科医生的阈值最高。
沙特阿拉伯医生对动脉粥样硬化风险降低治疗的认知水平显示出知识和行动差距。需要呼吁采取行动，实施有效策略，鼓励卫生专业人员使用风险降低治疗并提高公众意识。
