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Background: Implementation of health programs to reduce cardiovascular risk, are needed for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To evalúate achievements of secondary prevention goals, pharmacologic prescription and major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Material and Methods: Patients who had a first event of acute coronary syndrome, angioplasty or revascularization surgery, between January 2008 and June 2010, were contacted for a clinical and laboratory evaluation between June and October 2011. Results: Seven hundred and two medical records were reviewed and 245 eligible patients were identified. Ofthese, we assessed 202 patients aged 64 ± 10 years (70% males). Sixty seven percent had two ormore cardiovascular riskfactors. A goal ofHDL cholesterol level over 40 mg/dL was achieved in 91 % of patients, smoking cessation in 84% and a total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL in 66%. A blood pressure below 130/85 mm Hgwas achieved in 30% of patients, a normal BMI in 19% and LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL in 18%. At the moment of assessment, 87%> were using aspirin, 78%> statins, 74% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists and 66%o were using β - blockers. Twenty two percent of patients had a major cardiovascular event during the follow up, which lasted 28 ± 8 months. Conclusions: A low percentage of cardiovascular goals achievement was observed in this sample of patients, with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. A high percentage quit smoking after their first cardiovascular event. Despite the high percentage of drug prescription, hypertension and dyslipidemia were not fully controlled.

Background: The mainstay of cholesterol reduction therapy is the diet. But the lack of compliance and prescription problems limit its usefulness. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention given by a nutritionist with the usual recommendations given by a physician to reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in patients with coronary artery disease, treated at the Regional public hospital in Temuco. Material and Methods: One hundred and forty patients with coronary heart disease (last acute episode at least three months before), without nutritional interventions nor cholesterol-lowering drugs, who gave informed consent, were randomized to receive either instructions by their physician or to take part in a nutritional program. The nutritional intervention consisted in five educational sessions, adapted from the NCEP and from a program of the Nutrition Department of the Catholic University of Chile. Patients randomized to the medical intervention received the standard written recommendations about diet. Lipid profile was measured before the intervention and after a three and twelve months follow up. Results: After one year the group on the nutritional program reduced LDL cholesterol by 11.1% (p=0.03). There were no changes in the medical group. However, only 10% patients on the nutritional intervention group and 8% of those with medical recommendations achieved LDL cholesterol levels less than 100 mg/dl. There were no changes in triglycerides, weight or body mass index during the period. Conclusions: Although this nutritional intervention proved to be more effective than usual medical instructions, most patients on secondary prevention did not achieve acceptable LDL cholesterol levels (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 1457-65)

Background: From January 2000 to June 2002, the first Chilean registry of unstable angina was carried out, with the participation of 15 hospitals. Aim: To report the clinical and demographic features of 600 patients with unstable angina, their risk profile and prognosis. Material and methods: The inclusion criteria for this prospective registry were a history of recent onset of chest pain (

An analysis of health research in Chile is made, considering factors like exaggerated professional training during undergraduate studies and clinical residencies, and displacement of professionals from academic activities to more remunerative positions. Additionally, the limited role of the Ministry of Health in research promotion, evidenced by the almost absent participation of public hospitals in clinical research is discussed. Research investment, among a 0.6 to 0.8% of the GNP, is far from developed countries and Chile has not defined relevant health problems where a search effort would have an impact in public health. The marked centralism of the country attempts against regional application to financed projects. The following suggestions are made: to increase the financing for investigation, to reassign resources allowing the access of regional institutions, to financing, to discuss in the Chilean Association of Medical Faculties (ASOFAMECH) the creation of an academic degree by means of a thesis during the professional studies and to give facilities to develop research during clinical residencies. Also, the Ministry of Health should be involved, creating a national agenda or research priorities and increasing its association with Universities. Also training programs for professionals with a special interest in investigation should be devised (Rev Méd Chile 2000; 128: 1389-95).

An analysis of health research in Chile is made, considering factors like exaggerated professional training during undergraduate studies and clinical residencies, and displacement of professionals from academic activities to more remunerative positions. Additionally, the limited role of the Ministry of Health in research promotion, evidenced by the almost absent participation of public hospitals in clinical research is discussed. Research investment, among a 0.6 to 0.8% of the GNP, is far from developed countries and Chile has not defined relevant health problems where a search effort would have an impact in public health. The marked centralism of the country attempts against regional application to financed projects. The following suggestions are made: to increase the financing for investigation, to reassign resources allowing the access of regional institutions, to financing, to discuss in the Chilean Association of Medical Faculties (ASOFAMECH) the creation of an academic degree by means of a thesis during the professional studies and to give facilities to develop research during clinical residencies. Also, the Ministry of Health should be involved, creating a national agenda or research priorities and increasing its association with Universities. Also training programs for professionals with a special interest in investigation should be devised (Rev Méd Chile 2000; 128: 1389-95).