# Compliance with a WHO guideline for cardiovascular disease prevention. A population based cross-sectional study in Argentina: CVD prevention recommendations

## TL;DR

This study examines how well people in two Argentine cities follow WHO guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease.

## Contribution

The study provides population-based evidence on compliance with WHO CVD prevention recommendations in Argentina.

## Key findings

- Compliance with antiplatelet and lipid-lowering medications was low in primary and secondary prevention.
- Non-pharmacological recommendations were poorly followed, with high rates of low fruit/vegetable intake and obesity.
- The study highlights the urgent need to improve adherence to CVD prevention guidelines in low- and middle-income countries.

## Abstract

Introduction: Current recommendations for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention are guided by CVD risk classification. This study aims to analyze the level of compliance with pharmacological and non-pharmacological recommendations outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) CVD prevention clinical practice guideline within the general population of two cities in Argentina.

Methods: We analyzed the compliance with preventive recommendations from the WHO 2007 Guidelines for Management of Cardiovascular Risk in two cities of Argentina participating in the CESCAS population-based study in the Southern Cone of Latin America.

Results: 3990 participants were included. Considering the WHO recommendations, the use of antiplatelet medication was 5.6% (95% CI 3.5, 8.9) in primary prevention and 20.5% (95%= CI 16.0, 25.9) in secondary prevention. Regarding lipid-lowering medication, it was 6.7% (CI 95%= 4.4, 10.1) and 15.4% (CI 95%= 11.6, 20.1), respectively. As per non-pharmacological recommendations in the general population: low intake of fruit and vegetables was 78.4% (CI 95%= 76.8, 79.9); low physical activity was 26.9% (CI 95%= 25.3, 28.5), current cigarette smoking was 28.3% (CI 95%= 26.6, 30.0), overweight/obesity was 73.9% (CI 95%= 72.3, 75.6), and excessive alcohol intake was 2.6% (CI 95%= 2.1, 3.4).

Conclusions: It was observed a significantly low compliance with pharmacological and non-pharmacological recommendations for CVD prevention in the general population of two cities in Argentina. Urgent efforts are needed to improve compliance to cardiovascular preventive recommendations promoted by CPG, especially in Low- and Middle- Income Countries.