Rationality and methods: registry of clinical practice in high-risk cardiovascular patients.

BACKGROUND: To date, no Brazilian registry has been designed to document the clinical practice regarding assistance to patients at high cardiovascular risk in a large representative sample of research centers, including public and private hospitals nationwide. Thus, this study will identify gaps in the incorporation of interventions with proven benefit in our area.
OBJECTIVE: To record information on the Brazilian clinical practice with regard to the patients at high cardiovascular risk.
METHODS: Registry-type prospective observational study intended to document the current clinical practice applied to outpatients at high cardiovascular risk classified by the presence of one of the following variables: evidence of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease in diabetics or non-diabetics; or in the presence of at least three of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, active smoking, dyslipidemia, age over 70 years, chronic kidney disease, family history of coronary artery disease and/or asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Patients will be collected in 43 centers across Brazil, including public and private hospitals, as well as in basic health care units, and clinically reviewed for one year after inclusion.
RESULTS: The findings will be presented one year after the start of collection (September 2011), and consolidated after a meeting with the population to discuss the objectives sought.
CONCLUSION: The analysis of this multicenter registry will design a horizontal perspective for the treatment of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease in Brazil.