Achievement of lipid goals in patients with secondary prevention hospitalized in the internal medicine service

Abstract

In secondary prevention patients, ATP III recommends strict lipid goals (LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dL and <70 mg/dL in very high-risk patients). Despite the recommendations and the multiple proven benefits of statin therapy, this continues to be underutilized in this group of patients. Objective: to describe the frequency of compliance with lipid level goals for secondary prevention in patients hospitalized in the Internal Medical Service in San Jose Hospital, according to the ATP III criteria. Methods: a descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study, conducted between April 11 and August 30, 2011. Patients over 18 years with secondary prevention criteria were admitted. A descriptive analysis which evaluated percentages, means and standard deviations of demographic, clinical and`para-clinical data was performed. The proportion of patients meeting appropriate goals in the lipid profile as defined by ATP III guidelines was established. Results: we recruited 121 patients, mean age 66.7 ± 14.1 years, with female predominance (54.5%). Achievement of LDL goals was found in 55.3%, HDL 31.4%, non-HDL 51.2%and triglycerides 52%. 57.7% received statins (lovastatin all of them) and 49 (40.5%) did not receive any lipid-lowering drug. Conclusions: there is poor compliance according to ATP III goals in secondary prevention patients of LDL cholesterol, non-HDL, triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol ratio. A large proportion of the study population did not receive any lipid-lowering drug. Low compliance may have different causes; therefore it is necessary to make an evaluation and to seek ways to overcome them