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. 2022 Sep;39(9):4315-4329.
doi: 10.1007/s12325-022-02266-3. Epub 2022 Jul 30.

Patient and Physician Reported Perception on Hypercholesterolemia Management in Primary Prevention in Germany: Results from a Nationwide Online Survey

Lea Beier  1 , Michaela Wolf  2 , Kathy Willfeld  1 , Oliver Weingaertner  3
Affiliations

Patient and Physician Reported Perception on Hypercholesterolemia Management in Primary Prevention in Germany: Results from a Nationwide Online Survey

Lea Beier et al. Adv Ther. 2022 Sep.

Erratum in

Abstract

Introduction: Effective hypercholesterolemia management is essential in primary prevention of cardiovascular events. The objective of PROCYON was to assess the perception on hypercholesterolemia management in primary prevention and to identify reasons for insufficient target attainment in clinical practice in Germany.

Methods: PROCYON was a two-part online survey including a patient questionnaire on treatment status and disease knowledge and a physician questionnaire on guideline awareness and patient management. A conjoint analysis on the relative importance of cardiovascular risk factors was incorporated.

Results: Of 3798 primary prevention patients included, 1632 (43.0%) received lipid-lowering medication. Of these, 790 (48.4%) reported improved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, 670 (41.1%) reported no improvement, and 172 (10.5%) had no information. Of the treated patients with (N' = 790) and without (N' = 670) improvement, 52.4% vs. 47.9% were on their initial drug and dose, 8.9% vs. 9.0% received multiple drug therapy, 34.7% vs. 38.8% reported a dose change, and 16.0% vs. 19.4% had discontinued at least one drug (multiple answers). In total, 109 physicians participated. In the conjoint analysis, LDL-C level was attributed the highest relative importance (32.0%), followed by diabetes (24.5%) and systolic blood pressure (15.8%). Lipid-lowering therapy is initiated at an LDL-C level > 150 mg/dl by 63 physicians (57.8%). One third (n = 35; 32.1%) stated that ≥ 60% of their primary prevention patients do not receive lipid-lowering medication.

Conclusion: PROCYON suggests a need for consequent LDL-C target-based treatment implementation.

Keywords: Hypercholesterolemia; Low-density lipoprotein; Patient management; Primary prevention.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred treatment optimization options
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Treatment optimization in case of statin intolerance; b main reasons for target attainment failure according to physicians
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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