Introduction: There is currently a lack of validated tools that measure knowledge level as an outcome of the educational component of cardiac rehabilitation programs in our local setting. The researchers aim to culturally adapt and validate a questionnaire that was designed to assess patients’ knowledge about coronary artery disease and participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs, the second version of the Coronary Artery Disease Education Questionnaire (CADE-Q II). Methods: Qualified translators did two independent translations of the questionnaire. After back translation, the questions were reviewed and modified by a committee of experts. The final Filipino version was tested in a pilot study. For psychometric validation the tool was administered to 109 patients enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Criterion validity was assessed with regards to differences in educational attainment and patient characteristics. Spearman rank was used to correlate patient’s level of knowledge with number of sessions attended. Internal consistency was assessed by use of cronbach’s alpha. Results: The final version of the questionnaire had 30 questions arranged in five domains consisting of medical condition, risk factors, exercise, nutrition, and psychosocial risk. Patients who were college graduates had significantly higher mean scores than non college graduates. The number of cardiac rehab sessions attended had a weak but statistically significant correlation with knowledge. (spearman rho 0.35, p=0.007). The overall internal consistency of the questionnaire was good (α=0.75) Conclusion The CADE-Q II questionnaire cross culturally adapted in Filipino is a valid and reliable tool which can be used to assess Filipino patients’ knowledge about their disease when participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Patient Education as Topic

BACKGROUND: This open label post marketing study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of a fixed dose combination of amlodipine - losartan in the treatment of hypertension in Filipino patients.

METHODS: Eight hundred eighteen (818) male and female ambulatory patients aged 18-70 years with mild to moderate hypertension who were initially not responding to monotherapy were enrolled. Patients were prescribed (amlodipine 5mg - losartan potassium 50mg) as therapy. The primary end point was the change from baseline to sixth week in in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Details of any adverse event reported or noted during the treatment with the combination were recorded.

RESULTS: There were 680 patients eligible for efficacy analysis. Mean age of patients was 53.36 ±11.3 years. One hundred twenty eight (15.6%) had dyslipidemia, 139 (16.9) had diabetes, while 7.7% had previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease. At baseline, patients had a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 159 ± 18.3 mmHg and 96 ± 10.8 mmHg respectively. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.001) mean reduction of 30.87 ± 16.98 mmHg in SBP and 15.10 ± 10.68 mmHg in DBP at the end of follow up. By the 6th week 79.6% of patients achieved adequate SBP control of sat the while 76.6% had optimal diastolic BP. The differences in blood pressure were all statistically significant even when accounting for other comorbidities. Adverse events were noted in 2.9% with headache and peripheral edema being the most common side effects reported.

CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that a fixed dose combination of amlodipine - losartan provides an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment option for hypertension in Filipino patients especially those with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who are unresponsive to monotherapy.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Losartan ; Amlodipine ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Comorbidity ; Hypertension ; Systole ; Blood Pressure Determination ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Edema ; Headache

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a growing health problem in the Western Pacific Region. Oral treatment with the cc-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose has been proven efficacious in controlled studies in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this Post-Marketing Surveillance study was to assess efficacy, safety and acceptance of acarbose treatment in Philippine patients with type 2 diabetes under day-to-day practice conditions.

METHODS: A total of 780 patients were enrolled by 199 physicians throughout the Philippines into an open, prospective, uncontrolled, non-randomised, multi-centre study. Efficacy parameters were the changes in fasting and postprandial blood glucose values, HbAlc concentrations and body weight from the initial to the last follow-up visit.

RESULTS: Many patients (61 percent) had been previously treated with other anti-diabetic medication and the majority (85.5 percent) received acarbose in combination therapy. More than 40 percent of the study population were obese and many patients already suffered from comorbidities and late diabetes complications. Acarbose treatment reduced mean fasting blood glucose concentrations by 62.1 mg/dL to 123.1 mg/dL and 2h-postprandial values by 82.0 mg/dL to 146.1 mg/dL over a mean observation period of 11.5 weeks. A mean weight loss of 1.7 kg was reported for this period. Mean HbAlc decreased by 0.9 percent to 7.7 percent in the first five weeks of acarbose treatment. In 8 patients 17 acarbose-related adverse events occurred. The attending physicians rated treatment efficacy as 'good' or 'very good' for 87.2 percent, tolerability for 89.2 percent, and treatment acceptance for 89.2 percent of all patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose proved efficacious, safe and well accepted by type 2 diabetes patients in the Philippines under day-to-day treatment conditions.

Acarbose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2