title: Opportunistic screening for hypercholesterolaemia with participants selected by the general practitioner. Inclusion and drop-out rate.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate a method for opportunistic hypercholesterolaemia screening in primary care. At Lyckeby Primary Health Care Centre in Southern Sweden, where six general practitioners provide care to a population of 15,706 inhabitants, screening of patients aged 25-59 years was integrated with regular case-finding for hypertension. The specific characteristic of the programme was that the general practitioner adjusted, from day to day, the inclusion rate to actual resources. The study evaluated implementation during 3 years; after this time, 27 per cent of the target population was included. The included portion of those who visited the centre was 48% between ages 40 and 59 years, and 20% of those between 25 and 39 years. Compliance with the follow-up protocol differed according to age and risk group. The reattendance rates were better for those aged 40-59 years compared to the younger. It is concluded that opportunistic screening is most feasible in ages 40-59 years, while for younger people traditional population strategies may be preferable. If integrated with regular case-finding and treatment follow-up for hypertension, which are long well established components of general practice, no extra resources are needed for implementation.
authors.affiliation: Lyckeby Primary Health Care Centre, Karlskrona, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ovhed
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Odeberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Råstam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors