Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) has received two gold awards from the American Heart Association for its commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke through cholesterol and blood pressure management. This recognition applies to all CIS clinics in Louisiana and Mississippi.
For the fourth year in a row, CIS has earned Gold recognition for the accuracy of blood pressure management, with more than 70% of the affected adult patients having controlled blood pressure as part of the Target: BP™ initiative. CIS surpasses this target with more than 80 percent of patients having controlled blood pressure, earning the Gold Plus award. However, blood pressure continues to be a national health concern. Out of 116 million U.S. adults living with high blood pressure, the nation’s number one risk factor for heart attack and stroke, less than half have it controlled to target level.
In addition, CIS also received the Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ Gold Award this year for having more than 70% of adult, at-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients appropriately managed with statin therapy. About 90 percent of CIS patients in Louisiana have managed cholesterol. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, but only half of 94 million adults with elevated cholesterol are appropriately managing their condition.