title: Hypercholesterolemia during hospitalization. The case for closer surveillance.
abstract: The medical records of patients hospitalized in a teaching hospital between August 1981 and January 1983 were examined retrospectively, and 38 patients with elevated (greater than 350 mg/dl) serum cholesterol levels were identified. Follow-up information was obtained from the office records of attending physicians. Hyperlipidemia had been diagnosed during hospitalization in only 13 patients, and lipid levels had been determined during follow-up in only eight patients. Elevated serum cholesterol has been identified as a major risk factor in the development of coronary artery atherosclerosis. However, results of this study indicate that significant hyperlipidemia discovered during hospitalization is infrequently treated and seldom monitored during follow-up. Practicing physicians can readily improve this situation by closer surveillance of patients with elevated cholesterol levels.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004046:Dietetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol