What are the practice patterns in the management of patients with hypercholesterolemia regarding screening, implementing lipid-lowering therapy, and treating to lipid goals?
There is a substantial gap between evidence and practice in cholesterol risk management, with many high-risk patients not receiving appropriate screening or lipid-lowering therapy to target levels.
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, and data indicate that aggressive cholesterol reduction decreases mortality and morbidity associated with this disease. Many patients with hypercholesterolemia, however, are not screened, prescribed appropriate lipid-lowering therapy, or treated to target cholesterol levels. Practice patterns are particularly inadequate for those patients at highest risk for having a cardiac event. We performed a literature search to identify studies of practice patterns in the management of patients with hypercholesterolemia with regard to screening, implementing lipid-lowering therapy, and treating to lipid goals. The findings highlight the potential for substantial opportunities to improve patient outcomes. Future studies should evaluate reasons for suboptimal cholesterol management as well as provide steps to improve management.
Olson et al. (Sun,) studied this question.