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. 2003 Apr;55(4):389-97.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01769.x.

Undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia: a population-based study

A K Mantel-Teeuwisse  1 , W M M Verschuren, O H Klungel, D Kromhout, A D Lindemans, J Avorn, A J Porsius, A de Boer
Affiliations

Undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia: a population-based study

A K Mantel-Teeuwisse et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Apr.

Abstract

Aims: To assess the level of undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia in the general population, taking intra-person variability in serum cholesterol concentrations into account, and to identify determinants of undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data from two population-based surveys on cardiovascular disease risk factors conducted between 1987 and 1997 in the Netherlands were used. For all 64 757 respondents aged 20-59 years, treatment eligibility for lipid-lowering drug use was established according to the Dutch Cholesterol Consensus. Multivariate logistic models were used to identify determinants of undertreatment.

Results: During the study period, 56.8% of the study population had undesirable cholesterol concentrations (serum total cholesterol> 5 mmol l(-1)) and 5.5% of those were eligible for pharmacological treatment based on their absolute risk of coronary heart disease. Of those eligible for pharmacological treatment, 16.3% were treated, and 19.6% of those treated had their serum total cholesterol concentration controlled. Only 3.2% of those eligible for pharmacological treatment were both treated and controlled. We identified several determinants for undertreatment, e.g. male gender and younger age for primary prevention and female gender and older age for secondary prevention. Treatment has improved slightly in more recent years.

Conclusions: Over 95% of the population eligible for the pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolaemia was either untreated or was uncontrolled. To decrease undertreatment, identification of high-risk patients should be increased. Those who are treated with lipid-lowering medication could further benefit from more aggressive treatment, especially with statins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of respondents treated for hypercholesterolaemia among those eligible for pharmacological treatment according to the Dutch Consensus Cholesterol [8]
Figure 2
Figure 2
Determinants of nonuse of lipid-lowering drugs among those eligible for primary prevention (A) (n = 1494) and secondary prevention (B) (n = 1225). All odds ratios are adjusted for demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors and medication use. The odds ratio for anticoagulant drug use is based on data from the Peilstation project only (n = 1048 and n = 687 for primary and secondary prevention, respectively).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Determinants of nonuse of lipid-lowering drugs among those eligible for primary prevention (A) (n = 1494) and secondary prevention (B) (n = 1225). All odds ratios are adjusted for demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors and medication use. The odds ratio for anticoagulant drug use is based on data from the Peilstation project only (n = 1048 and n = 687 for primary and secondary prevention, respectively).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Determinants of having serum total cholesterol controlled among those treated with lipid-lowering drugs (n = 430). All odds ratios are adjusted for demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors and medication use. The odds ratio for anticoagulant drug use is based on data from the Peilstation project only (n = 165).
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