GPs failing to identify and prescribe drugs to patients at risk of heart disease

A study has found that 12,000 preventable strokes are happening every year due to failures by GPs to prescribe heart drugs to stroke-risk patients.

Researchers involved in the study found that in over 50 per cent of stroke cases, drugs that could have prevented or stopped the stroke had not been prescribed.

Although guidelines recommend the provision of drugs to avoid strokes in patients with high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat, the study found that the recommended treatments are not being given, in some cases leading to paralysis and death.

There are currently around 152,000 people suffering strokes each year and the condition is the fourth highest cause of death in the UK, a problem which is growing as the population ages.

The three types of drugs not being prescribed are anticoagulants, drugs which remove clots and thin the blood; statins, which lower cholesterol levels; and anti-hypertensives, which target high blood pressure.

The University of Birmingham’s Dr Grace Turner, said “These findings suggest a number of missed opportunities to reduce the incidence of strokes. It’s worth noting there are instances where not prescribing may be the correct approach.

“For example, there are elderly patients who may be frail and have multiple significant comorbidities who wouldn’t be suitable, and there are patients who actively take part in the decision to not prescribe.”

The British Heart Foundation’s Dr Mike Knapton, said “More than 40,000 people die from a stroke every year in the UK, while thousands more are left with devastating disability.

“This study offers a stark warning that we’re missing opportunities to give many people the preventative treatments that could save their lives.

“While prescribing more drugs isn’t the answer for every patient, we need to better understand why this is happening and work with clinicians to improve outcomes for patients.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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