Key result
Severe hypertriglyceridemia monitoring is suboptimal, with ~38% of patients receiving only one follow-up test.
Why the study?
Severe and extreme hypertriglyceridemia are risk-enhancing factors for ASCVD and acute pancreatitis, yet little is known about routine triglyceride monitoring.
Cohort (n=1,800,000)
Real-world monitoring of severe and extreme hypertriglyceridemia is suboptimal, characterized by infrequent follow-up testing and persistently elevated triglyceride levels.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Suboptimal monitoring of severe hypertriglyceridemia may delay intervention; observational data leaves open whether systematic retesting improves outcomes.
Severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG; triglyceride [TG] 500-879 mg/dL) and extreme hypertriglyceridemia (eHTG; TG ≥880 mg/dL), are risk-enhancing factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and acute pancreatitis, yet little is known about routine TG monitoring. This study characterized real-world frequency and patterns of TG testing and results among adults with sHTG/eHTG. Among 1.8 M adults, first observed TG was 500-879 for 0.7% and ≥880 for 0.2%. During mean follow-up of 27 months, 38% of patients with first TG 500-879 or ≥880 had one test, and among those with ≥2 tests, mean interval between first/second tests was ≥244 days. Among patients with first TG 500-879 and ≥3 tests, second TG was ≥500 for 26% and all three TGs were ≥500 for 11%. Among patients with first TG ≥880 and ≥3 tests, second TG was ≥500 for 46% and all three TGs were ≥500 for 30%. Findings suggest that follow-up TG testing is suboptimal, and TG results are persistently high for many patients with sHTG/eHTG.
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Kessler et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Severe or extreme hypertriglyceridemia (n=1,800,000). Severe (500-879 mg/dL) or extreme (≥880 mg/dL) hypertriglyceridemia vs. Normal triglyceride levels (<150 mg/dL) was evaluated on Frequency of follow-up triglyceride testing and persistently elevated results. Among adults with severe or extreme hypertriglyceridemia, follow-up testing was suboptimal, with 38% receiving only one test over 27 months, and many exhibiting persistently elevated triglyceride levels.
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