Changes over time in the prevention of recurrent coronary artery disease in everyday practice

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events, and risk factor control is crucial in this population. The aim of the study was to compare the implementation of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines regarding prevention of recurrent CAD in 2011 to 2013 with 2016 to 2017. The study included 5 hospitals with cardiology departments serving the city of Kraków and its surrounding districts. Consecutive patients with established CAD were interviewed 6 to 18 months after hospitalization in the years 2011 to 2013 and 2016 to 2017. We examined 616 patients in 2011 to 2013 and 388 in 2016 to 2017 (mean [SD] age, 64.7 [8.8] years vs 66.4 [8.4] years; P