To what extent do patients in general practice reach guideline lipid-lowering treatment goals?

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology

1 February 2007
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Abstract

AbstractBackground

We assessed the extent to which the 1998 European guideline goals were reached among patients on statin treatment.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods

A total of 683 consecutive patients on statin treatment were recruited from 48 primary healthcare centres all over Sweden. Serum lipid levels and possible goal-reaching determinants were registered.

Results

The treatment goal for total cholesterol was met in 55% of patients and for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 60% of patients. Male sex and a history of diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease increased the likelihood of meeting treatment goals.

Conclusions

More than half of statin-treated Swedish primary care patients reached the treatment goals. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 14: 149-151 © 2007 The European Society of Cardiology