Prevalence of use of cardiovascular drugs in 499 patients with suspected coronary artery disease at time of hospitalization for coronary angiography and in 357 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease documented by coronary angiography.

In a prospective study of 499 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) hospitalized for coronary angiography, the prevalence of use of cardiovascular drugs at hospital admission was 80% for antiplatelet drugs, 66% for beta blockers, 55% for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), 65% for lipid-lowering drugs, 24% for calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and 16% for nitrates. In 357 patients with obstructive CAD diagnosed by coronary angiography, the prevalence of use of these drugs at hospital discharge was 100% for antiplatelet drugs, 97% for beta blockers, 91% for ACE inhibitors or ARBs, 98% for lipid-lowering drugs, 17% for CCBs, and 27% for nitrates. Obstructive CAD was significantly more prevalent in men (P < 0.025), in cigarette smokers (P < 0.01), and in patients with hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia (P < 0.001). Age, race, body mass index, and neck circumference were not significantly different for patients with versus without obstructive CAD.