Supplementary material-Supplementary_Material_9_February_2024_Cleaned.docx (41.57 kB)
Supplementary Material for: Age and sex disparities in cardiovascular risk factor management prior to stroke: Linked registry and general practice data
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posted on 2024-03-06, 07:18 authored by Bam K., Kilkenny M.F., Kim J., Cadilhac D.A., Pearce C., Andrew N.E., Sanders L., Thrift A.G., Nelson M.R., Gall S., Daraganova G., Olaiya M.T.Introduction: There is limited evidence about the management of cardiovascular risk factors within 12 months before stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in Australian general practices. We evaluated whether age and sex disparities in cardiovascular risk factor management for primary prevention exist in general practice.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study using data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (2014-2018) linked with general practice data from three primary health networks in Victoria, Australia. We included adults who had ≥2 encounters with a general practitioner within 12 months immediately before the first stroke/TIA. Cardiovascular risk factor management within 12 months before stroke/TIA was evaluated in terms of: assessment of risk factors (blood pressure [BP], serum lipids, blood glucose, body weight); prescription of prevention medications (BP, lipid-, glucose-lowering, antithrombotic agents); and attainment of risk factor targets.
Results: Of 2,880 patients included (median age 76.5 years, 48.4% women), 80.9% were assessed for BP, 49.9% serum lipids, 46.8% blood glucose, and 39.3% body weight. Compared to patients aged 65-84 years, those aged <65 or ≥85 years were less often assessed for risk factors, with women aged ≥85 years assessed for significantly fewer risk factors than their male counterparts. The most prescribed prevention medications were BP-lowering (64.9%) and lipid-lowering agents (42.0%). There were significant sex differences among those aged <65 years (34.7% women vs. 40.2% men) and ≥85 years (34.0% women vs. 44.3% men) for lipid-lowering agents. Risk factor target attainment was generally poorer in men than women, especially among those aged <65 years.
Conclusion: Age-sex disparity exists in risk factor management for primary prevention in general practice, and this was more pronounced among younger patients and older women.
