Monitoring
Close monitoring and treatment is essential. An outpatient follow-up should be arranged within the first 1 to 2 weeks of discharge. Monthly visits should be scheduled thereafter. Lipids should be monitored at least every 6 months until a target low-density lipoprotein <1.8 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL) is reached in patients who have had a myocardial infarction or have coronary artery disease. The need for follow-up echocardiography is at the discretion of the physician. However, echocardiography is necessary to evaluate and monitor ventricular function.[1]
Psychosocial risk factors such as anxiety and depression should be addressed. Depression in particular has been associated with a poor prognosis.[49] All medicines should be reviewed at every follow-up visit to encourage patient compliance and optimal dosing.[1]
In patients who have undergone direct reperfusion, further non-invasive stress testing or further imaging is indicated only if stenosis of intermediate severity (luminal narrowing of 50% to 70%) is present in a non-culprit artery. Patients with recurrent ischaemic-type pain after reperfusion may need invasive coronary angiography after medical therapy to evaluate for further stenosis or occlusion.[141]
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