Summary of the national guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lipid disorders in Taiwan. The experts panel

Abstract

In Jan. 1994, The ROC Society of Internal Medicine and the International Lipid Information Bureau, Taiwan (ILIB, Taiwan) jointly announced national guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lipid disorders. This guideline review the scientific basis and strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) prevention. This guidelines were developed by an experts panel with various scientific backgrounds. Both two recent publications, the International Task Force and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) in 1992 and Adult Treatment Panel II (ATP II) from the National (USA) Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), were adopted and modified. This guideline covered basic metabolism of lipoprotein, detection method of lipoprotein analysis, coronary risk factors, managements of dyslipidemia, goal of therapy and local epidemiological data. In this guidelines, lipid disorders are classified into hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol > 200 mg/dL), combined hyperlipidemia (serum cholesterol > 200 mg/dL and triglyceride > 200 mg/dL) and hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglyceride > 200 mg/dL). In the absence of CAD and with less than two risk factors, target levels for LDL-cholesterol should be < 160 mg/dL; with more than two risk factors, < 130 mg/dL; in the presence of CAD, 100 mg/dL. In individuals with hypertriglyceridemia the target levels for triglyceride are 200 mg/dL. Secondary prevention of CAD is considered as one of the most important issue. Two generalized modalities are recommended to achieve the goal, i.e., non-pharmacological therapy which include weight reduction, regular exercise, smoking cessation, life style modification and pharmacological therapy. It is hoped that this guideline could help medical personnels dealing with patients with dyslipidemia and eventually, reduce the occurrence of CAD in Taiwan.