[The screening for asymptomatic vascular disease and risk factors in high risk patients: current practice].

OBJECTIVE

To assess current practice in screening for asymptomatic vascular disease and risk factors in patients referred with vascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors.

DESIGN

Descriptive, retrospective.

SETTING

University Hospital Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

METHOD

By means of the computerized hospital registration system all patients who were referred to the outpatient clinic with carotid stenosis, peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia or hypertension during one year were identified. By means of the same hospital registration system the frequency of diagnostic tests performed to detect atherosclerosis or risk factors in these patients within a period of 5 months round the first attendance was determined.

RESULTS

372 Patients with a vascular disease and 317 patients with a risk factor were identified. Tests to detect carotid stenosis, peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm were each performed in less then 6% of all patients except the test for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Tests to detect coronary artery disease were performed in about 50% of all patients. Tests to detect diabetes mellitus were performed in 35% of the patients with vascular disease and in 81% of the patients presenting with hyperlipidaemia or hypertension. Tests to detect hyperlipidaemia were performed in 18% of the patients with a vascular disease and in 76% of the patients with diabetes or hypertension.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that in current practice patients referred for vascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors are infrequently screened for asymptomatic macrovascular disease and risk factors.