Awareness, dyslipidemia and features of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Introduction . Patients' awareness of dyslipidemia levels and adherence to statin therapy are important for the primary and secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome. Aim . To study the awareness of patients with acute coronary syndrome about their total cholesterol blood levels, severity of dyslipidemia, and features of statin therapy. Materials and methods . The study included 304 patients with acute coronary syndrome. Clinical and demographic data, patients' awareness of total cholesterol blood levels, frequency of statin intake, adherence to therapy, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol blood levels were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed in IBM SPSS Statistica 23.0. Results . Total cholesterol blood levels were known to 128 patients with acute coronary syndrome out of 304 (42%); awareness was higher among patients with a history of myocardial infarction (68%) compared to those hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome for the first time (31%) (p < 0.05). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels £ 1.4 mmol/L were present in 286 (94%) patients. Statins were taken by 96 (32%) patients; 20% of patient hospitalized for the first time for acute coronary syndrome were taking statins, compared to 59% with a recurrent event (p < 0.05). Patients aged 75 years and older were taking statins in 56% of cases, patients younger than 75 years - in 24.4% (p < 0.05). 68% of patients previously taking statins were adherent to therapy, but 92% of them did not achieve the target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Conclusion . Awareness of total cholesterol blood levels was 42% among patients with acute coronary syndrome, with higher awareness among patients with a recurrent event compared to those hospitalized for the first time. Statins were taken by one-third of patients with acute coronary syndrome, more often in patients with a recurrent event compared to those hospitalized for the first time; adherence to therapy was 68% among patients taking statins. Even in statin-adherent patients with acute coronary syndrome, there was insufficient low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels reduction according to current guidelines. The results confirm the need for further development and implementation of educational programs for patients at all stages of medical care.