Rationale and methods of the European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Daily Practice (EURIKA)

Abstract

BackgroundThe EURIKA study aims to assess the status of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) across Europe. Specifically, it will determine the degree of control of cardiovascular risk factors in current clinical practice in relation to the European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention. It will also assess physicians' knowledge and attitudes about CVD prevention as well as the barriers impeding effective risk factor management in clinical practice.Methods/DesignCross-sectional study conducted simultaneously in 12 countries across Europe. The study has two components: firstly at the physician level, assessing eight hundred and nine primary care and specialist physicians with a daily practice in CVD prevention. A physician specific questionnaire captures information regarding physician demographics, practice settings, cardiovascular prevention beliefs and management. Secondly at the patient level, including 7641 patients aged 50 years or older, free of clinical CVD and with at least one classical risk factor, enrolled by the participating physicians. A patient-specific questionnaire captures information from clinical records and patient interview regarding sociodemographic data, CVD risk factors, and current medications. Finally, each patient provides a fasting blood sample, which is sent to a central laboratory for measuring serum lipids, apolipoproteins, hemoglobin-A1c, and inflammatory biomarkers.DiscussionPrimary prevention of CVD is an extremely important clinical issue, with preventable circulatory diseases remaining the leading cause of major disease burden. The EURIKA study will provide key information to assess effectiveness of and attitudes toward primary prevention of CVD in Europe. A transnational study creates opportunities for benchmarking good clinical practice across countries and improving outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00882336.)

Consumo habitual de chocolate y estado cognitivo en los adultos mayores españoles

“…Este es un estudio transversal, con datos obtenidos durante el seguimiento de la cohorte de mayores del Estudio de Nutrición y Riesgo Cardiovascular en España (ENRICA) (18). La cohorte se estableció en 2008-2010, con 2.519 individuos seleccionados a través de muestreo aleatorizado de la población española de 60 años o más.…”

The association between blood pressure and lipid levels in Europe

“…The study protocol was approved by the appropriate clinical research ethics committee in each participating country, and all patients provided signed informed consent. The methods for the study have been reported in detail elsewhere [28]. Briefly, the study recruited patients with at least one risk factor for CVD, but no history of cardiovascular events.…”

“…Briefly, the study recruited patients with at least one risk factor for CVD, but no history of cardiovascular events. The study sample was selected in a two-step process that involved recruitment of physicians and their patients [28,29]. In the first stage, a random sample of primary care physicians and specialists involved in CVD prevention, stratified by age, sex and specialty, were selected for invitation to participate using the OneKey database (Cegedim Dendrite, Boulogne-Billancourt, France).…”

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular prevention quality in primary healthcare in Russia and European countries: EURIKA Study results

“…Большая часть имеющейся информации о контроле ФР касается пациентов с доказанными ССЗ или пациентов с высоким ССР, в т.ч. среди больных сахарным диабетом (СД) [4]. При этом такие исследования как REACH (The Reduction of Aterothrombosis for Continued Health) registry или EUROASPIRE (European Action on Secondary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events) показали высокую распространенность ФР (главным образом связанных с образом жизни) и явную недостаточность их контроля (причем при отсутствии отчетливой положительной динамики с 1995г) как среди амбулаторных пациентов, так и среди больных, госпитализированных по поводу атеротромботических осложнений [5][6][7].…”

“…С учетом этих обстоятельств было организовано исследование EURIKA (European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Daily Practice) [11], призванное оценить состояние первичной профилактики ССЗ в 12 странах Европы: Австрии, Бельгии, Великобритании, Германии, Греции, Испании, Норвегии, Российской Федерации (РФ), Турции, Франции, Швеции, Швейцарии, различающихся по климатогеографическим условиям, уровню экономического развития и принципам организации медицинской помощи населению.…”