[Lipid profiles and therapy status in the secondary prevention of high risk patients with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes mellitus: the Austrian Hospital Screening Project (HSP)]

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and premature death in most European populations. Due to its prominent role as a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, lowering of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is the main goal for management of dyslipidemia. To evaluate lipid profiles and management of high risk patients with hyperlipidemia, we performed an observational study in 20 Austrian Departments of Medicine specialized in cardiology, diabetes and/or metabolism from July 2006 to February 2007. Out of 9152 patients [age (mean +/- SD): women 69 +/- 13, men 65 +/- 12 years) 6838 were considered at "very high risk" (group 1; LDL-C: 99 +/- 38 mg/dl) and 2314 at "high risk" (group 2; LDL-C: 108 +/- 39 mg/dl), respectively. Of 4886 patients on statins, 48% of did not reach their LDL-C goals (<70 mg/dl and <100 mg/dl for group 1 and 2, respectively). In 68% of these patients statin therapy was not intensified subsequently. Among patients without lipid-lowering drugs at study entry, 62% did not meet their targets, and despite treatment in the center 1555 of these patients (58%) remained without medication. With regard to national and international guidelines, there is still a need to improve the clinical practice of lowering LDL-C for secondary prevention in high risk patients in Austria.