This study has now been published in the Annals of Royal College of Surgeons England – read here. This study was also presented at the Vascular Society ASM 2016 – click here to view the presentation.

VERN would like to thank: Craig Nesbitt, David McCretton, Joe Shalhoub, Alex Coupland, Andrew Busuttil, Roshan Bootun, Sarah Onida, Alex Skinner, Lewis Omotolani, Nikesh Dattani, Ruth Edmonds, Znar Koshnow, Adrian Tsui, Megan O’Connell, Andrew Duncan, James Blackwell, Francesca Muscara, Rozelle Kane, Philip Stather, Peter Brooke, David Sidloff, Athanasios Saratzis, Dave Bosanquet and Ruth Benson – for their contribution to this project.

Background

There is strong evidence that patients with coronary atherosclerotic disease are at a high cardiovascular risk, and therefore require optimisation from a cardiac perspective including a minimum of an antiplatelet agent and a statin, treatment of hypertension, and diabetic control. Patients with peripheral arterial disease or abdominal aortic aneurysms are known to be at high risk of cardiovascular events and also require best medical therapy.

Aim

The aim of this audit is to determine the proportion of patients referred to vascular clinics with arterial disease who are on best medical therapy, through a multicentre audit of referrals over a 3 month period.

Methods

This audit aims to be conducted across several hospitals as a retrospective audit over a 3 month period from January 1st 2015 to March 31st 2015. The audit will involve review of the referral letter, clinic letter, and any resultant imaging and blood results for each patient referred with a possible arterial problem. Data collected will include reason for referral, past medical history (including recent test for diabetes, MI, stroke, hypertension, cholesterol), smoking history, and current medications.

Many thanks to the following hospitals:
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Derby Hospitals, University Hospitals of Leicester, South Tees Hospital, Wrexam Maelor Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare, Royal Gwent Hospital