Prevalence of dyslipidaemia in patients treated with lipid-modifying drugs in the Netherlands. Part of the dyslipidaemia international survey

Abstract

Background: Patients at risk for cardiovascular disease require medical treatment to optimise their lipid profile. Failure to reach optimal lipid levels contributes significantly to the residual cardiovascular risk in treated patients. In the DYSIS -Netherlands study, residual lipid profile abnormalities in patients on stable statin therapy in the Netherlands were assessed.

Methods: As part of a multinational cross-sectional cohort study conducted in Canada and Europe, 1212 patients were included in the Netherlands. Patients aged 45 years and older were included if they had taken statins for at least three months. Data on demographics, cardiovascular history and cardiovascular risk profile were recorded, and compared using European Society of Cardiology (ES C) risk classification.

Results: In 1139 patients, total lipid profile was measured. In this population ESC LDL-cholesterol normal levels were not achieved in 33.3% (n=379), whereas 71.7% (n=817) did not reach the three-normal level: for LDL cholesterol, plus they had low HDL cholesterol and/or elevated triglycerides. In the high-risk group (n=1036), LDL-cholesterol levels were not at goal in 33.3% (n=345). In the entire cohort, only 28.3% (n=322) of patients receiving statin therapy reached normal levels for all lipid parameters.

Conclusion: The majority of patients receiving statin therapy fail to reach normal levels for lipid parameters. Although the final results of ongoing outcome trials using combinations of lipid-altering treatments should be awaited, optimisation of lipid management is still amenable to improvement in the Netherlands.