[Evaluation of drug therapy in patients before major orthopaedic surgery from the perspective of a general practitioner: a real-world study].

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the structure of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy prescribed during the preoperative period including antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, antianginal, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet drugs and to analyze its compliance with clinical indications in patients scheduled for elective orthopedic interventions on the major joints of the lower extremities.

Materials and methods: This prospective, single-center cohort study included 1,733 patients. In all patients, a detailed medical history was obtained, an additional physical examination including blood pressure measurement was performed, and previously prescribed cardiovascular therapy was analyzed.

Results: The study population included 617 (35.6%) males and 1116 (64.4%) females with mean age 64.7±10.4 years. The majority (90.5%) patients were overweight, and 77.6% of patients had hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases; in 142 (10.5%) patients, no antihypertensive therapy had been prescribed prior to hospitalization, while in 295 (21.9%) patients, target blood pressure levels were not achieved despite previously prescribed therapy. Furthermore, 262 (15.1%) individuals were regularly taking various anticoagulants, and 534 (30.9%) were taking antiplatelet agents; of the latter group, 342 (19.7%) patients had no indications for such treatment.

Conclusion: The patient population undergoing total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty is characterized by a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases; however, in a subset of these patients, antihypertensive therapy is suboptimal, and many patients with hypercholesterolemia do not receive statins despite clear indications. On the other hand, many patients take antiplatelet agents without appropriate indications - a situation that underscores the need to raise awareness among both patients and healthcare professionals.