With Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease on the Rise, Physicians Need More Comprehensive Guidelines

    BOSTON, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- According to survey results released
 today, when 2007 Cardiometabolic Health Congress participants were asked
 what guidelines they follow for treating patients with multiple
 cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, the largest group of respondents
 indicated that they didn't follow any particular set of guidelines and that
 better guidelines are needed.
 
     The survey queried more than 750 cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology,
 and primary care clinicians who attended the 2007 Cardiometabolic Health
 Congress here in September. The results are available at
 www.cardiometabolichealth.org/press.
 
     The survey results indicate a clear lack of consensus among clinicians
 on how to screen, diagnose, and manage patients at increased risk. For
 example, when congress participants were asked, "When treating patients
 with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, what is your highest priority?"
 the survey results were as follows:
 
 

     --  Blood pressure (40%)
     --  Hyperglycemia (23.3%)
     --  LDL cholesterol (22.8%)
     --  Obesity (11.6%)
     --  HDL cholesterol (1.6%)
     "While comprehensive national guidelines exist for hypertension,
 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and other risk factors for
 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, our survey results indicate that more
 specific guidelines are needed to clearly convey the interrelationship
 between the constellation of risk factors and how clinicians can best
 diagnose and manage these underlying conditions to improve patient
 outcomes," said Robert H. Eckel, M.D., of the University of Colorado Denver
 and co-chairperson of the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.
 
     The 2007 Cardiometabolic Health Congress convened an unprecedented
 group of world-renowned physician experts and prestigious medical
 societies, including the American Diabetes Association, American Heart
 Association, and National Kidney Foundation. "The 2007 Cardiometabolic
 Health Congress provided the medical community with the broadest program
 possible covering those risk factors responsible for cardiovascular
 disease. The meeting focused on the recently recognized importance of
 cardiovascular risk factors related to obesity and type 2 diabetes, two
 conditions epidemic in proportion. The newest options to treat
 cardiovascular risk were presented," said Richard W. Nesto, M.D., of Lahey
 Clinic Medical Center and co-chairperson of the Cardiometabolic Health
 Congress.
 
     For the full survey results, highlights from the 2007 congress,
 testimonials, or to learn more about the upcoming 2008 Cardiometabolic
 Health Congress, visit www.cardiometabolichealth.org.
 
     Contact: Dina Kouveliotes
 
     Tel.: 877.571.4700
 
     E-mail: dk@cardiometabolichealth.org
 
 
 

SOURCE Cardiometabolic Health Congress